Sir Ashley Bloomfield, who was recently bestowed with a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours, captured the hearts of the nation with his composed demeanour and steadfast leadership throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Through his expertise and media presence, he effectively communicated vital health information to the public on behalf of the government, calming fears and instilling confidence.

Sir Ashley will be sharing his post-COVID insights, discussing topics such as   developing mental well-being and moving forward in a post-pandemic world. He has a connection to Whangarei having begun his medical career as a house surgeon here and has recently taken up a position as a Professor at the University of Auckland.

Andrew leads mahi in Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology to attract and support ākonga (learners) in vocational education. 
He is passionate about addressing equity issues in the system and improving outcomes for underserved ākonga in vocational education.
Andrew has had a varied career working in Aotearoa and England in many different industries – forestry, bookmaking, control systems, technology, banking, agriculture, science, and most recently vocational education.
Andrew was previously CEO of ServiceIQ, the workplace training specialist for the aviation, hospitality, retail, travel, tourism and museums sectors. 
Before his role at ServiceIQ, Andrew worked with AgResearch for seven years as its Shared Services Director. His other roles have been as Group General Manager of Human Resources and Corporate Services for PGG Wrightson Limited, and executive positions as General Manager Human Resources for ANZ National Bank, Human Resources Manager for Fujitsu and Head of Human Resources for BNZ.
Andrew is Pourangi Ākonga me te Ahumahi | Deputy Chief Executive Learner and Employer Experience and Attraction at Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.

Dr. Candy Ho is an international award-winning career development educator and scholar whose expertise is recognized globally through keynotes, consulting, and other engagements. She has been featured in BNN Blomberg, The Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Canadian Business, and CTV News.  She is the inaugural Assistant Professor, Integrative Career and Capstone Learning at the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada. In this unique capacity, she teaches courses that help students consider their educational and life experiences and how these experiences can enable them to achieve their aspirations, ultimately helping them design the life they want to live. She also holds teaching positions in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Educational Studies Department and in Douglas College's Career Development Practitioner Program.

Prior to becoming a faculty member, Candy has also worked extensively in university student affairs in areas such as first year experience and student transition, campus and residence life, career and volunteer services, co-operative education, academic advising, and university advancement. Her collective professional experiences to date have culminated in her doctoral dissertation investigating the conceptions of post-secondary career influencers in student career success, and she readily shares her expertise around the world. Finally, she currently serves as Chair of CERIC, a Canadian charitable organization that advances education and research in career counselling and career development, in order to increase the economic and social well-being of Canadians.

A global thought leader in wellbeing and resilience, Dr Quinlan synthesises deep insights from her multi-disciplinary background to develop integrative approaches that address the urgent issues facing the contemporary worlds of work, family and sustainability.

Co-founder of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the University of Canterbury, Denise regularly presents at global conferences, creates and teaches online courses, and authors books - all part of her mission to help more people live more satisfying lives. Denise’s work is delivered with her characteristic Irish humour, guaranteeing you will laugh while you learn, and that your teams will leave with practical steps they can use immediately.

Originally an equity analyst and dealer-broker on the London Stock Exchange, and a consultant with Deloitte and KPMG in Europe and NZ, Denise’s corporate background informs her work with senior executives across the globe, including as an award-winning guest lecturer at globally ranked IE Business School, Madrid. Denise is the only New Zealand trainer to have worked alongside Prof Martin Seligman and Dr Karen Reivich delivering the Penn Resilience Program in Australia and the UK. Her research is published in international academic journals and numerous edited volumes and her award-winning Podcast, Bringing Wellbeing to Life, shares wellbeing insights from leading researchers and practitioners from around the world.

Jessie’s pronouns are she/her and her career in education spans more than 14 years. Moving from the high school sector in Australia to the tertiary sector when relocating to New Zealand. AUT was the only university in New Zealand where Jessie could work in full-time Rainbow Student Support. In this role Jessie has now expanded AUT’s Rainbow team from just herself to eigth members, and has been promoted to be New Zealand’s first Rainbow Inclusion Manager.

In this role, Jessie not only manages the Rainbow Student Support team but is also responsible for AUT’s external reputation in the Rainbow space. Maintaining AUT’s Rainbow Tick and Pride Pledge status as well as actively contributing to Rainbow Auckland, Rainbow Scholarships and Rainbow philanthropy are all part of Jessie’s role. Jessie also ensures AUT is upholding its promise of having “great graduates” by guest lecturing on several papers about how to comfortably and confidently interact with all members of the Rainbow Community.

Externally, Jessie also has a monthly column in New Zealand’s largest LGBTQIA+ Magazine – Express and is also on the board of the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust. Jessie is also studying a Master's in Human Rights, focusing on the Rights of Rainbow people. 

Mark had a passion and love of the outdoors from childhood. He started work at Mt Cook as a trainee ranger but with his love of mountaineering, soon became one of the regions professional Search and Rescue Mountaineers. In November 1982, Mark and climbing partner Philip Doole became trapped near the summit of Mt Cook in a storm that was to last 13-and-a-half days. The resulting stay in the ice cave - now known as Middle Peak Hotel - resulted in both men almost losing their lives. Mark was forced to change his career as a result of the loss of both his legs to frostbite.

In the 1990’s and 2000s Mark competed in national and international Disabled Alpine Skiing and became a Paralympian in 2000, securing New Zealand’s first Para Olympic medal in the Cycling Road Race.

On May 16, 2006 Mark became the first double amputee to conquer Mt Everest. Mark completed his climb on two carbon-fibre artificial legs especially adapted for climbing. He snapped one of them early on in the climb but with the help of his climbing colleagues he was able to repair it and continue the ascent.

Mark is the founding trustee for Limbs4All Charitable Trust, which is committed to helping some of the 400 million disabled people in the world to express their potential by supporting projects and individuals both within New Zealand and worldwide, and is also an ambassador for Outward Bound amongst various other projects and charities.

Mark has presented to over 200,000 people across the world, inspiring them to embrace challenge, to develop the attitude to excel. Mark leads one to three treks to Nepal each year to raise funds and awareness for Limbs4All projects in Nepal and Cambodia.  Challenge and attitude is at the core of all growth, in our families, communities and businesses. Mark is the epitome of Challenge and Attitude. As the only double amputee who has stood on the summit of Mt Everest, who else can truly define the often used saying, 'Attitude determines your Altitude'.

Professor Meihana Durie (Rangitāne; Ngāti Kauwhata; Ngāti Porou; Rongo Whakaata; Ngāi Tahu) is Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori at Massey University and was previously Head of School, Te Pūtahi-a-Toi (School of Māori Knowledge) at Massey University. He has a teaching, research, leadership and development background in Māori Education, Māori Health, Mātauranga Māori, Te Reo Māori and Whānau Development and is a previous recipient of the Sir Peter Snell Doctoral Scholarship in Exercise Science and Public Health and the HRC Hohua Tutengaehe Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Meihana contributes to a range of Boards, Committees and Advisory Groups in areas including Māori Health,  Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori Health, Hapū and Iwi Development and Māori Education.  He also carries a range of leadership roles for his iwi of Rangitāne and Ngāti Kauwhata.  His presentation, ‘Kia Tupu, Kia Puāwai’, will explore a range of catalysts for flourishing (he puāwaitanga) and the revelation of potential from a Māori worldview.

Nina Ive has spent the last 20 years working across the full range of business environments, both in New Zealand, the United States and Europe. She has been the brand champion for many of New Zealand’s most well-known brands including Carter Holt Harvey, Mainland Cheese, Ministry of Social Development and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

Nina joined the Tertiary Education Commission in 2018 and is the Deputy Chief Executive for the Careers and Investment Design Directorate. Nina has been a passionate supporter for Careers since joining the TEC and has enjoyed working collaboratively with careers practitioners across the motu since then, to support this important mahi.

Phil Alexander-Crawford (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāpuhi) is a highly experienced leader of transformation, who has worked with and for iwi and hapū. Mr Alexander-Crawford is the CEO of Hanga-Aro-Rau, the Workforce Development Council for Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics. He was previously Director of Te Pae Tawhiti – Māori Equity Partnership at Te Pūkenga. He has held senior leadership positions in the vocational education sector, including Chief Executive of Te Matarau Education Trust, General Manager Education for the Ngātiwai Trust Board and as Director of Development for Tai Tokerau Wānanga (NorthTec). 

Ian is currently Practice Lead and Wellbeing Specialist for New Focus NZ - currently completing further study in Advanced Mental Health including Mental Health Practises, Brain Biology and Neuroscience, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Substance Misuse and Addictions, Advanced Lifestyle Medicine for Mental Health, Psychological Injury, and Trauma and Mental Health Coaching.

Recently working as Senior Education Advisor for the Ministry of Education - providing strategic and innovative influence to improve outcomes across the educational sector including: 

- Traumatic Incident Team Manager and Practice Lead, Tai Tokerau District.

- MOE Agent, CYMRC (Child/Youth Mortality Review Committee)- reviewing preventable deaths throughout Northland.

- HCN (High and Complex Needs) Specialist Interventions.

Previously Assistant Principal, Dean, Head of Faculty (Arts), Head of Department