Unpopular Past Speakers

Take a look at our community of change makers who question norms, think big and solve problems.

Ink & Innovation
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Joanna Preston

Specialist Tutor, Ringmistress, Editor
Joanna Preston is an award-winning Tasmanaut poet, editor and creative writing tutor. Steadfastly avoiding having a Real Job, she spends her days reading, writing, editing, thinking about writing, teaching writing to other people, procrastinating about writing, converting people back to the Joy of Poetry, attempting to satisfy the demands of her flock of Quite Indulged Chooks, and being grateful for her Very Understanding Husband. And writing.
"Ink IS Innovation"
Ekant-Veer

Ekant Veer

Professor of Marketing for Te Kura Umanga | Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha - UC Business School | University of Canterbury
Ekant Veer is a Professor of Marketing at the UC Business School. He's a multi-award winning teacher and researcher; bad singer, middling astrophotographer and semi-professional shit-stirrer. He was named one of the Top 40 under 40 Business School Professors worldwide in 2017; an Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award winner; UC’s Teaching Medal awardee, and six times winner of a UCSA lecturer/staff of the year award. His work looks at the role that marketing can play in both driving social change and community wellbeing as well as what impact digital technology plays in consumer interactions and their sense of identity.
"Gen AI is drowning out truly creative voices"
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Nic Low

Writer, editor and arts organiser
Nic Low is a Ngāi Tahu writer, editor, and arts organiser, based between Castlemaine and Christchurch, NZ. He is a contributing editor at New Zealand Geographic, former Programme Director of the WORD Christchurch Festival, and the author of three acclaimed books. Nic has received numerous awards, including the 2023 Ursula Bethell Fellowship and holds a Masters in creative writing from the University of Melbourne.
"AI is the best thing that’s ever happened to writers"
Hannah-Davison

Hannah Davison

Co-host & co-producer for Untidy podcast / Co-founder & author for My Big Moments children's books
Hannah Davison is the co-host and co-producer of the chart-topping, award-winning podcast, Untidy — a show that honours the person within the parent. She is the co-founder and author of the award-winning children’s book initiative, My Big Moments. A research-based range of personalised kids’ books to meet the real-life challenges of starting school, building resilience, getting a new sibling, grief and loss, and, going to hospital. Her background is in journalism and short fiction writing. Hannah draws on her sense of humour, personal experiences, and down-to-earth attitude to bring a little bit of humanity to everything she does.
"Technology gives words weight"
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Kia

Founder and Director of Cantabrian Magazine
Kia has been an international photojournalist for over two decades and founded Cantabrian Magazine nearly 2 years ago. She has travelled the world as a diplomat, worked on assignments for several magazines and as a Vogue Affiliate, was one of the first people to try Instagram. Having purchased her first camera at 9, Kia hasn't put one down since. She founded IBK Photography 15 years ago and as Creative Director she collaborates with some of New Zealand's biggest brands.
"The creative future is looking bleak and beige"
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Lizzie Davidson

Writer & content marketer for consultants & solopreneurs
Lizzie is a sweary Scottish content expert obsessed with giving consultants, coaches, and solopreneurs the skills and courage to become more visible experts and convert that attention into sales.
"Using AI to create marketing content is about as useful as serving soup in a sock, but a hell of a lot less tasty"
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Bootstrap vs Investment
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Pete Howard

Student Innovation Lead at UC Centre for Entrepreneurship
Pete works to support the development of early-stage ventures at the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship. He believes that our future will be shaped by changemakers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who have the ability to make a positive impact in the world.
"Unicorns don't exist - stop chasing them"
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Tammara Lowdell

Co-founder of Eat Choice
Tamara is the co-founder of the soon to be released foodie app, Eat Choice. After 25 years in the travel and tourism industry, she is now turning her passion to helping people find good food that’s good for them.
"Investment is for people pleasers"
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Clive Antony

Founding Director of Antony & Mates
Clive Antony is the founding director of Antony & Mates and has a deep expertise in social media. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Clive has helped numerous businesses build their brand and grow their online presence through innovative social media strategies.
"Investment will be the downfall of our economy"
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Jeremy Wyn-Harris

General Manager at Builderscrack.co.nz
Interested in the intersection of technology, business and better ways of doing things, Jeremy Wyn-Harris is an entrepreneur and innovator. From founding Epic Digital in 1998 and working in machine control at Trimble to founding the leading network service connecting tradespeople with homeowners, Builderscrack.co.nz, Jeremy has a wealth of experience on both sides of this debate.
"DIY isn’t for everyone"
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Anna Guenther

Co-founder & Chief Bubble Blower at PledgeMe
Anna has raised investment for PledgeMe multiple times, but also been hands on supporting hundreds of founders around the motu to raise the funds they need. Since launching, almost 1,700 campaigns have raised over $70 million through the PledgMe platform.
"You don’t need to bother with either option"
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Delphine Ducaruge

Chairperson at NZTech
Delphine is a French-Kiwi who is as au fait with geek-speak as she is with business. She proudly serves as the Chairperson of NZTech and has had her own ventures, worked in startups and SMEs.
"You're too old to bootstrap."
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The Reboot
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Tim McInnes

Owner and Director at Ruffells
"Sack them if they suck"
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Melissa Davies

Director, SaaS Founder, Consultant
"We don't need to 'start with why'"
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Tracy Ahern

General Manager at Canterbury A&P Association
"Period waste is everyone's problem"
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Mr. G – Galeno Chua

Sustainability and Comms Leader at Waste Co.
"Parenting is the single greatest blockage to sustainability."
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Michaela Laubscher

Head of SEO at Empire9
"Hybrid work is the death of innovation"
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Kelsie Inglis

General Manager and Strategist at Publica
"Fatphobia is the last acceptable form of workplace discrimination"
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CYP Edition
Annabelle Cole

Annabelle Cole

Systems and Inventory Manager at Countdown
Annabelle is a proud rep of Woolworths' Climate Change Steering Committee, passionate about all things supply chains and their impact on businesses and our communities.
"Constant connectivity has made us less social than ever"
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Dave Cullen

Digital Product Manager at Publica
Dave’s one of our own, holding the role of solution architect, digital problem solver and translator between dev-speak and plain English here at Publica.
"Children need unlimited screen time"
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Isaak Taylor

Business Owner at Light Creative Construction
Isaak wears many hats - he's an inventor, CEO of a construction landscaping company and owner of an investor-backed startup in logistics.
"TikTok is the saviour of social media and needs to be embraced"
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Lawrence Smith

Digital Strategist at Five Ideas
Lawrence founded Cabbage Tree Creative in 1996 and has worked with countless clients to develop digital solutions, primarily in the tourism industry.
"Most New Zealand websites are shit, even the ones you think are pretty good"
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Lee Parkinson

Strategy Partner at Strategy Creative
Lee’s got an incredible amount of experience in the agency arena and holds a strong belief that we need to stay curious to succeed in any business.
"Search algorithms are making us all more stupid"
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Modecai Nkhwazi

Solutions Broker
Modecai started his career as an accountant, and now helps solo business operators get to where they want to go with strategy support.
"Criticism of digital privacy in China is hypocritical"
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Sinead Storch

Education and Curriculum Consultant
Sinead is a passionate educator who recently co-authored a child’s book, Bodhi & BooBoo Bubble, a story of kindness and Kiwi spirit during worldwide C19 lockdowns.
"Parents are the biggest violators of their children’s privacy"
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First Edition
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Andrea Brewster

Internal Comms Manager at Xplor
Andrea is a professional changemaker, staunch feminist and proud milleniall who believes business can be a force for good.
"Every business should be an impact business"
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Angela White

Executive Officer at Adolescent Success
Angela travels around Australasia researching and applying best practice in digital literacy and pedagogies for classrooms. Essentially, she teaches the teachers.
"Emotional literacy is the language of the future."
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Hamish Duff

Principal Consultant at Recalibrate
Hamish's sweet spot is in helping businesses get the right technology foundations in place, when he's not teaching digital transformation to UC's MBA programme.
"Rapid technology change spells the end of the professional"
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Louisa Taylor

General Manager – Client Partnerships at Publica
Louisa's strengths have long been in supporting businesses to consolidate their business plans, challenge their thinking and test their assumptions.
"Your lawyer could be your biggest risk to innovation success"
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John Vargo

Executive Director of Resilient Organisations Ltd.
John's research has focussed on the impacts of the earthquakes on Industry 4.0 (the synthesis of: AI, IoT, robotics, Cyber security, additive manufacturing)
"Industry 4.0, cutting edge future or a looming resilience disaster?"
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Sophie Oxley

Founder at Buggy Buds
Sophie's worn many hats – two include her role as Campaign Lead with Microsoft Partner sa.global, and Founder of her social enterprise Buggy Buds.
"Millennials are getting older now, but they're still interesting"
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