Mark Jones, Drawcard MC

Mark is a sought-after speaker, commentator, award-winning business journalist (former Editor of the Financial Review’s IT section and Executive Editor at US-based InfoWorld); published author (Beliefonomics) and CEO of the Impact Institute where he leads a team of advisors and communications professionals.

Leonie Valentine, CEO & Co-Founder, CX Guardian AI & Former Chief AI Officer at Regional AI Network and MD at leading companies including Google, Australia Post and Telstra

Leonie is a distinguished executive with extensive experience in technology and telecommunications and is the CEO and co-founder of CX Guardian AI. She was previously with the Australian Regional AI Network and has held c-level executive leadership positions at Telstra, Google and Australia Post.

Leonie is a digital industry leader with 30 years’ experience in general management, sales, marketing and operations, including 20 years in digital technology and telecommunications. Over the years Leonie has been an active member of a number of boards including Not For Profits and ASX-listed Pro-Pac Packaging Ltd. She currently serves as a board member for Save the Children Australia.

James Bergin, Executive General Manager, Technology Research & Advocacy, Xero

James uses his significant experience in enterprise architecture, software engineering, technical strategy, innovation management and leading high-performing teams to help small businesses thrive. Combining his deep industry and technical expertise with the ability to motivate the team around him James has a strong track record of transforming business models for a digital future.

Roxanne Salton, Chief Digital Officer, TSB Bank

Roxanne leads TSB Banks’s technology business strategy and market-leading experiences for the bank’s internal and external customers. Roxanne is well-known for bringing her business expertise into the technology sector. She is an influential and inspirational leader who has specialised in Digital Transformation across large enterprise, Strategy Development, Product Innovation, Disruptive Technologies and Emerging Markets. Roxanne has held leadership roles in the digital world in the insurance, banking, telecommunications and publishing industries including at Southern Cross Health Society, ASB, Spark and Mercury Energy. Her expertise in transformation, innovation and disruption has been influenced by the changing economies of these industries. Roxanne enjoys translating the ever-changing face of technology (ICT) to other parts of the wider business and her anchor point has always been a fervent advocacy of the customer experience. Roxanne is an experienced public speaker and known as a high energy, talented communicator and motivator. She is also a passionate supporter of women in sectors where they are underrepresented.

Dr Mahsa McCauley, Director of Women in Tech, Auckland University of Technology

Dr Mahsa McCauley, Founder of She# From embracing technology at an early age to pursuing an education in Iran and New Zealand that culminated in a doctorate and a Google scholarship, Dr Mahsa McCauley is on a mission to change the tech landscape. An expert in AI and machine learning, and director of Women in Tech at Auckland University of Technology, she is also the founder of She# (She Sharp). As a charitable trust, She# brings professionals together with university and high school students with the aim of encouraging more women into the tech industry.

Angela Henderson, Chief Information and Delivery Officer, Fidelity Life NZ

Senior leader with 22 years management experience leading diverse successful teams (50+FTE), driving cultural and transformational change, managing portfolios of over $100m in large companies. A transformational change agent with experience in delivering large scale business delivery, process and cultural change. Recognised leader in successful Agile deployment and delivery as well as corporate wide change delivery. Experienced in developing and implementing Digital strategy, creation of innovation teams and leveraging Global thought leadership to drive company innovation. Deep experience in Portfolio Governance, Change Management and ventures in large corporates and ability to build and develop new teams to achieve organisational goals. A strong advocate for women in business and technology. Leader of Women in Digital at Air New Zealand. Industry Advisor for Manukau Institute of Technology.

Jan Sheppard, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, ESR

Bio coming soon…

Manvi Madan, Manager Data & Insights, Ports of Auckland; Emerging CIO of the Year 2024

Manvi is Manager of Data & Insights at the Port of Auckland, a Keynote Speaker and the Winner of Emerging ICT Leader of the year CIO Award in 2024. As part of Manvi’s role at the Port, she enables data informed decisions by teaching machines to provide insights through data. She also mentors and nurtures the members of the data community within and outside POAL as she believes it is the culture that underpins the ethical use of technologies like ML and AI.

Adrian Smith (Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Hine), Tumu Whakarae (CEO), BlinkPay

Adrian co-founded the kaupapa Māori fintech BlinkPay, and has a passion for helping Kiwis be better off through better tech. With extensive financial services experience gained from doing big bank transformation in the UK for over 14 years, he has garnered a deep understanding of global financial trends and emerging technologies.

Habib Baluwala, General Manager - AI & Data Foundations, One New Zealand

Habib is a seasoned AI and data leader with a proven track record in developing innovative data-driven products and transforming organizations with actionable insights. At One New Zealand, Habib leads a multidisciplinary team at the intersection of applied machine learning, platform development, and business strategy, creating a solid foundation for leveraging data as a strategic asset.

With a hands-on approach to leadership, Habib has deep expertise in building and architecting scalable data platforms and delivering cutting-edge machine learning solutions. His role focuses on driving business value by identifying and integrating diverse data sources into products that enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. Working closely with engineering and business teams, he strategically executes the development of AI-powered solutions, improving decision-making and competitive advantage.

A key aspect of his career is championing data literacy across organizations, enabling teams to leverage data effectively for smarter decision-making. Habib has also cultivated a culture of innovation, encouraging autonomy and empowering his teams to continuously improve processes and operational awareness.

Habib holds a PhD from the University of Oxford and has completed prestigious programs such as the Chief Data Officer Certification and Executive Data Science certification, equipping him with a blend of academic rigor and practical experience to lead in today’s data-centric world

Kym Niblock, Chief Digital Officer, Sky New Zealand

Kym is a seasoned and innovative digital leader with a global outlook and 30+ years of media, IPTV, OTT and digital experience in Australia, the US and the UK. She has played key roles leading, shaping and defining business propositions with large scale and complex dynamics, delivering commercially viable proposals through change management and business transformation. She specialises in digital media and IP video/content led businesses looking for revolutionary change in customer satisfaction and revenue.

Michael Witbrock, Professor, University of Auckland/The Strong AI Lab

Michael is a professor of computer science at The University of Auckland (UoA) in New Zealand, whose research group, the Strong AI Lab, works at the intersection of machine learning, reasoning and natural language understanding, with an additional focus on maximizing the near-term benefit of AI to NZ entrepreneurs and business, and more generally achieving the best social and civilizational impacts of increasingly powerful AI.

Julie Watson, Chief Information Security Officer & Chief Information Officer, WorkSafe New Zealand

Bio coming soon…

Willem van der Steen, Chief Information Officer, Delegat

Willem is a seasoned digital executive, an inspiring and entrepreneurial leader. He has more than 20 years of experience in leading people and building high performance teams, both in New Zealand and internationally, including United Kingdom, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Willem has extensive experience in strategic planning & management, digital, technology, product development, marketing & sales and commercial. He is passionate about people, AI, innovation and the digital transformation. His focus is to help businesses succeed by driving innovation, growth and productivity in fast moving and rapidly changing environments.

Neville Richardson, Chief Information Officer, Gallagher

As one of New Zealand’s top 50 CIO’s, Neville operates as a business leader, technology evangelist and change agent with over 25 years Information Systems and business experience.

In his current role as CIO, he oversees the Global IS function of one of New Zealand’s most customer centric and innovative technology businesses. By leveraging world class governance and innovative business delivery techniques, he actively sets technology strategy supporting the company’s growth objectives and driving continuous improvement across the entire organization, and is looking forward to continuing this journey as the business embarks upon business transformation using S/4 HANA at its core.

James Lawrence, General Manager - AI Centre of Enablement, Fonterra (New Zealand)

James has extensive experience in IT and data management roles at Fonterra since 2007. Currently serving as Head of AI, James leads a team in establishing an AI Centre of Enablement. Previously, James held roles such as Data Transformation Lead, Future Business Systems Lead, GM IT – Data & Insights, and IS Engagement Manager. James is a graduate of Massey University with a degree in Software Engineering.

 

Scott Pyles, Chief Technology Officer, Fonterra NZ

Scott’s extensive international experience in leading business and technology transformations within Global 500 and ASX 200 organizations has enabled him to help companies achieve their business goals. He sets an IT strategy that aligns with business outcomes and then leads the team to execute the plan. Establishing and maintaining strong business and partner relationships is critical in his approach to delivering safe and effective transformation.

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