Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister of New Zealand

Christopher Luxon is the 42nd Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is also the Minister for National Security and Intelligence and the Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services. He entered Parliament at the 2020 election as the MP for Botany and was elected Leader of the National Party in November 2021.

Prior to entering Parliament, Christopher was Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand from 2013 to 2019. Prior to joining Air New Zealand, Christopher spent 18 years working at multinational consumer products company Unilever, in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, USA and Canada.

Christopher has a Master of Commerce in Business Administration from the University of Canterbury. He is married to Amanda and they have two adult children.

Hon David Seymour
Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand

Hon David Seymour is Deputy Prime Minister since 1 June 2025. the Minister for Regulation and the Associate Minister of Health, Finance, Education , and Justice. He was first elected to Parliament as MP for Epsom in 2014, at which point he became Leader of the ACT Party.

Before politics, he worked as an electrical engineer in New Zealand and for private sector think tanks in Canada. David has degrees from the University of Auckland in electrical engineering and philosophy.

Maroš Šefčovič

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency

Maroš Šefčovič is the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, where he leads the EU’s work to deliver a free and fair trade policy that supports competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability. His responsibilities include advancing Europe’s leadership in rules-based trade, strengthening the World Trade Organisation, concluding major negotiations with partners in Latin America and the Indo-Pacific, and developing Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships to diversify supply chains and protect critical technologies. He also oversees the modernisation of the EU’s customs system and implementation of the European Economic Security Strategy.

Alongside this, he serves as Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, fostering stronger dialogue between the Commission, European Parliament and Council, and driving progress on transparency, ethics and accountability across EU institutions.

Maroš has held senior roles in the European Commission for more than a decade, including as Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Vice-President for the Energy Union, and Commissioner for Education, Culture and Youth. A former Slovak diplomat, he has served as Ambassador to Israel and Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the EU.

Hon Todd McClay

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Trade & Investment, New Zealand

Todd McClay is the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Trade and Investment and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has been the MP for Rotorua since 2008.

Todd held several Ministerial roles in the Fifth National Government with portfolios including Trade, State-Owned Enterprises and Revenue.

Todd has previously been a diplomat and was the Cook Islands and Niue Ambassador to the European Union. He has worked in business in Europe as well as government and public relations internationally.

Hon Tama Potaka

Minister of Māori Development, Minister for Whānau Ora, Minister of Conservation, Minister for Māori Crown Relations, New Zealand

Tama Potaka is from Mōkai Pātea, Whanganui, Taranaki, and surrounding Iwi of Te Tai Hauāuru and Te Kāhui Maunga.

He is he Minister for Māori Development, Minister for Whānau Ora, Minister of Conservation, Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti, and Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing). He is the MP for Hamilton West. Prior to entering politics in the 2022 Hamilton West byelection, Tama was the chief executive of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki.

He has been a senior advisor to the NZ Super Fund and served as general manager at Tainui Group Holdings in Hamilton. He is married to Ariana and thy have three tamariki (Tiaria, Te Awarua and Aorangi).

Tama has a Bachelor of Arts (Māori Studies, Political Science) and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from Victoria University and a Master of Laws from Columbia University.

Hon Dr Shane Reti

Minister of Pacific Peoples, Science, Innovation and Technology, Statistics, Universities, New Zealand

Dr Shane Reti is the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister of Statistics and Minister for Universities. He is the MP for Whangarei.

Dr Reti’s career began in family medicine and dermatology in Whangarei where he practiced for 16 years. He served three terms on the Board of the Northland DHB. He was awarded a QSM for Public Service in the 2006 New Year Honours List.

In 2007 Dr Reti was named the NZ Harkness Fellow to Harvard, where he was promoted to Assistant Professor. In 2014 Dr Reti became the first Māori MP to win the Whangarei seat which he held from 2014 to 2020 and won again in 2023.

Hon Simon Watts

Minister of Climate Change, Energy, Local Government, Revenue, New Zealand

Simon Watts is the Minister of Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for Local Government and Minister of Revenue. He has served as the MP for North Shore since 2020.

Simon gained a Bachelor of Management Studies, qualified as a Chartered Accountant, then later gained a Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicine) at the Auckland University of Technology and is a registered paramedic. He has over twenty years of international banking and finance experience in the private and public sectors.

Hon Damien O'Connor

Labour's Trade, Regional Development and Land information spokesperson

He is the former Government Minister of Trade and Export Growth, Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Rural Communities and Minister for Land Information.

In his former role as Minister of Trade and Export Growth, Damien was responsible for the negotiation and signing of the New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement.

He was elected to Parliament in 1993 for the Labour Party as the Member of Parliament for the West Coast.

He is currently a Labour List MP.

His background is in farming and tourism and is a passionate advocate for rural communities and a thriving and successful agricultural sector.

Tim McCready

Master of Ceremonies

Tim McCready advises on strategy, international trade, investment, and economic development, working with both government and business to strengthen New Zealand’s commercial presence globally. His work spans commercial planning, capital raising, innovation partnerships, and strategic advisory, with experience in New Zealand, Europe, North America, and Asia.

He is a frequent moderator and MC at high-level business events and international summits, helping shape conversations that connect policy, business, and global opportunity. He also writes and provides commentary regularly in the media on international business, innovation, geopolitics, and economic trends.

Tim holds a Master of Bioscience Enterprise (Hons) from the University of Auckland, is a member of the Institute of Directors, and serves as Convenor of Judges for the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards.

Fran O’Sullivan ONZM

Fran O’Sullivan is a high-profile commentator on business, geopolitics and international trade with a strong interest in NZ’s relationships with major partners such as the US, the EU, Australia and China.

Fran chairs the Friends of the NZUS Council of which she is a founding director and serves on the executive board.

In 2022, she launched the annual United States Business Summit through her private company NZ INC. She earlier launched the China Business Summit and is a member of the China Council.

Fran is a multi-award winning journalist and previous recipient of an EU travel award and recently was in the Netherlands during the Nato Summit.

She chairs the Metropolis Body Corporate and convenes the Deloitte Top 200 awards.

Hon Simon Bridges

CEO, Auckland Business Chamber (ABC)

Simon Bridges is the CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber (ABC), a key figure in New Zealand's business network, which supports vibrant communities through advocacy and resources. He also serves as Chair of Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) and holds positions on several corporate boards.

The Auckland Business Chamber has been instrumental for over 169 years in assisting both start-ups and established businesses, being part of a global network of over 13,000 Chambers of Commerce.

A former National MP for Tauranga, Bridges was Leader of the Opposition and a senior Cabinet Minister, overseeing portfolios like Energy and Transport.

Katherine Rich
CEO, Business New Zealand

Katherine is the Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, the peak advocacy organisation for New Zealand business, bringing a wealth of experience from her career in both politics and industry.

She served as a Member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1999 to 2008.

Prior to joining BusinessNZ, Katherine was the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council from 2009 to 2023, advocating for the interests of grocery manufacturers and suppliers as well as advocating for trade liberalisation as a member for the APEC Business Council for five years.

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Otago. Her early career included roles in both the public and private sectors.

Katherine continues to be a prominent voice in New Zealand’s business and political spheres and her leadership at BusinessNZ focuses on fostering a thriving business environment and advocating for policies that support economic growth and sustainability.

Jason Te Brake

Chief Executive Officer, Zespri

Jason was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Zespri in July 2024. Prior to his role as CEO, Jason was Zespri’s Chief Operating Officer leading the response to quality challenges, as well as the planning and execution to deliver the industry’s largest ever crop in 2024.

He first joined Zespri in 2020 and has held a number of roles including Chief Global Supply Officer, Head of New Zealand Supply and Commercial Manager.

Jason is a chartered accountant and has extensive commercial experience within New Zealand agribusiness companies, including his supply chain experience at Zespri. Prior to joining Zespri he held commercial, sales and marketing and finance roles at KPMG, AFCO, ANZCO Foods and Miraka.

Jason is passionate about leading and positively influencing New Zealand food companies marketing premium products around the world and returning value back to New Zealand growers and their communities.

He is based at Zespri’s head office in New Zealand.

Niall Browne

Group CEO, Dawn Meats

Having graduated from the University of Limerick with a Degree in Business Studies, Marketing and Agribusiness in 1995, Niall joined the Dawn Meats Graduate Management Programme, progressing through the organisation as he worked in five different sites between Ireland and the UK, gaining experience in production, livestock procurement and marketing.

Niall was appointed Chief Executive of the company in 2007 at the age of just 34 and has since worked with his leadership team to spearhead its development through mergers and acquisitions in key strategic markets. Throughout his career, Niall has focused on the culture of Dawn Meats, working to develop the skills and capability of the Senior Management Team to facilitate the company’s successful expansion. 

Niall has also championed environmental sustainability, efficient processing and innovation while introducing new initiatives to support Dawn Meats’ farmer suppliers.

Felicity Roxburgh

Executive Director, New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF)

Felicity Roxburgh is the Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), where she leads the Forum’s engagement on key trade and economic policy issues and represents the interests of internationally focused businesses in dialogue with government and international partners.

Felicity brings nearly two decades of experience in international trade, foreign policy, and regional engagement, with a strong focus on geopolitics and the Indo-Pacific. She most recently served as New Zealand’s Consul-General in New Caledonia and has held a broad range of roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with postings in Hong Kong, New York, and the Pacific.

Earlier in her career, Felicity served as Director, Business at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, where she led initiatives to strengthen New Zealand’s business and people-to-people links across Asia. She has a masters in communication studies and a journalism degree.

Mark Hoskins
Chief Revenue Officer, Fabrum

Mark joined Fabrum in October 2024 as the Chief Revenue Officer. He has been involved in aerospace and business development related roles for over 30 years, based in Australia, Europe and the Middle East. His experience includes roles as a military pilot and qualified flying instructor; satellite communications; aerospace and defence investment management; international sales as well as being a director on the board of three aviation organisations.

As CRO for Fabrum, Mark leads the commercial, sales and marketing, and customer relationship management required to deliver the organisation’s expansion and growth aspirations. He is also accountable for bid management, including tender and proposal preparation, business case development and contract negotiation, and is responsible for Fabrum’s relationships with customers and partners around the globe.

Reuben Tucker

Managing Director, Westpac New Zealand

Reuben Tucker joined Westpac New Zealand in August 2022, and his role oversees Westpac New Zealand’s business banking sector – incorporating Institutional; Corporate and Commercial; Agribusiness; Small Business; and Māori Strategy and Indigenous Inclusion.

He is a senior banker with broad and deep experience in institutional banking having worked for almost 25 years in New Zealand, Australia and the Asia Pacific, in a career that has included financial markets, debt capital markets, relationship management, and transactional banking.

Reuben is a New Zealander and gained his Bachelor of Arts (Econs & Political Science) from the University of Auckland, and his Master of Applied Finance & Investment from FINSIA. He has also completed professional development with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the NZ Institute of Directors.

He sits on the Boards of Tri NZ and Cure Kids, and he also has professional affiliations with FINSIA, NZID, and INFINZ. Reuben has also represented New Zealand at the ITU and the World Masters Games, and in 2021, he was accredited as a Lydiard Foundation athletic coach.

Tara Druce

Trade Commissioner (France, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium), NZTE

Tara is New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner based in Paris, France where she is responsible for promoting and facilitating trade opportunities and strategic relationships for New Zealand businesses across France, Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands.

Tara joined NZTE as a Customer Manager in March 2023, supporting New Zealand tech and services companies to scale globally. She also led NZTE’s support of New Zealand’s rapidly growing gaming sector.

Before her tenure at NZTE, Tara’s career spanned various business leadership roles, including Director of Business Growth and Sustainability at Business South Inc. and Business Growth Manager at the Otago Chamber of Commerce. During the COVID-19 pandemic she led the programme of business support and recovery for Otago. She also founded Druce Consulting, where she provided strategic guidance across tourism, horticulture and viticulture sectors. She speaks French and holds a Master’s Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Geography.

Mark Baker
Chief Executive Officer, BESIX Watpac

Mark Baker is the Chief Executive Officer of BESIX Watpac and has been with the company for over 15 years. He has more than 25 years’ experience across a wide range of industries in business operations, strategy, finance, and corporate governance, and has led the company through a period of significant transformation over the past several years.

Under his leadership, BESIX Watpac has delivered high-value projects across Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on stadiums and venues, defence and secure facilities, complex industrial works, data centres and health infrastructure.

He has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance. Mark is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia, the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. Mark is also a member of the Board Executive of the Australian Constructors Association.

Julien Guéry

Business Development Director - VINCI Highways

Over the last 17 years, Julien has gained significant experience in developing infrastructure concessions and PPP projects in the mobility sector internationally (highways, rail, airports, urban projects).

As Business Development Director, Julien is focused on developing VINCI Concessions' portfolio of highways.

Julien Guéry, is a graduate in civil Engineering of the École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et d’Industrie of Paris (France), and holder of a Master’s Degree (MSc) in Construction Management from the University of Birmingham (UK).

Guido Cacciaguerra

Head of PPP & Concessions Australia, Webuild

Guido Cacciaguerra is an experienced infrastructure developer with a combined 15 years in negotiating and implementing big transportation infrastructure projects with a focus on PPP and concession projects.

Before moving to Australia, Guido worked and lived in Europe, the US, Russia, Asia, and Africa. Guido’s hands-on approach to projects gave him the chance to be involved in all the multifaceted phases of the preparation and delivery of big PPPs, from dealing with Ministries, governmental agencies, and international financial institutions, to managing key stakeholders affected by the projects.

Originally a lawyer specialising in international construction contracts, during his career Guido has acted as General Counsel, Head of International Business Development and is currently heading the development of all PPP projects in Australia for Webuild.

Since 2019, Guido has been directly involved in most of the major infrastructure PPP tenders in Australia such as North East Link in Melbourne and Inland Rail G2K in Queensland.

Guido is currently director of the Spark Project Co delivering the North East Link Program in Melbourne. He has previously served as GM, Chairman and Director of various operating companies.

Rene Piil Pedersen

Managing Director, A.P. Moller Singapore (Maersk)

Rene Piil Pedersen is Managing Director of A.P. Moller Singapore (Maersk), responsible for a fleet of 140 container vessels representing over USD 5 billion in investment. He has been based in Singapore for nearly 15 years and brings over 30 years’ experience in business development and government relations in global trade, shipping, supply chains and infrastructure.

His career with Maersk has included leadership roles across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas, as well as board positions with activities in global investments in shipowning, regional shipping services, and energy/offshore.

Rene holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Copenhagen and an AMP from IESE Business School, Barcelona. A Danish national, he is married with two sons.

Stephen Jacobi

Chair, NZ/EU FTA Domestic Advisory Group

A former diplomat and trade official, Stephen Jacobi has served in various capacities including stints leading both NZ US and NZ China Councils as well as the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). Stephen is Managing Director of Jacobi Consulting Ltd and last June stepped down after 18 years as Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum. He is a frequent media and public commentator on industry, trade and international issues. He has been appointed as an Honorary Senior Fellow at the Helen Clark Foundation, writing on foreign affairs and trade. He continues as New Zealand Director for the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum.

Marko Mihkelson
Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee, Estonian Parliament

Marko Mihkelson is Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Estonian Parliament and a senior member of the Reform Party. First elected in 2003, he has chaired committees on foreign affairs, defence, and EU relations, and is a leading voice on Estonia’s security and international policy.

A former journalist and editor, Marko previously directed the Baltic Centre for Russian Studies. His career has focused on transatlantic relations, NATO cooperation, and regional security.

He holds a Master’s degree in history from the University of Tartu. Marko is the recipient of numerous international honours and is active in NATO Parliamentary Assembly work.

Paweł Pudłowski

Deputy Chairman of the Board, Polish Investment and Trade Agency

Paweł Pudłowski is a manager with experience in the energy sector in gas and liquid fuel companies. He held managerial positions in the world's largest corporations and Polish state-owned companies. From 1994 to 2008, he worked for BP, for some time, in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Turkey, India and Germany. He was the Development Director of the exploration and production department of Marathon Oil Corporation, as well as the Deputy Chairman of LOT the Polish Airlines Group.

In the years 2015-2019, Member of the Sejm (Polish Parliament), where he held the following positions, Chairman of the Committee on Digitization, Innovation and New Technologies, member of the Committee on Economy and Development and the Committee on National Defence, Chairman of the Parliamentary Team of SMEs, Deputy Chairman of five bilateral groups: Polish-Australian, -British, -Chinese, -Mexican and -USA.

A graduate of the Poznań University of Economics (Summa Laude), a scholarship holder of the TEMPUS program (Great Britain), gained a PhD from the AGH University, he obtained the title of Six Sigma Master Black Belt, completed business courses at: Harvard Business School, INSEAD, Ashridge.

Matej Michalko

CEO, Decent Cybersecurity

Matej Michalko is a leader in post-quantum cybersecurity, AI, and blockchain with over 15 years of industry experience. As Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Decent Cybersecurity since 2015, he developed dCore, the world’s first blockchain platform dedicated to media, aerospace & defense, and cybersecurity, with a focus on post-quantum cryptography. Mr. Michalko has guided Decent Cybersecurity to become a key participant in the €32M AIDA project funded by the European Defence Fund. Under his leadership, the company offers innovative post-quantum cryptographic solutions including CryptoSleuth, CyberFort Blockchain, and SecureSat Guardian, holding NATO, EU, and national security clearances at the “Secret” level. Recognized by Forbes 30 under 30, Mr. Michalko has expanded Decent Cybersecurity internationally with offices across five countries. He began mining Bitcoin in 2010 and has since pioneered several blockchain and post-quantum cryptography initiatives globally. He continues to drive innovation in quantum-resistant cybersecurity solutions for critical sectors worldwide.

Ivan Hudaly

Managing Director, Podravka Australia

Ivan Peter Hudaly, Managing Director of Podravka Australia, a subsidiary of the Podravka Group Croatia, the country’s largest food company, brings 30 years of experience in the FMCG industry with expertise in importing, exporting, and operations. He has successfully led projects across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, driving business results through local operational setups, distribution networks, and brand development in both grocery and HoReCa channels.

Known for strategic insight and a practical approach, he combines operational excellence with strong relationship-building skills, collaborating effectively with clients, partners, and stakeholders. His leadership is defined by a focus on sustainable growth, integrity, and a commitment to delivering measurable results. Extensive experience and a results-driven mindset continue to strengthen Podravka’s presence and reputation in the region.

Ludvig Landgren

Managing Director of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand

Ludvig Landgren is the Head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand and been in the role since May 2025. In this role, Ludvig will continue working with service providers, government and other telecommunication ecosystem players across ANZ to redefine how our industry can unlock the full potential of 5G.

Prior to this, Ludvig used to lead Cloud, Software and Services & Enterprise for Ericsson in the Market Area Southeast Asia, Oceania and India (MOAI). In this role, he held the P/L for the division and led a team of 1000 direct reports across Southeast Asia, India and Australia & New Zealand.

Ludvig is a global citizen having lived in 9 countries, working for Ericsson in 6 of them. He has been with Ericsson for 25 years, having started his career at Ericsson’s Global Headquarters in Sweden in 1999. In his tenure, he has held leadership roles in sales, solution sales and product management positions across markets in Asia including Japan, China as well as in Europe. He has extensive experience in Asia Pacific, having been based in the region since 2004.

Born in New Brunswick in Canada, he holds a Master of Science in International Business Administration from Lund University’s School of Economics and Management and studied two degrees in parallel with Bachelor level studies in Data Communications and Corporate Information Systems.

Ludvig is an accomplished marathon and endurance athlete and has completed numerous Ironmans and Ultra marathons including the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) and Mount Fuji (UTMF) which include continuous mountain running, totaling 170km. Most recently, in 2024, he completed Namib Race – a 250km self-sustained desert run over 6 days in up to 53 degrees heat. With his family he enjoys snowboarding, skateboarding, wing foiling and wakeboarding.

Dr Michelle Dickinson

Founder, Matter Workshop

Dr Michelle Dickinson is a nanotechnology engineer and has over 20 years of global experience in technology research, commercialisation, and education. She has advised governments, corporates, and start-ups internationally on the adoption of new technologies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and the future of work.

Michelle has held academic and corporate research positions in engineering, founded a global science education company, and now leads Matter Workshop, which helps large global organisations build knowledge and confidence when applying new and disruptive technologies.

Blair Oldershaw

Director, Space Systems New Zealand, Rocket Lab

Blair is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of Rocket Lab Space Systems in New Zealand, overseeing a diverse portfolio of programs and capabilities that drive innovation and excellence in the space industry. His role encompasses research and development, production, manufacturing, and operations across multiple cutting-edge space systems initiatives.

The Space Systems New Zealand division has established world-class expertise in in- space propulsion systems, advanced fluidics, mission design, flight dynamics, satellite operations, and scalable component manufacturing. These capabilities contribute to Rocket Lab's mission of delivering end-to-end space solutions, from satellite manufacturing to launch and on-orbit operations.

Prior to joining Rocket Lab, Blair served more than 20 years in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where he held a variety of technical and operational leadership roles. His final position was as the Commanding Officer of No. 40 Squadron, responsible for operating and maintaining the C-130 aircraft fleet during the transition to the newly acquired C- 130J Super Hercules. Another key leadership role Blair undertook was the establishment and operational management of New Zealand's Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. At its peak, Blair oversaw more than 22 dedicated facilities and managed a workforce of 3,500 people, ensuring the safety and security of New Zealand's borders during an unprecedented global crisis.

Blair holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in Economics and Finance. He was awarded a prestigious postgraduate scholarship to study Mathematical Economics and Econometrics at the University of Edinburgh.

Tim Williams

Managing Director, NILO; Chair, Icehouse Ventures

Tim Williams is Managing Director of NILO, a cleantech company transforming plastic waste into eco-friendly adhesives for the global wood-fibre board market. And Chair of Icehouse Ventures. Based in Auckland, he is a leading entrepreneur and investor with a background in internet advertising, e-commerce and venture capital across Japan and New Zealand.

Tim co-founded ValueClick Japan and later founded ValueCommerce, which he led to listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2000 and 2007 — the first and second company ever listed by foreign entrepreneurs in Japan. ValueCommerce now facilitates more than US $5 billion in e-commerce transactions each year. Since returning to New Zealand in 2011, Tim has chaired Icehouse Ventures — the country’s largest venture-capital firm with over NZ $1 billion under management — and serves as a director of ad-tech company Shuttlerock and construction technology business the Donovan Group.

Fluent in Japanese and English, Tim holds a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) in Molecular Genetics from the University of Canterbury. NILO, his latest venture, was named among the world’s top 50 emerging cleantech firms at the 2024 Cleantech Awards in Paris.

David Downs

CEO, The New Zealand Story; Genetically Modified Optimist

David has had a successful career in the private and public sector and is now CEO of The New Zealand Story, an ambitious government-funded organisation marketing New Zealand to the world. He also acts as a consultant and is a director on several boards, including as Chair of The Icehouse.

David is an ex-comedian, TV and radio actor, semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year, cancer survivor and a published author of the books No.8 Re-wired, No.8 Recharged, A Mild Touch of the Cancer, and Silver Linings. David founded SOS Business, a hugely successful not-for-profit initiative to help cafes and other small businesses during covid-19.

Pr. Frank Bloomfield

Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Auckland

Professor Frank Bloomfield is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) for the University of Auckland, taking up the role in March 2023. Prior to this, he was Director of the Liggins Institute, one of the university's Large Scale Research Institutes. He is a Professor in Neonatology, having worked clinically for many years as a Consultant Neonatologist at Auckland City Hospital. Frank previously has been President of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Perinatal Society of New Zealand.

Frank took a BSc (first class honours) in Experimental Immunology and Oncology at the University of Manchester and then MBChB, also at Manchester. He trained in paediatrics in the north-west of England, obtaining MRCP before moving to New Zealand where he specialised in neonatal paediatrics, obtaining FRACP. He took a PhD in paediatrics at The University of Auckland and spent two years in Toronto as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto and a neonatal transport fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children. He was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Neonatology at The University of Auckland and a specialist neonatologist at Auckland City Hospital in 2002. In 2013 he was promoted to Professor and in 2015 was appointed Director of the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland.

Stephen Forshaw

Chief Representative, Airbus - Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific

Stephen joined Airbus in 2022 and is responsible for representing Airbus, covering all business divisions: Commercial, Helicopters, Defence & Space. He is concurrently the Head of External Affairs, Asia-Pacific and a member of the Airbus Asia Pacific Leadership Team.

Prior to Airbus, Stephen was Head of Public Affairs, and MD Australia & New Zealand, for Temasek, the Singapore investment company. He has worked with Microsoft and Singapore Airlines in Singapore and Australia, and was Chief of Staff to the Deputy Chief Minister of the ACT. He started his career working for QANTAS in a customer service role.

He sits on a number of company boards and advisory councils in both Singapore and Australia, including the Jet Zero Council, which advises the Australian Government on pathways to sustainable aviation.

Stephen was awarded the COVID-19 Resilience Medal by the Singapore Government; a national award recognising those who participated directly in Singapore’s fight against COVID-19.

Stephen holds an MBA from the University of New England; and is a citizen of both Australia and Ireland, and a permanent resident of Singapore.

Mark Rocket
CEO, Kea Aerospace; President, Aerospace New Zealand

Mark is an Internet and aerospace entrepreneur from Christchurch, New Zealand. He is CEO of Kea Aerospace, which develops solar-powered, stratospheric UAVs for aerial imaging and monitoring, and President of Aerospace New Zealand, whose mission is to promote the interests of the New Zealand aerospace community. He was a seed investor in Rocket Lab, where he served as co-Director until 2011, and this year he flew to space with Blue Origin.

Israel Lozano Barragán

Managing Director, Navantia Australia

Mr Lozano was appointed as Managing Director and Vice President of Navantia Australia in May 2021. He is based in Sydnay, New South Wales after relocating from Madrid, Spain. Prior to this appointment he held the position of International Business Director at Navantia Australia’s parent company in Spain, where he was responsible for Business Operations including Australia.

Mr Lozano has 25 years of experience working

for Navantia. He has worked most of his career in international projects, in the areas of surface vessels and submarine vessels manufacturing, shipbuilding project management, business development, transfer of technology and sustainment.

He holds a M.Sc. in Naval Architecture and an Executive MBA by IESE Business School.

Markus Moeller

Member of the Management Board responsible for Business Development and Strategy, OHB SE

Dr. Markus Moeller joined the Management Board of OHB SE in July 2023. OHB SE is a European leader in Space and Space Defense, headquartered in Germany. Markus previously held senior management positions at Thales SA, Atos SE and Siemens AG. He focuses on company transformation at the intersection of business and technology. As a polyglot he lived and worked in the US, South America, Europe and Asia. Markus holds a Ph.D. from the Paris University Sciences et Lettres and is an AMP graduate of the Harvard Business School.

Hema Sridhar

Deputy Director, Koi Tū Centre for Informed Futures

Hema leads our work with government relations, technology and its impact on society, and foresight. She has nearly 20 years of experience in government, primarily in the defence and national security sector. In her previous role as the Chief Advisor for Industry and Science at the Ministry of Defence, she worked together with industry, research and science entities, government agencies and international partners to provide strategic advice to inform policy formulation, governance and capability decisions.

In her former capacity as the Chief Science Advisor for Defence, she worked closely with the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor (PMCSA) and other Chief Science Advisors to contribute to government strategic thinking and decision making.

Hema has a strong background in emerging and disruptive technologies with a focus on risk, governance and impacts.

Hema has a Master of Science in Physics and a Bachelor of Technology in Opto-electronics from the University of Auckland.

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Prime Minister of New Zealand

Hon David Seymour Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand