Speakers
Pio Terei
Pio Terei MNZM has turned his many talents into a stellar career as a musician, comedian, actor, whānau advocate, speaker, and hunter-gatherer presenter. From Māori radio he moved to screen comedy; Pete and Pio, The Life and Times of Te Tutu; drama Mataku, No 2; entertainment Big Saturday Night In, It’s In The Bag; travel Intrepid Journeys, Te Araroa: Tales From The Trails, Off The Grid; and food Kai Safari, Tangaroa.
Pio Terei is one of television’s great survivors. He has carved himself a career as a Māori entertainer and feels passionate about both those roles. He has always been proud of being Māori. He has always entertained easily and effortlessly in the way of his people. Pio derives sustenance from being a part of the wider whakapapa of Māori entertainment. Ancestors in that illustrious family tree include the marae orators and singers of his Tai Tokerau tribes. More recent forebears include the Māori showband generation and iconic greats like Ricky May, Tūī Teka, Sir Howard Morrison and Billy T James. Pio has always used his skills in the tradition of someone who is the total package: Singer, musician and comic.
Paul Tupou Vea
Paul Tupou Vea
Ko Tongatapu te motu, Ko Te Moana Nui a Kiwa te moana, He Tangata Tiriti ahau.
I’m a proud Aotearoa-born son to amazing Tongan parents – mother (Ha’ateiho, Pea) and father (Kolomotu’a) from Tongatapu. My work, mainly in Tāmaki Makaurau over the last 20 years, has always had a social good focus, spanning youth development, education, wellbeing consulting and now violence prevention with Le Va.
I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing teams and organisations across Aotearoa and Australia. More recently I have worked between education institutions (primary to tertiary) and local council. I have maintained involvement in the not-for-profit community sector as a board member with the Graeme Dingle Foundation and was recently the president of the New Zealand Association of Positive Psychology.
My talented educationalist wife and three sons keep me paddling on the windless days.
Dr Hana O'Regan
Dr Hana O’Regan has worked in the areas of language revitalisation, identity and cultural development, te reo Māori, and education for over 25 years.
She is a published author and composer and is recognised internationally for her work in indigenous language acquisition and revitalisation.
A graduate of Te Panekiretanga (the Institute of Excellence in Te Reo Māori), Hana is widely respected for her Māori language contribution, skills, and advocacy.
Hana has held two director positions on the senior executive at ARA Institute of Canterbury, has been the general manager oranga for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and has held many positions on national boards, review panels, and committees across the areas of education, Māori development, national identity, Treaty rights and policies, and health.
Since late 2020, she has been Tumu Whakarae of Tātai Aho Rau – CORE Education, a for-purpose organisation with a focus on equity through learning.
Hana’s passion for education, community, history, and equity has resulted in a career committed to working with organisations, businesses, and individuals to support and enhance positive outcomes for learners and whānau. Dr O’Regan was appointed to the Tribunal in 2021.
Dr Lucy Hone
Dr Lucy Hone is a bestselling author, resilience researcher and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the University of Canterbury.
An internationally recognised thought leader on coping with change, loss and uncertainty, her TED Talk, Three Secrets of Resilient People, has been viewed more than nine million times and translated into 23 languages.
With a background in education and wellbeing science, Lucy’s work helping schools build wellbeing and resilience has been recognised internationally. She was part of the collective leadership effort that emerged following the Canterbury earthquakes, contributing to the development of wellbeing initiatives through the Grow Waitaha network.
Combining world-leading research with lived experience, Lucy is known for translating complex ideas into practical strategies that help individuals, leaders and communities thrive through challenge and change.
David Galbraith
David Galbraith (aka DG) is a NZ Registered Clinical Psychologist and renowned performance coach with over 20 years of experience in sports, business, and life. David has been privileged to support many elite athletes and teams, coaches and leaders during this time, including four Olympic Games.
As the Mind Coach for the Chiefs Super Rugby team, Japan 15s Brave Blossoms, and top athletes like Lisa Carrington, Sarah Walker and Laura Langman, David’s expertise in mental skills and performance psychology has deepened to a level where he understands the difference between what is needed to perform at the highest level and under the deepest pressure on the world stage.
Having transitioned from elite sport only, to being available for anyone who wants to get the most from life and business, DG facilitates one-on-one coaching, group coaching, business coaching and is available as a keynote speaker.
He is also the author of “Unleashing Greatness,” a book that has sold very well across NZ and beyond.
Beyond his professional achievements, DG is a dedicated son and father, managing a sheep and beef farm in King Country while caring for his family.
Michelle Dickinson
Dr Michelle Dickinson MNZM is a pioneering engineer and technology strategist, now serving as Chief Strategy Officer at Workr, a Silicon Valley robotics company tackling one of manufacturing’s biggest challenges: the global labour crisis.
Michelle’s career bridges science, engineering, and emerging technologies, driven by a passion for making complex ideas understandable and actionable. With a PhD in Biomedical and Materials Engineering, specialising in advanced nanomechanical techniques, Michelle’s academic research produced an extensive body of work across materials science and biomedical engineering.
Her expertise has guided some of the world’s largest technology companies through the rapidly evolving landscapes of nanotechnology, AI, quantum computing, and sustainable technology. Alongside her industry leadership, Michelle continues as an honorary academic in engineering at the University of Auckland.
As co-founder of Nanogirl Labs, she created innovative STEM education programmes that reached global audiences, before founding Matter Workshop to champion creative approaches to STEM learning and corporate technology training. She also serves as an Honorary Wing Commander in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Beyond her technical achievements, Michelle is a bestselling author, award-winning television presenter, and host of top-charting science podcasts. Her ability to connect science to everyday life has made her a trusted voice in public science communication.
Her contributions have been recognised with numerous honours, including the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to science communication, the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award, the Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication Prize, and the Women of Influence Award for Science & Innovation.