David Carter is one of the founders of Stratos Technology Partners and chair of Canterbury Tech. He is passionate about the development of the tech echo system in Christchurch with the aim of a prosperous, sustainable and vibrant economy for future generations.

Geoff Brash is the founder and CEO of GBJ Innovation. GBJ works with entrepreneurs and startups to help them launch, grow, and raise investment. Prior to GBJ Geoff cofounded SLI Systems, a specialty ecommerce site search company, and held positions of CFO, VP of Marketing, and VP of Business Intelligence. SLI listed on the NZX in 2013 and has Annual Recurring Revenue above $30m.

Michaela Allen currently works at the Ministry of Education as a Senior Advisor in the Transformation of Education. In the past she has been a deputy principal of two big city schools, a principal of two small rural schools and a classroom teacher of every primary year level.

April McLennan April McLennan is the founder and team lead for Christchurch-based youth organszation Limitless. She aspires to see young people equipped with greater agency, self awareness and tools to navigate their pathway to work, and to pursue work that aligns with their strengths and values.

Deanne Thomas is a senior leader and Kaihautū Māori at CORE Education. She is a mother and grandmother of present and future generations of learners, innovators and drivers of existing and yet to be imagined technologies. She is also an observer, critiquer, guider and promoter of a bilingual, bicultural Aotearoa.

Hori Te Ariki Makai

Israel Cooper is the co-founder and managing director of the Buildtech Group, a national and international construction and development organisation with a mission to build flourishing communities and eradicate global homelessness. Israel is also the Chairman of Parachute Music, which is a Charitable Trust that has a mission of influencing pop culture, and in particular music, for good.

Janelle Riki-Waka is a Project Lead in Kia Takatū ā-Matihiko the National Digital Readiness Programme which supports teachers and leaders in their implementation of the Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content. She has a love for all things digi tech and gets excited about how our tamariki are using digital technologies to create new and exciting things.

Simon Brown's the COO at Banqer, the financial education platform used by more than 150,000 Australasian primary students. Simon's role at Banqer is varied and includes leading their product team and working closely with their partners.

Keryn Davis is a senior leader and Design Solutions Champion at CORE Education. Innovation, design and creativity is what she’s all about. A researcher and writer on creative and critical thinking, she has worked closely with entrepreneurs and innovators to develop approaches to activate innovation and speed up change in education.

Kerry Hall is an Education Consultant with Evaluation Associates. Prior to that she was Associate Principal at Cashmere Primary where one of her key roles was as the leader of future focused education. Kerry has a passion for utilising digital devices to remove barriers to learning, as well as leveraging digital to accelerate access to the world beyond the learning space and cultivate deep learning for all.

Jamie Berry of Te Aitanga Mahaki is a Multidisciplinary Artist and Filmmaker based in Wellington. Jamie currently works within team CORE Digital and exhibits work around Aotearoa and internationally. Jamie participated as a delegate / Doco maker / Artist in a recent trip to New York to represent at the UN Forum for Indigenous Issues. Jamie is an aunty to 16 tamariki who are her main motivators to help build a sustainable and equality future for all.

Kimberly Sexton is currently working as CORE Education's campaign and marketing strategy specialist, promoting numerous products, services and events to Aotearoa's education sector. Previously Kimberly has also worked in advertising and publishing. She has spent a significant part of her career developing strategic and creative content for many promotions, published on various platforms.

Hamish Taylor is currently working as a content and communications marketing specialist at CORE Education focusing on the planning and production of quality content and information for a wide range of audiences. Prior to that Hamish worked in the advertising industry and has held marketing management roles for private training colleges who specialise in training students in the design and arts, digital, and multimedia industries.

Renee Raroa specialises in facilitating professional learning experiences in innovative practice, digital fluency and future-focused pedagogies. Renee hails from Rangitukia on the North Island's far east coast and has a passion for supporting small communities to be empowered to celebrate their unique potential. Renee is also a co-founder of Startup Weekend Tairāwhiti and Kiko Innovation, running community events which create impact through action.

Meredith Noonan is Marketing Manager at CORE Education. With over 15 years experience across brand, communications, content, customer experience and loyalty marketing, she has a critical eye for creativity and innovation and enjoys providing her team with the tools to think outside the square and allow creativity to flow.

Lauren Douglas works as a Communications Coordinator within CORE Education’s marketing team. She is passionate about writing and photography and uses these skills across web, social media and print campaigns. Lauren has written her own blog for a number of years and prior to starting at CORE, spent time working in Australia and the United States.

Christina Ward has been involved in the design and development of teaching and learning resources for almost 30 years. A former teacher, Christina has led numerous national education resource and website developments, and is an experienced programme leader. She joined CORE Education in 2004, and until recently led CORE’s Curriculum Support Resources (CSR) team and research and innovation.

Michelle Tamua has been a primary school teacher, curriculum leader and team leader, working at all levels. In the past she has also written education programmes for Auckland Museum, and taught social studies education to undergraduates at Auckland University.

Pikihuia Little has worked in the film and television industry in various camera roles working on independent films, music videos, and TV documentaries. She has collaborated on kaupapa Māori video projects as a videographer/editor/documentarian working in museums, with contemporary Māori artists and local Iwi Ngati Toa. She was Director of Photography for a new Wellington-based comedy-drama web series, ‘Potluck’.