Workshop Speakers

Speakers are listed below in the order of their sessions.

Hon. Bill Englishbill-english1

Bill English is New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure, and MP for Clutha/Southland. He was first elected to Parliament in 1990 and has previously held ministerial posts in education, health and revenue. He led the National Party from October 2001 to October 2003.

Hon. Paul Goldsmith (Parliamentary Host)

Hon-Paul-Goldsmith-160pxElected as a National List MP in 2011, Paul Goldsmith lives in the Epsom electorate with his wife Melissa and their four children. Born in Mt Eden, he attended Auckland Grammar School and has an MA in history from the University of Auckland. After working in parliament as a speech writer and press secretary for three cabinet ministers, he returned to Auckland and the public relations industry.

Paul stands for an open, outward-looking, multi-cultural, dynamic and democratic New Zealand, where our institutions are based on equality and accountability. For ten years before he entered Parliament in 2011 he built his own business, operating as a business historian and biographer. He has written widely about our country’s history, the development of its economy and its place in the world. His two most recent books are biographies of well-known New Zealand businessmen Alan Gibbs (Serious Fun) and Sir William Gallagher (Legend). From 2007 to 2010 he served as an Auckland City Councillor. In Parliament he chaired the Finance & Expenditure Select Committee.

Following re-election to Parliament in 2014, he was made a Minister outside Cabinet with portfolio responsibility for Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Paul was also made Associate Minister for ACC. Paul is an enthusiastic pianist and has a broad interest in the arts; he has a 2nd dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do and plays on the right wing for the Parliamentary Rugby team.

Pre-Workshop: Sunday, 6 December 2015

Dr Carwyn JonesDr Carwyn Jones 160x200

Carwyn Jones is a Senior Lecturer in the Victoria University Faculty of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University, and a Master of Arts from the York University in Canada. Before joining the Victoria University Faculty of Law, Carwyn worked at the Waitangi Tribunal, the Māori Land Court, and the Office of Treaty Settlements. He recently completed a PhD at the University of Victoria, British Columbia. His dissertation is entitled ‘The Treaty of Waitangi Settlement Process in Māori Legal History’. Carwyn’s other research interests include constitutional and administrative law, indigenous governance structures, research ethics and methodologies, and indigenous peoples’ rights. Carwyn is the Co-editor of the Māori Law Review and maintains a blog, Ahi-kā-roa, which explores current issues in the law relating to Māori and other indigenous peoples. Carwyn has spoken at three previous Institute workshops – EmpowerNZ (2012) and LivingStandardsNZ (2013) and the Civics and Media Project Workshop 3 (2015).

Day 1: Monday, 7 December 2015

Session 2: A Practical Perspective

Dame Diane RobertsonDiane-Robertson-160px

Dame Diane Robertson (DNZM) is Chair of the Data Futures Working Group. She is a qualified teacher, counsellor and family therapist. She is the Chair of the James Liston Hostel Trust and the Chair of the Committee for Auckland Trust. She is a member of the Institute of Directors; a Paul Harris Fellow and was awarded a Sesquicentennial Medal for Services to the Community. Diane was appointed Dame Companion in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

David Rutherford

David Rutherford

David Rutherford is Chief Human Rights Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission. His thematic portfolios include: education, human rights mainstreaming, civil and political rights, business and human rights and the Treaty of Waitangi. Prior to this David was Managing Director of the Special Olympics Asia Pacific based in Singapore. He has been CEO of the New Zealand Rugby Union and Chairman of the Special Olympics in New Zealand, and he was on the Special Olympics International Board. He has also worked as a sport and commercial lawyer at Bell Gully, Gibson Sheat and Toronto firm Goodmans.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

Craig SmithCraig Smith

Craig Smith Barrister and Solicitor has practised as a Criminal Lawyer based in Porirua since 1986 when the District Court opened. The practice includes Jury Trials and work as a Youth Advocate, where he works with his clients and their families. Craig has lectured Police officers undergoing Youth Aid Officer training at the New Zealand Police College as well as mentoring young Criminal lawyers. He has two adult children and enjoys all sports, outdoor activities and reading.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

Suzanne-snively_160px

Suzanne Snively

Suzanne initially came to New Zealand as a Fulbright scholar of economics. In 2005 she was awarded an ONZM for her services to women and business, and she was recognised as Wellingtonian of the Year in 2013 for her efforts in breaking the cycle of family violence. She is a former partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Wellington and is currently involved with the leadership of the Health Research Council, Transparency International, Vincents Art Workshop and the New Zealand Opera amongst other organisations. Suzanne is also Independent Director of the New Zealand Army Leadership Board. She has been an analyst of New Zealand’s economic position for over 30 years.

Chris Theobald web

Chris Theobald

Chris Theobald is a first time principal at Holy Family School in Cannons Creek, Porirua. Having completed his Masters of Education in 2012 with a focus on Pasifika Education, Chris is now applying this knowledge in a heavily Pasifika setting. Holy Family School has 82% of its students drawn from Pasifika communities (in addition to 10% Maori and 8% Columbian/Burmese refugee students).

Chris believes in the true power of education in breaking down barriers and broadening horizons for young Pasifika students, many of whom are living in low socio-economic communities like Cannons Creek. He knows that while education must be future focused, there is also a need for a real and deep connection to the identity and culture of each student. It is through this desire to get to know his students and whānau that Chris has further developed his understanding of the small and large impacts of poverty on every aspect of family life and, by wider extension, society as a whole in Aotearoa.

Chris has a wife who works as an emergency nurse and three young children, which tends to lead to a crazy but fun home!

See video footage of the speakers’ presentation here.

Gina LefaoseuGina Lefaoseu Photo w160

Gina is the current Deputy Principal of Holy Family School in Cannon’s Creek. (Holy Family School is a decile 1 school that serves an almost entirely Māori and Pacific Community). Holding various roles within the school over a number of years has enabled Gina to have an insight into the daily struggles that are present for those most in financial need in our society. Despite there being significant hardships faced by these families, Gina is continually surprised at the joy and laughter that exists, proving that money is not a pre-requisite for happiness. Gina has a strong ability to think critically about the delineation between the impact of culture/s and the impact of poverty in its various guises on family life. Gina has a husband in I.T. and three teenage daughters.

Session 3: An Economic Perspective

Dr Eric CramptonEric Crampton_highres 160x213

Dr Eric Crampton joined The New Zealand Initiative as Head of Research in August, 2014. He served as Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Economics at the Department of Economics & Finance at the University of Canterbury from November 2003 until July 2014. He also blogs at Offsetting Behaviour.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

 

Geoff LewisGeoff Lewis Bio photo w 160

Geoff was the Inquiry Director at the New Zealand Productivity Commission for its recent inquiry into More Effective Social Services. He also led its inquiries into Boosting Productivity in the Services Sector (2014), International Freight Transport Services (2012) and the Trans-Tasman Economic Integration study (2012).

Geoff has worked extensively on the economics of productivity, including cross-country comparative analysis and productivity measurement. Prior to joining the Commission at its foundation in 2011, Geoff was a Principal Analyst and Director at the New Zealand Treasury for 16 years. The areas he worked in there included productivity and innovation, economic growth, financial markets, saving and investment, Auckland’s economic performance, and tax policy.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

Dr Ganesh NanaDr Ganesh Nana Headshot w160

Ganesh is Chief Economist at BERL (Business and Economic
Research Limited) – a privately owned, independent economic research consultancy. His current focus is on the Māori economy, and the inter-relationship of the Māori economy to the wider New Zealand economy. Ganesh has over 30 years of experience in the field of economics since first working as a researcher at Victoria University and joining BERL in 1983.  His experience includes a variety of contract project work for BERL; research, tutoring and lecturing at Victoria University; as well as macroeconomic policy analysis and forecasting during a four-year stint in the UK using the IMF Multimod model.

Despite his passion for numbers, Ganesh believes economics is about people; their jobs, incomes, opportunities and futures. He strongly believes robust economic analysis is critical to ensuring informed choices and policy decisions are made that have positive effects on the life and prospects of New Zealanders.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

Max RashbrookeMax-Rashbrooke_160px

Max Rashbrooke is the editor of Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis (June 2013) and the author of The Inequality Debate: An Introduction (July 2014). He is also a research associate of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. As a journalist, he has written stories for national newspapers and magazines in Britain and New Zealand, including The Guardian, the National Business Review and Metro. He has twice been the recipient of the Bruce Jesson Senior Journalism Award and is a 2015 Winston Churchill Fellow.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

Awerangi TamihereA Tamihere Dec 2015 w160

Iwi: Ngāti Kauwhata, Rangitāne, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhaakata.

Awerangi is the Director Strategy, Innovation & Design of Te Whānau O Waipareira and the Strategy & Innovation Lead of Te Pou Matakana. She is responsible for developing and implementing Waipareira’s multi-sector NGO strategy so to meet successful long term outcomes for Whānau. This includes high level design through to incubation and successful implementation of transformational strategies. Waipareira is an urban Maori organisation based in West Auckland which:

  • Provides integrated multi-sector services for Whānau
  • Undertakes thought leadership roles on whanau transformation nationally and globally and
  • Advocates for Urban Māori.

Awerangi is also responsible for development and implementation of commissioning for outcomes strategy across Te Pou Matakana, the newly established Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency for the North Island. Awerangi brings a depth and breadth of experience across public, private and Māori sectors. Prior to joining Te Whānau O Waipareira and Te Pou Matakana, Awerangi was a management consultant providing advice and support on governance and strategy. Her work experience in Government has included advising and supporting the implementation of health reform at national (Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet), regional and local levels. She has also held senior management strategy and planning positions in the health sector and with Iwi. While working in the private sector, Awerangi was Associate Director for KPMG, responsible for leading the NZ national Māori consulting team and providing business advice to clients.

Session 4: A Focus on Tensions and Tradeoffs

Anne-Marie BrookAnne-Marie Brook, for Motu Economic and Public Policy Research. Photo credit: Stephen A’Court. COPYRIGHT ©Stephen A’Court

Anne-Marie Brook is a Principal Advisor in the Social Inclusion team at Treasury. She has degrees in Economics and Psychology from the University of Otago and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University. Anne-Marie started her career at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and then spent 6 years at the OECD in Paris. Since joining Treasury she has worked on macroeconomic and fiscal policy, before more recently turning to social policy. She also works part-time at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research where she is developing a global collaboration to design and produce measures of human rights for countries. Outside of work Anne-Marie spends most of her time hanging out with her partner and trying to keep up with their seemingly tireless 7-year-old son.

Kristie CarterKristie Carter

Kristie is a principal advisor in the social inclusion and analytics and insights teams in the Treasury. She provides advice around equity for the Treasury’s Living Standards Framework.

Kristie’s background is in public health (at the University of Otago, Wellington) researching the ethnic and socio-economic determinants of health and the implications of epidemiological research on policy decision making.

 

Session 5: Informal Dinner with MPs and Treasury team

Ria BondRia Bond 160px

Ria Bond is a New Zealand First List MP based in Invercargill, and currently sits on the Commerce Committee. Her successful business background in the hairdressing industry included serving as the President of the New Zealand Association of Registered Hairdressers and member of the Board of Directors of the Hairdressing Industry Training Organisation.

Ria has been involved with the New Zealand First Party for the past four years. Prior to entering Parliament as a New Zealand First List MP she was the New Zealand First Party Invercargill Electoral Chair and a member of the Board of Directors. She currently represents several community organisations in Southland, including member of Venture Southland Advisory Committee, hairdressing advisory member of Southland Institute of Technology and member of Rotary.

Marama Fox Marama Fox - approved w160

Marama Fox is the Co-leader of the Māori Party and list MP based in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, elected in the 2014 General Election. Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Marama worked for 26 years in the education sector; at the grassroots level in the classrooms, working her way up eventually becoming Principal, before working for the Ministry of Education as an advisor.

Her work in the education sector reflects Marama’s commitment to whangai tamariki- the upbringing of our children, a commitment that saw her steady hand raising nine children. It saw Marama’s passion to positively impact tamariki grow.

Since being elected as an MP, Marama’s ability to impact has grown to a national level. As Co-leader of the Maori Party, Marama is committed to promoting Whanau Ora, the flagship policy of the Maori Party. Whanau Ora, a unique way of delivering social support, has always resonated with Marama and her whanau. Marama feels Whanau Ora is about empowering people to determine their own future, confront their own challenges and ultimately take responsibility for them, with the support of others if necessary.

Marama is a staunch advocate of indigenous rights. Since first entering the classroom, Marama constantly challenged her colleagues to better support their Maori students. More recently, Marama has worked alongside the #SOSBLAKAUSTRALIA campaign, protesting the forced closures of indigenous communities in Western Australia, which saw international coverage and simultaneous protests occur world wide.

Marama has taken on the role as advocate for indigenous rights in the New Zealand Parliament, following in the footsteps of not only her predecessors, Hon Dame Tariana Turia and Hon Sir Pita Sharples, founding Co-leaders of the Maori Party, but also from those who have advocated kaupapa Maori over the numerous decades to attain the array of Maori initiatives supporting our rangatahi.

Hon. Nanaia MahutaNanaia-Mahuta w160

Hon. Nanaia Mahuta is the MP for Hauraki-Waikato and is currently the Labour Party spokesperson for Māori Affairs and Treaty Settlements, and is the Senior Māori Vice-President of the Labour Party. Since becoming an MP, Nanaia has been committed to youth development, advancing Māori success through education and training opportunities, Iwi development, care for kaumatua, support for Māori women and sustainable ways to care for the environment and create jobs. Nanaia’s other roles include:

  • Trustee of Te Whakaruruhau Māori Women’s Refuge
  • Trustee of the Waikato College for Research and Development
  • Co-Chair of the Waikato-Tainui Governance and Representation Review
  • Parent on the Te Kaahu Kohanga Reo Committee
  • Patron of the Rahui Pokeka Waka Ama club.

Nanaia Continues to be an active member of her community, her Iwi and her whānau

Day 2: Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Session 6: Q & A with Tim Jackson

Prof. Tim Jackson (via Skype)Tim-Jackson-160px

Tim Jackson is Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey. He currently holds a Professorial Fellowship on Prosperity and Sustainability in the Green Economy (PASSAGE) funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). He will direct the multi-disciplinary Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), also funded by the ESRC, starting in January 2016.  He is the celebrated author of Prosperity Without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet, and is an award-winning playwright with numerous radio-writing credits for the BBC.

Session 7: The stress-test panel share their perspectives 

These speakers will also join the participants for Session 8 : Group Observations and Session 12: Presentation Preparation to the stress-test panel

Janell Dymus-KureiJanell

Iwi: Te Whakatohua, Ngai Tuhoe, Tainui

Janell originates from Opotiki in rural Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Growing up in a district that is considered one of the most deprived places to live, Janell has experienced first-hand the implications of living in a community affected by poverty. However, she believes that New Zealanders need not be defined by such labels, but rather that we need to collectively curate ways to tackle poverty.

Having studied a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a pathway in Health Policy and Māori Health, Janell is strongly interested in Māori Health and in the distribution of inequities within society, and she is infinitely committed to reducing the disparities in health outcomes for Māori. Janell has worked in various parts of the health sector including youth development, youth engagement, health promotion and health policy (Auahi Kore and alcohol harm minimisation, nutrition and physical activity, Well Child, and water safety).

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

Sachiko Shimamoto Sachiko w160

Sachiko Shimamoto is a health promoter at He waka tapu where she works with Māori whanau encouraging them to lead healthier lifestyles. She works in some of the lower decile schools in Christchurch and her challenge has always been trying to find a way to promote nutrition and health to whanau who have little to no income. Sachiko has said ‘I myself grew up in a home where finances were tight, access to services was restricted and life was tough, I know first-hand what it can be like, I am very passionate about the welfare of my people and I have a desire to help and make a difference’. Sachiko is a 29 year old mother of 3 from Māori and Japanese decent.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

Shaun SuttonShaun 160px

Shaun Sutton is Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Teach First NZ, having led its establishment and growth since 2010. Shaun is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the organisation, and for its key partnerships across the private, public and non-profit sectors. Before returning to his hometown of Auckland to begin the process of establishing Teach First NZ, Shaun was a Teach First participant at a secondary school in west London. There he saw firsthand the potential of his students, juxtaposed against the realities of educational inequality. During his time teaching Shaun achieved a one hundred per cent pass rate for his GCSE-level classes, introduced a successful debating club, and led the school’s first ever involvement in the ‘Bridges to Africa’ fundraising walk. Before his time with Teach First in the UK, he worked for two years in London as a Business Analyst, specialising in the telecoms and media markets while on a graduate development programme. Shaun completed his undergraduate degree on scholarship in Japan and South Korea, has a MA degree from the University of Leeds, and has also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership at the Institute of Education in London. He has volunteered for Tearfund, an NGO that posted him to Rwanda for three months, and has also completed an internship at Teach For All, the global organisation that helps share best practice across similar ‘Teach First’ programmes around the world.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.

Tania TapsellTania-Tapsell-Bennett-160px

Tania Tapsell is one of the youngest councillors in New Zealand local government, having been elected onto the Rotorua District Council at 21 years old. She is also a current member of the Ministry of Youth Development’s National Youth Advisory Group and has been involved in various youth development projects and initiatives at a local and national level.

See video footage of the speakers’ presentation here.

Emma Thompsonemma w160x213

Emma Thompson is the Practice Development Leader for Te Roopu Āramuka Whāroaroa, a case co-ordination service operating in the mental health directorate at Capital and Coast District Health Board.  Āramuka works intensively with clients experiencing severe deprivation to rebuild trust, to amplify strengths and dormant capabilities and to journey to wellness. At a systemic level Āramuka strives to mobilise the ability of the mental health and homeless sector to respond collaboratively and confidently to this highly vulnerable and disenfranchised population. Emma has worked in the mental health and addictions sector for 13 years.
Chris Theobald web
Shay Wright

Originally from the Far North, Shay Wright was the founding Head of Māori Development at the Icehouse, an internationally recognised business growth hub based in Auckland. He has worked with Māori leaders throughout New Zealand, focusing on leadership training, social strategy and innovation, and helping them to grow their organisations to deliver initiatives that improve the wellbeing of their communities. He is also deeply passionate about education and is one of the founding board members of Teach First NZ, which recruits and develops talented individuals to be effective teachers in underprivileged New Zealand communities.

See video footage of the speaker’s presentation here.
Su'a Thomson w160

Su’a Thomsen

Su’a Thomsen has been recently appointed as Principal Adviser Treasury. He has been appointed to help Treasury build its Pacific policy capability and to support Treasury enhance its external relationships with the wider Pacific community in New Zealand.

Su’a was awarded a Foreign Affairs Scholarship to study in Otago University before returning home to work in the Department of Justice Samoa. He returned to New Zealand 1985 and worked as a Probation Officer for the Ministry of Justice and Department of Corrections and then as District Manager Community Corrections, for the Porirua, Lower Hutt and Wellington areas. He is a former Student Unit Supervisor for Victoria University and has also worked for MSD, TEC and the Ministry of Education in New Zealand. He is the former Deputy Chief Executive for policy for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs New Zealand and he has recently returned from a 4 year posting in the Pacific as the international Director Strategic Partnerships and Coordination for the Pacific Island Leaders Forum Secretariat based in Suva Fiji. Su’a combines skills in operational management and in international policy development in the Pacific region.

 

Day 3: Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Session 16: Stress-testing with the Chief Economist

Dr Girol KaracaogluGirol-Karacaoglu-160px

Dr Girol Karacaoglu is the Deputy Secretary – Macroeconomic, International and Economic Research and Chief Economist at the New Zealand Treasury. He joined the Treasury on 1 March 2012. His role is to provide strategic leadership on broad economic policy issues, in particular fiscal and monetary policy settings, and New Zealand’s international linkages. The Chief Economist role is critical to championing and lifting the quality and capability of the Treasury’s economic advice. Girol came to the Treasury from The Co-operative Bank, where he was Chief Executive for nine years. His previous roles include General Manager at Westpac NZ, Chief Economist at the National Bank of NZ, and lecturer in economics at Victoria University of Wellington. He has a PhD in Economics and an MBA, and is fluent in French and Turkish.  He has three adult daughters and one son and enjoys reading, classical music, walking, dancing, movies, and family activities.