Ian's story mirrors New Zealand's growth from its days as an agriculture-based economy where he laboured in the freezing works during the school holidays. Through the swinging 60s and 70s he was a singer in a rock and roll band, before being called up in the army. By 1980, he had completed a law degree and started an entirely new career in television, where he was part of an industry that went from black-and-white film to colour video and on into the digital age.

Today, working from their base in Dunedin, ARL (Animation Research Limited) covers sports events all over the world. They also have a joint venture with Airways New Zealand, who market the Air Traffic Control Simulator ARL built for them something they had never built before. They continue to service the F1 Race Car simulator they built for one of the world’s leading F1 Race Teams. They had never built one before. They built an online Risk Assessment platform for one of the world’s largest mining companies. They had never built one before. They built an online application to demonstrate the power of the IBM cloud-based analytics engine, which they presented to a conference of 22,000 delegates. They built it in three weeks. They had never built one of those before, either.

In 2019, Ian started Land of Voyagers which he says is the “most important work of his life.” Land of Voyagers documents the Polynesian voyage to Aotearoa in a way that’s never been done before, in order educate New Zealanders and to celebrate the incredible story of our Polynesian ancestors.

Watch Sir Ian Taylor's Ted Talk here.

Kathryn Berkett has been teaching audiences about themselves for over sixteen years. She is the master of getting across research-based, neuroscientific information in a way that is easy to understand, internalise and translate into practice.

What is it about that moment when we can’t find our keys? Or we can’t remember the new password we entered? Or we are standing in front of someone and their name just won’t come to our lips? Maybe you want to know about that person in your team who seems to ‘block’ any ideas or progress? Or you want to know why you can’t get into the ‘flow’ some days but can in others? Kathryn will unpack the stress response and our neurobiological reactions to our environment in a way that will have you saying: “Oh my goodness - that makes complete sense! This information will give you the insight and clarification to set in practice new ways of avoiding these moments. And when you can’t avoid these moments (because lets be real - we are only human) you will have more understanding of why they happen, and be more likely to forgive yourself and those around you. A great way to improve our world - one situation at a time!

Kathryn’s work has resulted in thousands of people to be inspired, validated and energised by the information she imparts. Many have cited the way Kathryn delivers this information as being ‘life changing’. Her natural speaking passion ensures the communication happens at the right level to hit the mark for your session.

Growing up in Otago, Matt was the sensitive youngest child in a family of four boys, with a difficult home life in which high standards were paramount. After trying his first drink at fourteen, Matt found himself in a decades-long spiral of aimlessness and heavy drinking - despite the physical and mental toll the booze took on him.

Behind the success of his career, Matt was barely coping, driving himself into the ground. One day something snapped. After admitting in a social media post that he was struggling with depression, Matt was shocked at the outpouring of public support. It would be the catalyst for him to face up to his unhappiness and change his life.

 Matt started writing Imposter during the 2020 level 4 lockdown, soon after he had relocated down south to the small town of Omakau, located in Central Otago. His book paints a picture of a smart and gregarious man marred by a difficult childhood, crippling perfectionism, problem drinking and, as the title suggests, imposter syndrome - the boy from small-town Central Otago, whose favorite hobby was tailing lambs, never felt he belonged in the world of TV.

As a speaker, Matt shares his honest and inspiring story in the aim to help others who are battling their demons

Meihana has been Chair of MANUKURA since 2016 and involved with MANUKURA since its inception in 2005.  He has had involvement with a range of kaupapa Māori architectural projects including: Mana Tamariki (2007), a Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori in Palmerston North; Ngā Purapura (2012), a Whānau & Community Wellbeing Complex at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki and Te Rau Karamū Marae (2021) a Massey University Marae on the Pukeahu Campus in Wellington. 

Professor Meihana Durie will discuss how the centrality of hapū-informed narratives have informed the conceptual design components of the new MANUKURA Campus. MANUKURA is a groundbreaking hapū-led educational initiative that maintains a high performance focus, embracing Māori academic achievement, sporting success and  cultural excellence.  Meihana’s talk will also touch on a number of key kaupapa, tikanga and kawa-based elements that enabled the architectural team to realise the overaching vision for MANUKURA.

Ko Pukehapopo te maunga, Ko Waiomoko te awa, Ko Ngāti Konohi te iwi, No Whāngārā ahau, Ko Reid-Te Purei toku whānau, Ko Lynette Reid toku ingoa.

Lynette’s relationship with the field of career development in Aotearoa has spanned a period of well over twenty years. With an interest in the life stories of others, the field of career development AND those in the field, have gifted her with time, and space to share in many wonderful stories of how people view life and where ‘career’ may (or may not) fit.

Over Lynette’s career in careers, she has held positions as an employment advisor, career counsellor, senior lecturer, scholar and researcher in career development, and leadership positions across the university system. It is career counselling that remains at the heart of her mahi. Lynette is currently connected with the Education Partnership and Innovation Trust in Onehunga, working within careers research whānau and other projects that enable her to serve the career development field in Aotearoa.

Lynette describes her ‘being-ness’ in career development as Māori. Being from Whāngārā, being the eldest, being bought up by her maternal grandparents and great grandparents, being colonised, being different and being unique, to name a few. Claiming and reclaiming all experiences of being Māori continues to challenge and inspire the field of career development, and as Lynette states, “so it should”!

Lynette’s kōrero will explore the identity work Māori navigate in career development, and how the field supports, and constrains our (Māori) encounters, explorations, discoveries and explanations.   

Professor Reremoana (Moana) Theodore (Ngāpuhi) is the Director of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (the “Dunedin Study”). Described as the most detailed study of human health and development in the world, the Dunedin Study has followed the lives of 1037 babies born at Queen Mary Maternity Hospital, Dunedin/Ōtepoti, between April 1, 1972 and March 31, 1973. Dunedin Study members have now been participating regularly in the Study, for more than 50 years. Moana is only the third director of the Dunedin Study and the first Director that is the same generation as the Study members (Generation X).

Moana’s interests lie in understanding how people’s lives unfold, how what happens to us when we are young affects us over the lifecourse, and how knowledge and experiences are passed down from generation to generation. She will talk about the Dunedin Study as it marks more than half a century of research. She will also talk about her own career journey. Moana grew up in South Auckland in the 1970s and 80s, when there was no clear pathway to university. Unsure of what to do after leaving school, Moana would follow in the footsteps of her tuakana (older sister) who was the first in the whānau (family) to attend university. A decision that would not only change her life but the lives of others around her.  

Known as a true MC triple threat, Doug Kamo is one of the busiest MC’s, producers, directors and entertainment practitioners in the country having amassed an impressive array of drama, television, concert, musical theatre and corporate entertainment credits.
With 25 years in the entertainment industry, his skills as a writer, comedian, singer and entertainer ensures every client receives a tailormade, exciting and above all fully engaged MC experience, one that has seen his services contracted across the globe for corporate giants such as Rugby World Cup, Flight Centre, Vodafone, L’Oreal, Air New Zealand, Coca Cola, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sovereign Insurance and many others.

As a producer and director he has been responsible for over 60 national and international musical theatre productions including The Rocky Horror Show, Les Miserables, The Producers, The Addams Family, The Buddy Holly Story, JC Superstar, Hot Shoe Shuffle, Cabaret, Chess, Me & My Girl, 42nd Street and A Chorus Line. He toured New Zealand & Asia in the international casts of Chicago & Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Combining an infectious personality and endless supply of energy with a wealth of experience as a successful businessman in the entertainment and event sector ensures every client receives a well-planned, well prepared, and engaging MC experience.

Stay tuned for the unveiling of additional speakers who will elevate the CATE Conference experience with their expertise and insights.