David Downs

Chief Executive at New Zealand Story

Attracting and retaining talent during a global skills shortage is difficult, so it’s more important than ever to understand your employee value proposition, as well as how to communicate your firm’s brand, culture and business strategy.

New Zealand Story Chief Executive David Downs will help you to develop the narrative that sets your business apart so you can attract the highly skilled workers you need, retain your current talent and inspire the next generation into our sector. As part of his presentation, David will be coaching one lucky audience member to develop that story live on stage.

He will provide a storyteller’s perspective on what defines the construction and infrastructure sector in Aotearoa and how to enhance our reputation beyond natural beauty in a competitive global economy.

Dr Lucy Hone

Co-Director of New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a lot about the responsibility of businesses to provide mentally healthy workplaces. Taking care of your most important assets – your people – is critical for business success.

We know that resilient teams are high performing and the demand for wellbeing support from the current workforce is high, however providing the right support and leading your team through uncertainty can be exhausting and lead to burnout. Who supports you at work? Who do you “safely” download to?

Dr Lucy is Co-Director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience, Adjunct Senior Professor at the University of Canterbury and blogger at Psychology Today. In this presentation about taking care of yourself to take care of your business, she will pose challenging questions and share actionable steps and tools so you can sustainably thrive as a high performing leader.

Rabia Siddique

Humanitarian, author and hostage survivor

The ability to lift and inspire others to action is critical for leaders, whether it be on a war-torn battlefield or in a team meeting.

Retired British Army officer, criminal and human rights lawyer, and former terrorism and war crimes prosecutor Rabia Siddique will draw on her personal story of resilience, courage, strength and forgiveness to talk about authentic leadership.

Her presentation will help you to truly step up in times of uncertainty and adversity by choosing to adapt, thrive, learn and lead positive change by seeking out opportunities. She will explore what it means to display moral courage and lead by example, to stand up for your principles in the face of adversity and to live what you preach.

Rabia’s journey of battling discrimination, abuse, chronic illness and post-traumatic stress disorder after her involvement in a hostage crisis in Iraq, and then being written out of history, is one not to be missed.

Eruera Lee-Morgan

Pou Ārahi - Māori Cultural Leader at Stantec

Eruera Lee-Morgan from Te Arawa and Tainui waka has a strong passion for environmental sustainability and more than 30 years enhancing Māori communities' development through media, Eru is adept at communicating significant intellectual traditions.

He believes our work must reflect the aspirations of Māori people and connections to their environment, which are physical, spiritual, emotional, and genealogical. This means drawing on Māori methodologies and models in planning, design, consenting and project management, with the goal of equity for people and the natural environment.

Maureen Thurston

Chief Experience Officer at Aurecon

As consultants we have a tendency to lean towards low-cost procurement at a time when our industry needs to be brave as we shift to broader outcome procurement and enduring community outcomes.

Aurecon’s Chief Experience Officer Maureen Thurston will explain why it’s important to redefine what we mean by value and how we can use innovation and procurement to deliver better outcomes for everyone.

Maureen has global experience working with executive leadership teams across a broad range of industries. She takes a systemic, human-centric approach to transform an organisation based on purpose, people, process and place. Her presentation will challenge you to unleash an enterprising spirit within your business.

Colin Crampton

Chief Executive at Wellington Water

Colin is responsible for Wellington Water's overall leadership and management, as well as the business's performance and service delivery for its clients. He is also responsible for progress towards the company's strategic goals, which are set with the management team and Board of Directors.

As the leader of Wellington Water's team of about 200 full-time-equivalent employees, staff welfare and personal development are also among Colin's top priorities.

Colin was appointed to the role of chief executive of Capacity Infrastructure Services in November 2013. Prior to joining Capacity, he was the Group Manager, Highways and Network Operations, at the New Zealand Transport Agency, where he had worked for 20 years.

Shelly Davies

Speaker, trainer and disrupter

As consultants you know the value of your work, yet it’s the clients who are driving the price. This presentation by straight-talker Shelly Davies will encourage you to confront the way you value what you do and be bold enough to charge what you’re worth.

Shelly is a business writer, trainer and keynote speaker who helps businesses and government departments turn corporate and bureaucratic jargon into plain but powerful, clear language.

She will share her journey to operating her business with authenticity and the unapologetic courage to charge for the value she knows she delivers.

Minister Nanaia Mahuta

Minister of Local Government and Foreign Affairs, and the Associate Minister for Māori Development

Nanaia is the Minister of Local Government and Foreign Affairs, and the Associate Minister for Māori Development. She is a tribal member of Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Manu and her parliamentary experience has enabled her to contribute to the collective aspirations of Maori and all New Zealanders. She has supported policies and initiatives that built the capacity of communities, especially social service organisations, greater investment in education, employment and training opportunities, and supported the continuation of the Treaty settlement process.

Minister Mahuta will talk to us about what it takes to maintain strong leadership and vision in the face of challenges, and the Governments commitment to grow a strong and diverse workforce to deliver on our infrastructure goals.

Melodie Robinson

Melodie Robinson is a well-known sports journalist, commentator and former international rugby player who is now General Manager of Sports and Events at TVNZ.

She has an MBA from the University of Auckland Business School and is the founder of The Wonderful Group, which supports women to advance their position and influence in the sports media industry. In 2020, Melodie was appointed the International Rugby Players representative on the Rugby World Cup Limited Board.

Melodie is a media personality with high credibility in the sporting world and a professional wealth of experience. We look forward to seeing her take the helm at the ACE New Zealand Conference 2022.

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