Chief Economist at Simplicity

Shamubeel Eaqub makes economics easy and fun. Shamubeel is the Chief Economist at Simplicity. He is also an author, media commentator and a thought leading public speaker. He graduated with Honours in Economics from Lincoln University and is also a CFA Charter holder. He has 25 years of experience as an economist in Wellington, Melbourne and Auckland in leading financial institutions and consultancy (ANZ Bank, Goldman Sachs JBWere, NZIER, Sense Partners and Simplicity). He balances a portfolio of economics, consulting, public speaking, governance and family duties. He lives in Auckland with his wife and two sons.

Partner, Parry Field Lawyers

Judith is a Partner at Parry Field Lawyers, working in a variety of areas including extensive experience across Commercial, Property, and Construction law. She acts for a wide range of clients, from not-for-profits and charities to private and small and large commercial clients, as well as Community Housing organisations, and institutions navigating claims of historical abuse in care.

She regularly advises on property developments, covering all stages from land acquisition, development including subdivision, and construction. Community Housing is a particular passion for Judith, sparked from a governance role for a charitable trust developing and providing social housing units. Judith is one of the leading experts in this field and she regularly speaks on the topic and shares her knowledge.

Te Wā | The Space

Originally from Taranaki, Bea Gladding (Ngāti Porou / Ngā Puhi) is an artist working across Aotearoa. Her connection to te ao Māori and its values have driven her work in both theatre and music. In Tāmaki Makaurau, Bea was the director of The Jingle Bellethon Telethon (Basement Theatre 2023) and was a performer, co-director and sound designer for Josiah Morgan’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for Auckland Pride in 2024. She has also acted and directed in The Duffy Books in Schools programme and Sexwise. Bea received a Creative New Zealand Toi Rangatahi Leadership Grant towards workshops with young Māori and Tagata Moana. She was also the recipient of the Creatives in Schools grant to teach underprivileged youth through electronic music and theatre.

Bea performs and produces electronic dance music under the name MR MEATY BOY, creating music that resists simple categorisation and centres marginalised identities across techno, bass and post-club. In 2021, she co-founded Routine Magic, a Māori-led DJ course for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ participants.

In 2024, she co-established Te Wā, an artist-led space supporting Māori, Tangata Moana and queer artists outside the mainstream. Her work centres experimentation, collaboration, and creative exchange across the motu.

Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Awesome

Graham is CEO of Ministry of Awesome, leading its mission to build a unified, collaborative startup ecosystem across Aotearoa to support aspiring founders. A seasoned innovation leader, he brings deep expertise in driving strategy, designing cross-functional programmes, and bridging the worlds of government, universities, startups, and industry.

Executive Director, Climate Foundation New Zealand

Izzy Fenwick is the Executive Director of the Climate Foundation New Zealand, leading efforts to accelerate systemic, real-world emissions reductions across Aotearoa. She also serves on the Board of The Aotearoa Circle, a unique public–private partnership advancing natural capital as a foundation for national prosperity. A Fellow of the Observer Research Foundation (India) and the NEXT Foundation (NZ), Izzy is passionate about diplomacy, leadership, and the responsibilities we hold as global citizens. A sought-after public speaker and facilitator, she has advised Ministers and senior leaders on climate, energy, and innovation. With a background in communications, design thinking, behavioural psychology, and start-ups, Izzy combines her entrepreneurial drive with a global outlook.

Habits of High Performers

James Laughlin stands at the forefront of High Performance Leadership and Personal Mastery, earning global recognition as a pioneering strategist in the field. He is the #1 best-selling author of Habits of High Performers, a seven-time world champion musician, and a trusted advisor to leaders and teams at the highest level.

Chief Executive, Community Finance

James is the Chief Executive and founded Community Finance in 2019. Community Housing Funding Agency (CHFA) is managed by Community Finance, New Zealand’s leading impact investment platform for housing. James originally practiced as a commercial lawyer and then was Chief Executive of a non-bank deposit taker, managing almost $250m. Challenged by the scale of our country’s affordable housing crisis, James launched Community Finance with a dream of positively transforming Aotearoa and using finance as a force for good.

Co Founder, E Tū Tāngata

Jay is the Co Founder of E Tū Tāngata and is working with an amazing team to develop and implement this movement. Jay is excited to see how E Tū Tāngata can be utilised across New Zealand to create a culture where we stand together rather than pull each other down. Jay has been involved in youth work since 2003 and is passionate about young people, their families and the communities they live in. He led 24-7 YouthWork for over 10 years and is an influential leader and strategic thinker. Jay is not one to walk away from challenges and flourishes on seeking solutions for impossible tasks. This leads to many whiteboard sessions as he loves to approach problems from an alternative perspective.

Co-Founder and CEO, Fundsorter

Lani Evans is the Co-Founder and CEO of Fundsorter, making funding easy for New Zealand organisations by helping them find and apply for contestable grants. Lani has spent the last ten years leading philanthropic foundations. She is co-founder of Share Collective and Generous Ventures, and was the founding CEO of Thankyou Payroll. Lani is a 2024 Equitable Futures Fellow at the East-West Centre, a past recipient of the Winston Churchill Fellowship, an honorary member of Philanthropy New Zealand and was awarded a New Year’s Honour for services to social enterprise.

General Manager Innovation and Business Growth, ChristchurchNZ

Martin Cudd is ChristchurchNZ’s General Manager Innovation and Business Growth and is tasked with supporting businesses and industries to improve their performance and grow sustainably. Martin is an experienced economic developer, who prior to joining ChristchurchNZ spent nine years with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, both here in Christchurch and in San Francisco. He brings a wealth of knowledge from both the private and public sectors and has a huge passion and enthusiasm for the growth of the city.

CEO, Community Housing Aotearoa

Paul is an experienced, values-driven, professional with a successful domestic and international career in public and private sectors. He brings expertise in business development, strategic planning and organisational change. Paul is CEO at Community Housing Aotearoa  and most recently he held senior management roles at Community Finance, Positive Capital and the New Zealand Housing Foundation.  With his long-standing experience in community housing, and its finance, he has worked alongside Māori, church, commercial and community groups.

Paul believes in the significant contribution, and distinctive value, delivered by the Community Housing sector. Paul is widely networked within the New Zealand housing system and brings a passion for collective impact and unlocking the power of working better together.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Business Network

The founder of Sustainable Business Network (SBN), Rachel has played a critical role in advancing sustainable business for almost 20 years. She is a regular presenter, collaborator and driver of action within NZ business. She provides strategic sustainability advice to countless government agencies and businesses, ranging from large corporates to small enterprises. In 2018 she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for years of service to sustainable business.

Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kāinga Maha.

Annie brings together deep commercial development expertise and an equally deep commitment to social outcomes. Her career has spanned the for-purpose, charitable, local government and commercial sectors, all through the lens of residential-led development. What drives Annie is the conviction that the skills and rigour of good development practice – when pointed in the right direction – can unlock genuinely flourishing communities, not just buildings.

Co-CEO of Responsible Investment

With a distinguished 20-year career at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Estelle Parker brings crucial expertise in government relations, policy-making, and themes important to responsible investors, including human rights and the SDGs. As a leader driving RIAA’s research, certification, policy, standards, and working group programs, her leadership has elevated these initiatives to achieve heightened levels of professionalism, impact, and value delivery for our members, aligning seamlessly with RIAA’s strategic objectives.

 Beyond her organisational impact, Estelle is a respected figure in the responsible investment landscape, serving as a strong advocate on influential global and government committees, including the Principles for Responsible Investment’s Global Policy Reference Group, the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance and the Australian Government’s Natural Capital Working Group. Additionally, she serves as the Convenor of the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures official Consultation Group for Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Steering Committee for the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute. She is also a member of the Council of the Australian Institute for International Affairs (Victoria).

Senior Associate, Parry Field Lawyers

Yang is a Senior Associate at Parry Field Lawyers. He qualified as an attorney in New York in 2010, practiced in China and the Middle East for a New York based international law firm, and later as an Associate General Counsel for a Middle East national oil company. He specialised in cross-border corporate transactions, multi-national joint ventures, and development of complex infrastructure projects.

Leveraging his international experience, he now regularly advises on entity structuring, intellectual property ownership and licensing, software agreements, mergers and acquisitions, investment fund establishment and fundraising. Yang particularly enjoys supporting purpose-driven charitable entities and New Zealand start-ups to navigate legal risk by ensuring they understand the practical and legal issues needed to make informed decisions. Yang is an advisory board member to Entre (the University of Canterbury Entrepreneurial Student Club) and a mentor with Ministry of Awesome.

Solicitor, Parry Field Lawyers

 Annemarie is a Solicitor at Parry Field Lawyers, working in the Impact and Commercial teams. Annemarie gets great satisfaction from working with clients, demystifying aspects of law and helping clients to choose the right legal structures for their circumstances. She also enjoys assisting with governance and helping to iron out legal ambiguity. She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.

Go Able

After years of facing daily challenges accessing places and activities many take for granted, Auckland-based wheelchair user, Daisy, is transforming her experience into action through Go Able, a tech platform designed to revolutionise accessibility across Aotearoa.

Go Able is a map-integrated, review-driven website that empowers wheelchair users with reliable, user-generated accessibility information. Featuring colour-coded routes, authentic reviews, and real-world accessibility insights, it helps users plan the easiest path to their destination. A unique business leaderboard rewards venues that lead in accessibility, encouraging positive change nationwide. As the first platform of its kind in New Zealand, Go Able provides a holistic tool to improve independence, inclusion, and quality of life for people within the accessibility community.

Managing Director, Boardworks

Paul is Managing Director of Boardworks, a governance advisory and board evaluation consultancy, supporting Crown entities, iwi, private corporations and purpose-driven organisations to strengthen board effectiveness. He brings an outcomes focus across governance practice, performance assessment, capability uplift and assurance, grounded in commercial and for-purpose leadership experience.

Paul holds an MBA and BE (Civil), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a Member of the Institute of Directors and has completed executive education at IMD Business School, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and Duke University. He is the inaugural Executive Director of the humanitarian collaboration Emergency Alliance, is Chair of Independent Living Charitable Trust, and Chair of architecture and engineering services firm Stephenson & Turner.

Cofounder, Circle Living

Simone is the cofounder of Circle Living, a people-first property development company, building cohousing neighbourhoods across Aotearoa. She is an architect, urban planner and serial entrepreneur passionate about reconnecting humanity through building intergenerational neighbourhoods. She's also an Edmund Hillary Fellow, Coralus Activator and mother of two.

Executive Director, The Gift Trust

Cheryl manages and oversees The Gift Trust. She has over 25 years experience in the non-profit sector, in New Zealand and the UK, specialising in philanthropy and donor relationships. She enjoys helping philanthropists to develop their funding strategy, using best practice philanthropy tools and managing respectful and collaborative grant relationships. 

Cheryl was inspired to work in the sector from an early age by her passion for social justice and environmental issues. She started her career in NZ but lived and worked for 20 years overseas – in England for 17 years and initially in Japan for 3 years. Before joining The Gift Trust she worked for a range of non-profits in senior management, fundraising and project development roles. Cheryl has worked for environmental causes such as Friends of the Earth UK and Groundwork Hertfordshire, arts organisation the South Bank Centre and international development organisation ActionAid.

Chair of Australasian Housing Institute Aotearoa Branch

Ali is currently the CEO of Te Matapihi the National Māori Housing Peak Body. She is an accomplished senior professional with a wealth of experience spanning various facets of the housing system, Primary Health Care and Social Services. She is known for pushing the boundaries and taking a proactive stance towards action. Her unwavering commitment to her people can not be understated.

Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an aptitude for implementing strategic initiatives that drive positive outcomes for communities. As a seasoned change agent, she excels in complex environments, translating innovative ideas into tangible results, while championing culturally responsive practices and advocating for a Māori perspective that aligns with the aspirations of whānau.

Noteworthy accomplishments include a Executive Masters of Business Administration her thesis being "Is tikanga a valid model for strategic planning in New Zealand Business" a Masters in Advanced Leadership Practice her thesis “When you are not tangata whenua on your own whenua," where the findings were presented at an International Homelessness Conference in Toronto Canada. Ali also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Specialising in Māori Policy.