Shanon O'Connor (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu) is the Founder and Director of Tōnui Collab, a kaupapa Māori-driven STEMM learning provider, creating equitable opportunities for rangatahi in te Tairāwhiti to explore the diversity and intersection of Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Mātauranga Māori so that the potential of rangatahi Māori to be STEMM leaders and innovators can be realised. Shanon has a BComm in Information Systems and a Masters in Contemporary Education. She is a member of the kawanatanga for Te Ao Matihiko and a Council Member for EdTech NZ.

Head of Wealth Management Operations Forsyth Barr

While with-profit enterprises focus on ROI (return-on-investment) as a means of calculating and demonstrating value to stakeholders, non-profits need a different calculation to understand whether or not they are succeeding in their purpose, with volunteer engagement and member activation both key parts of this measurement. 

By the end of this session, you’ll learn how organisations with a social purpose, (using grassroots community sport as an example), can measure their performance with an equation reflecting their latent potential to create enormous value for communities throughout the country. 

Head of Sustainability, Chorus New Zealand Limited. Hannah worked in the financial services sector for decades, before moving to the telecommunications industry. With over 18 years’ experience in communication roles, her drive has always been about people. 

In her current role at Chorus, Hannah leads the sustainability strategy and team, with a focus on environmental and social initiatives that can help Aotearoa New Zealand thrive. Hannah is mum to two young boys. Born in the UK, Hannah has lived in Aotearoa New Zealand for the last 11 years. 

Warren is the Chief Executive for the Katoa Connect (formerly known as 20/20 Trust), where the core service provision is digital inclusion programmes across Aotearoa New Zealand. In his role, he is continually fostering strategic relationships and partnerships that aim to address digital equity through digital inclusion initiatives. 

Warren has executive and senior management experience in IT, business and tertiary education spanning more than 25 years, and he holds numerous governance roles in Māori in technology, research infrastructure, regional development, youth education, Crown Research Institutes, digital equity, as well as a member Institute of the Directors and IT Professionals NZ. Warren aims to share his experience to conference attendees the positive impact of collaboration between technology industry leaders and community groups such as Katoa Connect Trust.

Nathan has experience entrenched in the enablement of culturally empowering practices.  A former University Lecturer in Te Reo Māori and Culturally Responsive Practices, Nathan is an active leader and regarded speaker in the development of safe places for Māori nd indigenous communities. 

He has delivered multiple layers of impact spanning from rangatahi Māori (youth), through to the deep implementation of tikanga Māori and cultural competency into corporate and government organisations. 

Hosted By: Brett Jeffery, New Zealand Society of Association Executives (NZSAE)

In the heart of our discussion on 'Flowing Together: Ethical Sponsorship and True Partnerships in Community Empowerment,' lies the fundamental principle of value alignment. It’s not just about the resources exchanged or the logos displayed; it’s about forging deep, meaningful connections that stand on a shared vision for the community's future. 

This key direction underscores the necessity for organisations and their sponsors or partners to not only share common goals but to also embody shared ethical standards and practices. Such alignment ensures that every partnership we enter not only amplifies our reach but strengthens the very fabric of our community networks, leading to sustainable, impactful empowerment. 

You will walk away with understandings on how you can:

• Develop trust and ensure transparency 
• Establish shared goals and milestones 
• Cultivate a partnership ecosystem  

Hosted by: Mathew Reweti, Projects Manager Katoa Connect.

Matthew will provide insights from his experience both as a fundraiser and as a grant-maker. Then he’ll share some fundraising experiences that aren’t grant related. 

Hosted By: Dr. Warren Williams

Katoa Connect CEO Dr. Warren Williams invites attendees to a open conference style World Cafe.

In this session you will drive the kōrero around topics you bring to the table. The open ambiance of the cafe style is to allow multiple chats between small groups to dive deeper into the ideas and issues important to you. 

Hosted by: Robbie Taylor

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua will utilise this workshop to seek your input on opportunities, concerns and challenges as the RBNZ/TPM explores new ways to provide cash services that New Zealanders want, including digital cash.

Garth Nowland-Foreman has worked his whole life (since he was 16!) in, with, and around not-for-profit organisations - in government policy units, in a Minister's office, as a funder, teaching in a tertiary programme on non-profit management, but mostly in leading non-profits and supporting other leaders - which he now does full time as a co-founder of the social enterprise, LEAD Centre for Not for profit Leadership www.lead.org.nz. Familiarity has not bred contempt. He remains passionate about how a people-led, values-focussed can be the source of real change for good in society.

Make no mistake, these are dangerous times. Not just for the cut-backs themselves, but even more so, because the threat of retrenchment can lead to defensiveness, hunkering down, focussing inward on our own survival (and bugger the rest!). But these challenges also offer opportunities for growth - not in a superficial, empire-building way, but in growth in depth, putting down more secure and sustainable roots that will ultimately set us up to thrive. Explore how the unarguable excrement of today's challenges may be redeemed into fertilizer for real growth by: understanding our greatest capabilities; focussing on our fundamental 'why', engaging in meaningful and generous collaboration; and, opening up to genuine curiosity, learning and continuous improvement.