Keynote Speakers
Nick Marsh, Director, Next Corporation
Nick Marsh is the Managing Director of Next Corporation, based in Auckland, with offices in Melbourne, Christchurch, and Port of Spain, Trinidad. Strategic Foresight helps leaders in organisations to look into the future of their sector and develop powerful frameworks and focused strategies on which path to take.
He began his career in England, Africa, and America and has since consulted widely in NZ and Australia. He was a principal in the team, which designed and delivered the Foresight Project of NZ which spawned 150 sector foresight projects across all sectors and has reshaped national thinking about innovation and development in New Zealand.
Neil Richardson, Co-Founder of Endace
& Former Chair of FRST
Neil Richardson has a diverse and successful track record over thirty years of business life. This involves an unusual and comprehensive record of skills, experience and achievements in business management, marketing, enterprise governance, investment, advisory/consulting and academic pursuits.
Neil is currently Chairman/Shareholder of New Zealand Home Loans and SmartTrade and a Co-Founder/Major investor in Endace and Imada. He was previously Chairman of OHL, Visique, Norris Ward McKinnon, AgResearch and The Foundation for Research Science and Technology and Director of WEL Energy.
Gavin Lennox, CEO, Nextspace
Gavin leads the Nextspace team as it works towards creating a vibrant 3D visualisation industry that makes complex 3D data accessible, easy-to-use and interactive in a range of applications. Under his leadership, Nextspace is creating a global advantage for New Zealand in 3D visualisation through developing new commercial markets, education and research. With extensive experience in general management, sales, marketing and service operations, he is committed to taking Nextspace from start-up to a self-sustaining organisation. Gavin has successfully led and grown software and technology businesses and brings an international business perspective having lived and worked on three continents.
Mayor Bob Simcock, Hamilton City Council
Bob was born and educated in Hamilton. After training and working as a clinical psychologist he farmed for thirty years. He was a member of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Council and a director of several export companies. He spent six years as a Member of Parliament before being elected to the Hamilton City Council in 2004 and as Mayor in 2007.
Matt Ritchie, ICT Operations Manager, NZTE
Matt manages NZTE's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Sector team, and is responsible for the development and implementation of NZTE's ICT sector initiatives.
Matt has an extensive background in information technology and management and in his previous role as Business Solutions Manager, was responsible for NZTE's applications environment and web properties including Project Link, Beachheads Portal and MarketNewZealand.com. Previously he worked as a Business Analyst Manager for BSkyB in the UK.
email digitalforum@sodainc.com
