| Ant Backhouse Ant Backhouse has a 25 year history of working with and leading young people.
This is combined with an employment background in management and then later directing in the non-profit sector. Since 2002, Ant has been employed as Project Coordinator to set up and run the “I Have a Dream” programme of New Zealand, mentoring and tutoring a group of mainly Pasifika Mt Roskill young people with the goal of getting them into university education or meaningful careers. Now 12 years on, his Dreamers’ exceeded national benchmarks in their 2012 NCEA Level 2, NCEA Level 3, and University Entrance results. In fact 80% of his NZ based Dreamers entered post-secondary education in contrast to only 30% of the comparison peers from the same primary school. Many continue in diploma and degree level study and a large proportion of the others are engaged in employment or contributing to the community. Outside of “I Have a Dream”, Ant established his own Urban Hope charitable trust helping underprivileged kids back in the late 90’s. He currently serves on Ako Hiko Trust board for digital enablement of low-decile students. He has served on two primary school Board of Trustees. He is also a key driver behind the Puketapapa Educational Training & Employment Readiness (Project PETER) steering group. In addition he has worked closely with departments within Auckland Council and the Ministry of Education on various youth and education initiatives.
Ant holds a National Diploma in Youth Work and has an in-depth knowledge of the school system. In 2010 he was a recipient of the Mt Roskill/Puketapapa Council Youth Award. In 2012 Ant was recognised with a Tour of Duty Award by the “I Have a Dream” Foundation New York for his start to finish commitment with his Dreamers. Then in 2014 the culmination of his work was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list where he was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for his service to youth and education.
His latest ventures have seen him sharing the learnings from his 12 years of research and ground breaking work via numerous speaking engagements. Furthermore, Ant is not resting on his laurels, but is pushing ahead to scale out the “I Have a Dream” programme’s principles so that many more Kiwi children can benefit.
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| Joan Baker Joan is a lovely Irish lady with a long career in education and management. Brings a wealth of experience to her presentations. Partner of Martin Hawes. Joan is a Company Director and a Consultant to business and not-for-profit organisations. Together with partner Martin Hawes, she provides wealth coaching. She specialise in helping organisations and individuals plan for their future, make the changes necessary for high performance, and ensure that people achieve excellence Topic “Ban Busy!” ·
Are
you frantically ‘busy’? Quite simply, the ‘busy’ epidemic is continuing to escalate. I find it only takes a few minutes of conversation with my clients before they tell me how busy work and life is for them and the impact that’s having on their happiness and productivity. ·
What
about you? We’ll work on achieving your goals, making change and improving your productivity and performance and learn how to Ban Busy from your life! | |
| Cam Calkoen Cam Calkoen's cup is definitely half full... there's not much stopping this guy from achieving his dreams. As Cam says: "Dream BIG, because with BIG DREAMS comes a BIG LIFE!" Born with cerebral palsy it would have been easy to focus on all the "can't do's" in Cam’s life, particularly given his passion: athletics. Cam's gut-wrenchingly honest story of how he pushed through his physical limitations and set his OWN goals which would one day find him representing New Zealand, is truly remarkable. Achieving this is accomplishment enough, right? Not for Cam, who pushed further, winning championships in New Zealand, Australia and Canada and taking his winning attitude into environments that encourage others to achieve their personal best. From projects that enhance relations amongst people of the world, through to continually pushing through personal, physical and emotional barriers, Cam ensures each day is lived to the max. Cam's philosophies, values and dynamic vision have taken him from Japan to build a tuberculosis ward, to Vanuatu to build a library. In 2006 Cam became one of the youngest recipients worldwide of a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary. At 21 this prestigious award, which he has now received not once but twice, recognised the significant contribution Cam had made in turning a community's dream – the YES Disability Resource Centre – into a reality. As the project's Ambassador, Cam was the figurehead of a four million dollar project. During this time he saw the potential in linking his ever-growing network together with young disabled people so they too could develop the tools and processes necessary to realise their dreams. Further to this, Cam has founded the Carabiner Mentoring programme for people with disabilities. Cam's charisma, spark, passion and ability to motivate has seen him speak in front of audiences around the world, from the Prime Minister's Social Hero Awards (NZ), to Cabinet Officers in Japan, villages in Vanuatu and schools in London through to sports clubs and corporate offices including Vodafone New Zealand. Today Cam motivates people from all backgrounds to dream BIG, because with big dreams comes a big life! | |
| Sheena Cameron Sheena Cameron is an experienced
primary/elementary school teacher who has taught in New Zealand, England and
the United States. Her interest in reading and in particular, what to do with
students who are working independently when the teacher is with a guided
reading group lead to the publication of The
Reading Activity Handbook, (Pearson Education 2004).She has also written The
Publishing and Display Handbook, (Pearson Education 2006) which looks at setting up creative
and interesting classrooms and contains 74 different ways to publish student
work. | |
| Lester Flockton Lester Flockton is a graduate of Dunedin Teachers College and the University of Otago. He has extensive experience in New Zealand’s school system as teacher, principal, inspector of schools, Ministry of Education official, researcher, university teacher, educational thinker and leader. Throughout his career in education he has worked on many national curriculum and assessment committees and projects, including major roles in the development of the revised New Zealand Curriculum (2007). He has led numerous professional development and learning programmes, made dozens of conference presentations, and held office in various professional organisations. Lester was one of the founding directors of the Educational Assessment Research Unit at the University of Otago, and one of the prime developers and co-directors of New Zealand’s highly regarded National Education Monitoring Project. For a number of years he has led post-graduate programmes on assessment, and leadership for learning. Lester’s field of expertise combines teaching and learning, curriculum and assessment, and the leadership, governance and management of schools.
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| Scott Gilmour Invercargill-raised Scott Gilmour was working in IT in Oregon 20 years ago when he read about the I Have a Dream Foundation. “It really resonated with me,” he recalls. Scott was involved with soccer coaching with his wife Mary, volunteered at an outdoor adventure charity for disabled children, he had neither the time nor resources to give more. The idea remained with him and 10 years later, returning to New Zealand, he sold the software company he had co-founded was in a position to pursue the idea.
“I suddenly thought, ‘Sweet, I have the resources to actually do something like this at last!”
In 2003 he launched “I have A Dream” in New Zealand, at decile one Wesley Primary School in Mt Roskill, Auckland.
Initially, 35 children from Year 4 were selected to become “dreamers”, receiving academic tutoring and mentoring. They are also taken tramping, shown around universities, go on camping trips – “we want to open up the world for them”. The project currently has two full-time staff, and 90 volunteer mentors and tutors.
Thirty-one of the original dreamers are in Year 13 studying at various high schools in Auckland, with many heading for higher education. The Trust also has been evaluating what they've been doing and have good evidence about what works, which he hopes to share with Government and the community. “It floats my boat, I love it – I get huge amounts back from it,” says Scott. “It’s a privilege to have been in these kids’ life for the past 10 years, seeing them grow from knee-high to taller than me. The relationships just deepen and that’s hugely rewarding.” | |
| Martin Hawes Martin Hawes is a financial author, seminar presenter and a financial advisor.Martin is an Authorised Financial Adviser and Columnist with the Sunday Star Times. Martin provides individualised financial advice to help clients become wealthy and free to pursue their dreams. He has written a number of books, on topics such as Property Investment, Shares, Tax, Mortgages and Superannuation. | |
| Chris Hipkins MP Rimutaka Spokesperson for Education Spokesperson for Early Childhood Education Chris has lived in the Hutt Valley for most of his life. He grew up in the suburb of Waterloo and was Head Boy of the then Petone College in 1996. Whilst completing a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in politics and criminology at Victoria University, Chris was twice elected as President of the Students’ Association. Chris has worked in both the public and private sectors. A passionate advocate of lifelong education and learning, Chris began his working career in the industry training field, managing technical training programmes and apprenticeships for one of New Zealand’s largest energy companies. He also worked in the health sector whilst living in the United Kingdom. Chris believes that every Kiwi should get a fair go in life and is committed to supporting strong public health and education services. Before standing for parliament himself in 2008, Chris worked as a political advisor to government ministers including Helen Clark, Steve Maharey and Trevor Mallard. Chris is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys mountain biking, hiking and body surfing. He is a proud resident of Upper Hutt and is committed to ensuring the residents of the Hutt Valley have access to world-class public services and can live in a safe, caring and supportive community. | |
| Peter Hughes Raised in Wellington, Peter has had a 30-year career in the New Zealand state sector, encompassing policy, operations and organisation development across a range of senior executive roles. Most recently he was the Professor of Public Management and Head of the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington. Peter has a Masters degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business and Administration, Massey University and a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature), Victoria University of Wellington. Peter began his career with the Department of Social Welfare. Over the next ten years he was promoted into senior policy and operations roles, and later moved into executive management. In 1995 Peter became Deputy-Director General of Health and in 2000, Peter was appointed Chief Executive of the Health Funding Authority, managing New Zealand's $7 billion health and disability services budget. He was appointed Secretary for Internal Affairs later in the same year, and in 2001 was then appointed Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development. Peter was named Government Department CEO of the Year by TransTasman magazine in both 2010 and 2011. Peter is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and the New Zealand Institute of Public Administration. He is also an accredited member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, and was made a Hunter Fellow of Victoria University of Wellington in 2010. | |
| Jeff Johnstone Education Director at Asia New Zealand Foundation Jeff joined the Asia New Zealand Foundation in August 2013 after five years as principal of Willow Park School in Auckland. He has previously worked for the Education Review Office as well as schools in New Zealand, China and the UK. Jeff has a Masters in Educational Administration from Massey University. He is passionate about learning and leadership that equips young New Zealanders to thrive in the Asian Century. | |
| Richard Newton | |
| John O'Neill John is professor of teacher education at Massey University Institute of Education in Palmerston North. Initially a secondary and primary school teacher in the English Midlands rustbelt, he lectured at Leicester University in England prior to migrating to New Zealand in 1994. His research interests are in education policy, teachers' work and learning, and informal teaching and learning in everyday settings. He is the recipient of a Massey University research excellence medal and a career excellence award from the Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand, and an honorary member of the New Zealand Normal School Principals' Association. He has served on the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marsden Fund social sciences panel and the Performance Based Research Fund Education panel. He is also an education spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group and a Vice-chairperson of the Quality Public Education Coalition. He has a career-long commitment to the a cradle to grave free public education system and to the progressive taxation needed to fund it. | |
| Professor Richie Poulton Professor Richie Poulton is Director of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit which conducts the Dunedin longitudinal study, one of the most detailed studies of human health and development ever undertaken. A multidisciplinary, longitudinal study of 1,037 babies born in Dunedin during 1972/73, the Study members have been followed up since birth, at age three, then every two years to age 15, and at ages 18, 21, 26, and 32. The latest assessment phase, at age 38, was completed in March 2012. For each follow-up phase, the Study members are brought to the Dunedin Unit where they undergo numerous assessments and measures of their health and development. Recent assessments have included a broad range of studies in the psychosocial, behavioural medicine and biomedical research areas. The age 38 assessment phase was an outstanding success with 95% of the surviving Study members being assessed. It is planned to next see the Study members at age 45. In 2007, he established and became a Co-Director of the National Centre for Lifecourse Research, a research centre based at the University of Otago in Dunedin, but with partners located at universities across New Zealand and internationally. He has published almost 200 peer-reviewed scientific papers, with many appearing in leading international journals. His research interests include: mental health, gene and environment prediction of complex disorders, and psychosocial determinants of chronic physical disease. In 2014, he was named as a Highly Cited Researcher by Thomson-Reuters (one of only four New Zealanders so designated) and was listed in 2014 World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds, Thomson-Reuters. In 2004, he was awarded the New Zealand Association of Scientist’s Research Medal and the Health Research Council of New Zealand’s (inaugural) Liley Medal for Excellence in Health Research. In 2010, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and was the joint recipient of the RSNZ Dame Joan Metge Medal for excellence and building relationships in the social science research community. In 2014, he was awarded the Dunedin School of Medicine Dean’s Medal for Research Excellence.
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