Theme: E-Squared

Our TEDx New Plymouth event will be a combination of TED Talk videos and 9 amazing speakers, which will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small intimate group :)

4th Wall Theatre
11 Baring Terrace
Strandon
New Plymouth, Taranaki, 4312
New Zealand

Adnan Belushi

Researcher and Growth Architect

Adnan Belushi is a Researcher and Growth Architect. He helps organisations craft new sources of future growth in a humanist way. At the age of 14, Adnan learnt that the country (U.A.E) he called home, did not include him as a citizen from birth. He spent the next 17 years to lift himself from forced-poverty into a purposeful life. He emigrated to New Zealand in 2009 and in 2017, he became a citizen of a country for the first time in his life. Adnan's experience has made him passionate about the power inclusion. He is fascinated by how technology is becoming accessible in ways that are lifting people out of hardship. Technology is creating a scalable form of inclusion. At the same time, he is concerned about the lack of human capital development compared to the pace of intelligent machine development. Adnan is hopeful that humans can develop at a pace that enables human-machine collaboration, so we can build ethical futures and lift people above hardship.

Andrew Clennett

CEO of Hiringa Energy

After many years travelling the world developing energy projects in such places as Brazil, West Africa, North America, Australia and Europe, Andrew moved with his family to New Zealand in 2012 to take on the role of General Manager of Todd Energy’s operations. Throughout his career Andrew has had a passion for all things energy. He is driven by its potential to unlock societal growth in both developed and developing countries, together with the need to balance this with the impact of the current energy mix on our planet. In 2017 he chose to use his skills to accelerate the transition to a new energy paradigm and became a founder and CEO of Hiringa Energy, a company developing hydrogen generation and supply infrastructure and zero emission solutions.

Conor Eager

Robotics Whisperer

Conor is a 12-year-old NPBHS student. Originally from Ireland, New Zealand has been his home for the past 9 years. Conor has a passion for technology, computers, programming, reading and LEGO. In 2015, Conor added robotics to his list of hobbies, as a founding member of Nakibots. The team has represented New Zealand in the VEX IQ Robotics World Championships for three years in a row. When he’s not tinkering with his robot in the garage, he’s passing on his passion and knowledge to other students in frequent coding workshops and coaches a local primary schools’ robotics club.

Dr Ruakere Hond

Kaiako (teacher) of Māori Language

Dr Ruakere Hond is a long-time kaiako (teacher) of the Ataarangi approach of Māori language; a community-based, language immersion learning system developed almost 40 years ago. He is a proponent of the revitalisation of the local form of Māori language in Taranaki with Te Reo o Taranaki, a community organisation formed in the mid-80’s. Ruakere is a former board member of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) and is currently a board member of Te Mātāwai (the statutory Māori language leadership body), and will talk about language revitalisation in the context of Māori language.

Ellie Rose

Eighteen-year old Ellie Rose has a passion for music and business. She writes and performs original pieces all over Taranaki, drawing audiences with her funky retro-feel, and aspires to establish a life-long career as a successful musician. At 17, Ellie Rose won first place in SmokeFree Tangata Beats Taranaki Regional Final and was voted Smokefree Rockquest People’s Choice Taranaki Regional Finals 2018. Ellie Rose draws inspiration from personal experiences and wants to share them in the hopes of encouraging connection between people.

Jolene Stockman

Multi-award Winning Writer - It’s time to rewrite normal!

Jolene Stockman is an ultra-enthusiastic, multi-award winning Taranaki writer, who launched Braincandy, a media company specialising in transforming communication in 1998. She caught fire! Creating educational resources and supporting business growth through powerful writing and video - all fueled by humour and positivity. Jolene has gone on to publish three books for young adults, win media, education, and business awards, and become one of the youngest in the world to achieve the Distinguished Toastmaster Leadership Award. But Jolene was always the weirdest person in the room. She still is – and now she knows why. It’s time to rewrite normal. Jolene is a dynamic speaker driven by themes of identity, neurodiversity, and world domination. Prepare for fireworks!

Karen Pratt

Researcher Marine Environment

Karen Pratt is a researcher who has for the past four years studied her local marine environment, particularly the ecology of the offshore reefs. She is joint Project lead for ‘Project Reef Life’ which in 2017 won the ‘Protecting our Coasts and Oceans’ category in the national Green Ribbon Awards. Over only a few years the relatively small but ambitious Project has expanded its reach into the political scene, policy and gathered important environmental science connections. Born in the UK, and having lived in Saudi Arabia, Scotland and Brunei, South Taranaki has been her home for the past twenty years. Previously a Chartered Accountant specializing in auditing and management accounting and a current member of the Institute of Directors, she is passionate about lifelong learning and community

Matt Sagen

Matt Sagen is a meat puppet created and shaped by extraordinary forces: a dash of mortality, a rip of humour, and half a cup of poetry. His continuing mission is to do his best to keep challenging his extraordinary band mates with new and interesting material.

Michelle Yandle

Nutrition Coach, Teacher, Author, Healthy Food Ambassador

Health and nutrition advisor and entrepreneur Michelle Yandle has written books, inspired audiences around the world, regularly presented on television and radio, worked with household name nutrition brands, and her health advice has been featured in the pages of a number of high profile publications. Initially trained as a school teacher, Michelle discovered the benefits of healthy eating based on traditional nutritional principles, and has built a new career through passionately and authentically sharing what she has learnt about ‘empowered eating.’

Naya Dial

Born in the twin Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Naya Dial has been exposed to many genres of music. When she was nine years old she migrated to New Zealand, and while this transition was difficult it gave Naya her passion for the singing arts. In 2018 Naya won 2nd place at RockQuest Taranaki with her original song Cliché. She continues to strive to reach her full potential one song at a time.

Nicola Ngarewa

Education Evangelist

Nicola Ngarewa has taught in all sectors of education from early childhood to tertiary, and even in the New Zealand prison system. She is currently the Principal of Patea Area School and on the governance board for the NZ Education Council. Nicola is passionate about disrupting the educational norm, through transformative leadership and a focus on global citizenship. In 2013 she received a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award as a result of her work transforming Tamatea High School, and in 2016 she was the recipient of the Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year for her work at Patea Area School, with the school receiving the National UNESCO award for Education - Global Citizenship 2018.

Rob Thorne

New Zealand Māori composer, performer and anthropologist Rob Thorne (Ngāti Tumutumu) is an explorer of Taonga Puoro (traditional Māori instruments), fusing these ancient voices with modern sounds and technology.

Sean Thomas

Community Leader - Big Brothers Big Sisters Champion

Sean Thomas has had a long term interest in motivation in the workplace and has worked with manufacturing companies to drive organisational outcomes through improved employee engagement. Sean has also being an active participant in the community and is currently involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand both as a mentor and in a governance role. Sean is also the Chair of a youth theatre group and runs a karate club. Over the years Sean has developed an interest in the factors that underpin our civilisation and in particular what we can do for our youth to prepare them for their participation in a rapidly changing social environment.