Keynote Speakers
⇒ Click Here to view the full 2-Day Programme
Michael Bunting
Best Selling Author, Speaker, Leadership Development Specialist, Mindfulness Teacher
Michael Bunting
Best Selling Author, Speaker, Leadership Development Specialist, Mindfulness Teacher
Michael Bunting is the founder of WorkSmart Australia, a certified B Corp. He has helped thousands of leaders develop their full potential, including two AHRI CEO’s of the year. He is the author of the #1 bestselling books The Mindful Leader and A Practical Guide to Mindful Meditation and co-authored Extraordinary Leadership in Australia & New Zealand with Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, the world’s premier researchers and authors in the field of leadership. He is the creator of Awakened Mind, a premium mindfulness IOS/Android App (October 2017 release).
Michael also teaches Mindful Leadership on Sydney University’s award winning Global Exec MBA. Several of his clients have become award winning Best Employers through his programs. He regularly contributes articles for industry magazines including CEO Magazine, BRW, SmartCompany and Inside HR.
He lives with his wife and 3 children in Sydney, Australia.
In this talk Michael will present his research on 7 different Mindful Leadership disciplines and exactly how they impact organisational engagement levels, mental health outcomes and leadership effectiveness outcomes. Michael will share his experience working with various organisations around the world in the field of Mindful Leadership and how they have made a significant difference to their culture and performance. Mindful Leadership is far more than mindfulness for leaders, it is an integrated set of leadership practices that make an extraordinary difference to leaders, their teams and their organisations.
Mike Bennetts
CEO, Z Energy
Mike Bennetts
CEO, Z Energy
Mike is the founding Chief Executive of Z Energy Ltd, the company that purchased Shell’s downstream oil business in New Zealand in April 2010 and Caltex in May 2016. Mike has worked in the energy markets for 30 years in New Zealand, South Africa, China, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Mike is presently a Director of the New Zealand Refining Company Limited and Chair of Punakaiki Fund Limited, an investor in high growth Kiwi companies.
Developing capability in mindfulness is imperative in a world of exponential technologies and change.
Heather Kean
Head of HR, Goodman Fielder New Zealand Limited
Heather Kean
Head of HR, Goodman Fielder New Zealand Limited
Heather worked in the executive recruitment sector for many years, including co-founding & building the recruitment company Pohlen Kean Limited (1995 - 2005).
After selling her interest in that business in 2005, she established a corporate career with Frucor Beverages (Organisation Development Manager) & Merck Sharp & Dohme (HR Director).
She joined Fonterra Co-Operative Group in 2007 as GM Talent & Engagement, appointed GM Human Resources and later HRD for the ingredients business unit, later Latin America and then APMEA. Her last role at Fonterra was as Global HRD.
Heather left Fonterra in 2015, and joined Goodman Fielder as Head of HR NZ & Group Head of Executive Talent.
Heather’s real passion is business transformation and the role of Leadership in driving a high performance culture. Mindful leadership is a personal & professional focus.
Dr Craig Hassed
Associate Professor, Monash University
Dr Craig Hassed
Associate Professor, Monash University
Associate Professor Craig Hassed works at the Department of General Practice and is coordinator of mindfulness programs at Monash University. His teaching, research and clinical interests include mindfulness-based stress management, mind-body medicine, meditation, health promotion, integrative medicine and medical ethics.
Craig is regularly invited to speak and run courses in Australia and overseas in health, professional and educational contexts and has collaborated with a number of national and international universities helping them to integrate similar content. He was the founding president of the Australian Teachers of Meditation Association and is a regular media commentator. He writes regularly for medical journals and has published thirteen books.
Craig also featured in the documentary The Connection and wrote the companion e-book, The Mindfulness Manual and co-authored with Richard Chambers the free online Mindfulness course in collaboration with Monash University and FutureLearn.
MC - Sarah Trotman
Recipient of New Zealand Order of Merit
Sarah Trotman
Recipient of New Zealand Order of Merit
Sarah Trotman, ONZM is a respected business and community leader, a Trustee and Director and a celebrant who has had an interest in practicing mindful leadership for 15 years.
In 2017 her services to Aotearoa New Zealand were recognised in the New Year Honours.
Sarah is a seasoned executive who has run her own businesses including organising three major initiatives for New Zealand’s small and medium business sector. She was Chief Executive of Business Mentors New Zealand, supervising the mentoring of almost 5,,000 businesses annually. She is a former Trustee of the Sir Peter Blake Trust and Leadership New Zealand, and is a member of Be.Accessible’s Fab 50 Network. Sarah helped establish the Lifewise Big Sleepout fundraising event to support people out of homelessness, has mentored young women under the YWCA Future Leaders Programme. Ms Trotman lives in Auckland and has two children, Matilda 20 and Elliott 18.
Speakers & Facilitators
Chris Ruane
Member of Parliament for Vale of Clwyd
Chris Ruane
Member of Parliament for Vale of Clwyd
Chris Ruane has been a member of the British Parliament since 1997. In 2013, he set up free mindfulness classes in the UK Parliament. Since then more than 150 British Members of Parliament and Peers have received mindfulness training, along with 250 members of their staff.
In 2014, he and Professor Lord Richard Layard established the Mindfulness All Party Parliamentary Group (MAPPG), a cross party group dedicated to developing public policy on mindfulness in health, education, criminal justice and the workplace. Working with the Mindfulness Initiative; Chris was active in producing and publicizing two reports: Mindful Nation UK report and Mindfulness in the Workplace and now co-chairs the MAPPG. He recently chaired the Mindful Nation - Two Years On Conference in the British Parliament.
Chris failed to get elected in the 2015 General Election but continued his work (on a voluntary basis) in connecting with mindful politicians and mindfulness advocates around the world. Chris was elected back to the UK Parliament in June 2017 and continues to champion mindfulness in the UK Parliament, he has helped to establish mindfulness practices in the Welsh Assembly and Dutch Parliaments and is currently working with politicians and mindfulness advocates in over forty countries to try and establish practice and policy groups within their legislatures.
Chris is a regular speaker at mindfulness conferences around the world, having spoken in Washington DC, Toronto, Holland, Denmark, Wales, England, Ireland and Australia. He has also spoke at Harvard and Berkeley via virtual link.
Chris is on the board of Trustees for the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (OMC) at Oxford University and the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (CMRP) at Bangor University.
Mark Broadwith
Course Facilitator, Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership
Mark Broadwith
Course Facilitator, Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership
Mark works at the Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership managing and developing courses in educational leadership. He is also a UACEL Accredited Facilitator in Open-to-learning™ and, as former principal of a school based on reflective mindful practice, he has considerable experience, both personally and in the schooling sector. The interrelation of open-mindedness and mindfulness practice, as these apply to leadership, is an area of deep interest.
Open to Learning Leadership™ (OTL™) is a powerful framework for holding critical discussions in a respectful yet productive manner. The OTL™ framework resolves the historic tension in a professional discussion between the leader choosing either being rigorous about the problem, or saving the relationship. As research on mindfulness increases, it has becoming increasing clear how important the disposition of mindfulness is to holding robust and successful OTL™ conversations, without risking relationships.
CoLiberate
Generating a positive 'gym' culture for mental health
CoLiberate
CoLiberate is generating a 'Gym Culture' for mental health - enabling New Zealanders to value their mind health just like their physical health. Sarah, Bop and Jody love delivering emotional workouts to help people make self-care cool. They're also training individuals from workplaces all over Wellington with Mental Health First Aid Certificates so that people can respond to any situation of mental crisis confidently.
Jase Te Patu
Co-owner, Power Living Yoga Aotearoa & Creator, M3 - Mindfulness for Children (Māori Myth, Movement & Mindfulness)
Jase Te Patu
Co-owner, Power Living Yoga Aotearoa & Creator, M3 - Mindfulness for Children (Maori Myth, Movement & Mindfulness)
Kiwi, Māori, Brogi, Teacher, Student, Business Owner and partner are all words to describe Jase Te Patu.
Coming to yoga from an injury whilst dancing in South Africa, yoga has led to a huge shift in Jase’s life. He has trained with a wide range of teachers including Les Levanthal, Ana Forrest, Eion Finn, Mark Breadner and Tiffany Cruickshank, but it was Power Living Teacher Training in 2010, that shifted Jase’s life path into the world of Mindfulness.
Jase was a qualified Group Fitness, Dance and Performance teacher. He has choreographed for Les Mills International and performed with New Zealand's top entertainers as well as in Australian touring shows the 'Lion King'. 'Miss Saigon' and 'Jersey Boys'.
Jase now heads up Power Living Aotearoa Yoga where he teaches meditation, facilitates retreats and leads 200hr Teacher Training. He has presented at Wanderlust Festivals and fully embraces every opportunity to share his wisdom.
This passion had to led to Jase’s creation of the “M3” mindfulness programme for tamariki right throughout Aotearoa. M3 takes Māori Myth and shares our beautiful stories through movement, with an emphasis on the ‘how you’re being”, rather than “what” you’re doing. The mindfulness comes from the breath work at the end of the session, beautifully integrating the ideas of ‘Hau Ora’ i.e. through whānaungatanga or togetherness, the children cultivate awareness through body and mind, thus creating a brighter spirit! O-RA meaning ‘of the sun”… The sunniness that exists within you and in me!
Grant Rix
Training and Programmes Director, Mindfulness Education Group
Grant Rix
Training and Programmes Director, Mindfulness Education Group
Grant is a leader in mindfulness training, delivery and research in New Zealand. While at the Mental Health Foundation of NZ, Grant created New Zealand’s own evidence-based, curriculum aligned mindfulness in schools programme: Pause, Breathe, Smile, which is now being delivered in over 200 schools nationwide.
Grant has presented on mindfulness in New Zealand, Australia and China and has been involved in researching the effects of the Pause, Breathe, Smile programme in New Zealand schools alongside researchers from AUT University and the University of Auckland. He has co-authored four published papers and a book chapter in Mindfulness and Education: Research and Practice.
Together with Natasha Rix, Grant founded the Mindfulness Education Group in 2016 to train school teachers, counsellors and psychologists, to deliver the Pause, Breathe, Smile programme for the benefit of our children and young people.
Natasha Rix
Strategy and Operations Director, Mindfulness Education Group
Natasha Rix
Strategy and Operations Director, Mindfulness Education Group
Tash is an inspiring, pragmatic, and skillful mindfulness teacher with 20 years dedicated mindfulness training and meditation practice experience.
In 2012, Tash founded Mindful Living, providing expert mindfulness training for education and health professionals, parents, and a wide range of organisations and workplaces. She collaborated with AUT University on the Mindfulness for Care Workers research study and develops meditations for the FitCode App.
Since 2014 Tash has been instrumental in the growth of New Zealand’s own evidence-based, curriculum aligned mindfulness in schools programme: Pause, Breathe, Smile. As a co-founder and Director of the Mindfulness Education Group she manages the operations and professional development of educators and health professionals in Pause, Breathe, Smile.
Lotty Roberts
Head of Strategic Change and Transformation Office, BNZ
Lotty Roberts
Head of Strategic Change and Transformation Office, BNZ
Lotty has over 20 years’ experience leading people through large scale change and transformation projects. She’s a forward thinker in New Zealand on Change Leadership and Management, having set up and led one of the most advanced Change Practices in the southern hemisphere.
The pace of change is relentless – ‘Change is the new black’ - is a phrase Lotty uses often. Focusing on leading people through change is vital, as for those affected, change often equates to uncertainty, stress and anxiety, which suppresses the creative spirit. It’s all ‘go’, ‘do’, ‘think’ and ‘decide’ and much less time to ‘be’, ‘create’ ‘notice’ and ‘absorb’. Add what’s going on outside of work, and it’s the perfect storm for our minds. No wonder so many people feel overwhelmed.
Lotty is a recovering ‘busy-holic’, and she knows how easy it is to slip backwards. A dabbler in mindfulness for 9 years (more seriously in recent years) she equates mindfulness with her being a more effective leader, overcoming post-natal anxiety, enhancing her performance as a former national distance runner, and managing years of chronic pain from debilitating arthritis, which culminated in a double hip replacement at the age of 43.
Since committing to ‘mostly’ daily practices (she’s not perfect and doesn’t aspire to be) Lotty knows everything is just better and easier with mindfulness “for me and everyone around me”. She is passionate about the benefits of practising mindfulness both in and out of work, and believes it’s a game changer on an individual and company level.
Dr Robin Youngson
Co-Founder, HEARTS in HEALTHCARE
3
Dr Robin Youngson
Co-Founder, HEARTS in HEALTHCARE
Dr Robin Youngson is an anaesthetic specialist in New Zealand, internationally renowned for his work on compassion in healthcare. A founding member of the national Quality Improvement Committee in New Zealand, Robin was the NZ representative on the WHO International Steering Committee for Patient Safety Solutions. Current positions include: Honorary Senior Lecturer at Auckland University; Editorial Board of the Journal of Compassionate Healthcare; Global Compassion Council of the international Charter for Compassion. Robin is the author of the acclaimed book “TIME TO CARE – How to love your patients and your job”. In 2016, Robin was given the Chair’s Award by the New Zealand Medical Association – the highest honor of the NZMA, given for outstanding contribution to the health of New Zealand.
Robin is the Co-Founder of Hearts in Healthcare, taking his work on compassionate healthcare to 15 countries around the world.
For further information see: heartsinhealthcare.com
I've spent a whole lifetime trying to improve the healthcare system, in many formal leadership roles and also as a social activist, launching an international movement to humanise healthcare. For decades, I failed to create much in the way of change. Lately, my leadership has become more influential and there's widespread international interest in my work, both from clinicians and executives. What made the difference? The simple fact is that I had to change myself to change the world. The key to that change was developing mindfulness and self-awareness. Learning to free yourself from your 'story' and instead serving the world with compassion, non-judgment, a willingness to be vulnerable and to learn - opens up remarkable opportunities for working together and inspiring sustainable change. That's what this conference is all about. I'm thrilled to see this growing movement towards mindful leadership and sustainable values.
Paul Bedson
Senior Therapist and Facilitator, the Gawler Foundation
Paul Bedson
Senior Therapist and Facilitator, the Gawler Foundation
Loves all things deep and meaningful. Boasts that he can teach anyone to meditate, even the busiest thinkers. Committed to healing emotions and relationships.
Paul has been working in the field of mind/body medicine for over 25 years as a counsellor, psychotherapist, meditation instructor and natural therapist. His particular interest is in helping people deal with the range of emotional issues associated with their healing journey. Paul also works with grief and anxiety issues and relationship problems. He teaches mindfulness-based styles of meditation which develop wisdom and compassion through awareness of body, emotion, mind and spirit as one integrated Self. Paul co-authored the book Meditation an In-Depth Guide with Ian Gawler.
I teach people to teach mindfulness meditation.
I am constantly inspired by where mindfulness is reaching into our communities.
Mindfulness meditation is being introduced into schools, nursing homes, jails, detention centres, wellness centres, hospitals, community health centres, mental health clinics etc.
Mindfulness meditation gives people a resource which enables them to grow, heal and thrive.
Mindfulness meditation is also reaching into businesses and helping to create a culture of respect, support and encouragement.
Spreading the seeds of mindfulness is my passion.
Kim Munro
Director, Empower Studio
Kim Munro
Director, Empower Studio
Kim’s has weaved through several career paths and moved from one side of the world to the other. The common thread through her career path has been the love of working with people, from hairdresser to social worker, and now as a yoga teacher and studio owner.
Kim is a true believer in natural therapies treating the root cause of our physical and mental ailments. A conclusion she came to while making yoga part of her daily life to overcome some serious health issues.
Now as a highly experienced yoga teacher, Kim passes on her passion for improving and encouraging long-term health, well-being and happiness.
Andy Munro
Director, Empower Studio
Andy Munro
Director, Empower Studio
Andy Munro loves to feel the taste of ageless freedom in his mind and body. In the last decade, he has redesigned himself from one of a stressed and stiff endurance based 30 something, weekend athlete, to that of a youthful 40-year-old with bounce and elasticity to spare. Andy’s health and fitness journey has taken him from an 18-year-old sports science grad to meditation training school and many places in-between. He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Sports and Exercise Science. He is a qualified Mindfulness Meditation teacher, personal trainer, yoga teacher, TRX suspension and Animal Flow trainer. Andy Co-owns Empower Studio in Wellington’s CBD where he spends his time working as a personal vitality coach delivering his three major passions – mindfulness meditation, functional movement and nutritional bio-individuality to his many clients.
Lotta Dann
Community Manager 'Living Sober', Best Selling Author, Speaker and Recovery Advocate
Lotta Dann
Community Manager 'Living Sober', Best Selling Author, Speaker and Recovery Advocate
Lotta Dann is a recovering alcoholic who has a large international following for her writings on addiction and recovery. She has written two best-selling memoirs, the second of which, 'Mrs D Is Going Within', focuses on mindfulness and other techniques she developed to help with long-term sobriety.
She runs the popular Government-funded community website Living Sober, writes regular articles on all aspects of sobriety for local and international websites, and consistently promotes recovery on her social media accounts. Mindfulness has helped her deal with tricky colleagues, stressful situations, demanding pressures (family, work etc).
She leads the large community at Living Sober in her role as the website's manager (having over 5000 registered members) and practising mindfulness influences the values and ethos she brings to the site. She lives in the hills of Wellington with her husband, three sons and black labrador, all of whom have benefitted from her immense turnaround from boozy, disconnected woman to grounded, authentic one.
I am always grateful for the opportunity to talk about my recovery from alcohol addiction. But while quitting drinking was the first big step in turning my life around, it wasn't until I started exploring and understand the concepts of mindfulness that things really shifted for the better. I often say "mindfulness is the answer to everything!" and I'm delighted to have the opportunity to expand on this statement at this Mindful Leaders Conference.
Bill Hubbard
Aitken Fellow, University of Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership
Bill Hubbard
Aitken Fellow, University of Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership
Bill is a Deputy Principal at Rosehill College in Papakura, Auckland. Currently he is on secondment to University of Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership as an Aitken Fellow. A focus of his work in the last year has been investigating connections between school leadership and secular mindfulness. Bill has a 30 year history of personal mindfulness practice.
Open to Learning Leadership™ (OTL™) is a powerful framework for holding critical discussions in a respectful yet productive manner. The OTL™ framework resolves the historic tension in a professional discussion between the leader choosing either being rigorous about the problem or saving the relationship. As research on mindfulness increases, it has becoming increasing clear how important the disposition of mindfulness is to holding robust and successful OTL™ conversations, without risking relationships.
Michelle Dalley
Director, Coach, Trainer, Facilitator, Ignite Group
Michelle Dalley
Director, Coach, Trainer, Facilitator, Ignite Group
Michelle is a highly regarded Coach, Trainer and Facilitator with certifications in five different coaching methodologies including Conversational Intelligence™. She is also a trainer and supervisor of coaches and has supported many leaders and independent coaches to develop their coaching skillset.
Michelle is the co-Founder and Director of Ignite Group who specialise in helping to develop thriving cultures and lifting performance. Ignite works with organisations across all sectors, taking a partnership approach to help imbed sustainable change and skill development.
Prior to stepping into the world of professional development Michelle had an extensive career in the financial services industry where she worked in the areas of quality assurance, business improvement and operations management. It was her 12+ years leading large operational departments that piqued her interest in psychology and understanding how our brain works. She embarked on her own personal development journey, and has become a little obsessed, studying various aspects of psychology, neuroscience, adult learning, coaching and leading people through change.
Michelle loves variety and works with people at all levels of an organisation, from front line staff to senior managers. She has personally coached hundreds of people and considers her role as a Coach to be one of huge privilege and personal fulfilment.
Britta Christiansen
Business Coach, The Ripple Effect
Britta Christiansen
Business Coach, The Ripple Effect
Highly experienced as a trainer and facilitator, Britta Christiansen is also an award winning NZ business coach with over 17 years experience in helping business owners and their teams ‘get the right stuff done’. Armed with degrees in Business and the Arts, Britta has a broad background in behavioural science, psychology, adult learning and organizational development as well as a keen interest in neuroscience and what makes people tick. With Viking blood in her DNA, it’s no surprise that travel is a big part of her life, a hobby that she and her husband Kevin undertake whenever possible. Their daughter is currently studying at Victoria University leaving the dog walking to her parents- no wait, it’s always been that way 🙂
Always keen to upskill, Britta is also a certified trainer and coach of The Art of Deliberate Success®, a certified MBTI® facilitator and has personally profiled over 3,000 individuals using DiSC® behavioural profiling. In 2017 she became one of a select group of international coaches to become an accredited Enhanced Skills Coach in Conversational Intelligence®. She joins Michelle Dalley and Michelle McCormack as proud co-founders of C-IQ New Zealand.
Michelle McCormack
Director, People Focus
Michelle McCormack
Director, People Focus
Michelle is an International Certified Facilitator ™ and a Certified Coach in Emotional Intelligence and Conversational Intelligence ©. She is passionate about people being successful at work.
As the founder and Director of People Focus Michelle designs and delivers award winning leadership programmes and workshops, and is a panel member of the New Zealand Leadership Development Centre.
With a 25-year career as an entrepreneur, manager, and consultant Michelle’s approach is practical and commercial - doing business with a people focus.
She is known for her focused and energetic style, with the ability to quickly build connection and credibility, developing enduring relationships. She is quick to understand context and situations by asking insightful questions and listening carefully to the answers. Taking a strategic approach to working with clients, mapping things out, hatching bright ideas and co-creating innovative solutions that are just right for you and your business.
Michelle works in partnership with you, to follow through on your road map and action plan.
She has a strong track record of success working across a wide range of industries and sectors, here in New Zealand and across the Pacific.
Nadav Avny
Senior Clinical Psychologist, Auckland District Health Board
Nadav Avny
Senior Clinical Psychologist, Adult Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Auckland District Health Board
Nadav works as a Senior Clinical Psychologist at Te Whetu Tawera, Adult Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Auckland City Hospital. He is the Psychology Practice Supervisor (clinical governance and professional leadership role) of Te Whetu Tawera, Child and Family Unit (Starship Children’s Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit) and Fraser McDonald Unit (Older People Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Auckland City Hospital).
Nadav established and teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to mental health staff at Auckland District Health Board (ADHB). He established and leads the Mindfulness Implementation Steering Group and the Mindfulness Championing Group (working group) at ADHB Mental Health Services.
Nadav received the 2016 ADHB Allied Health Scientific & Technical Award for the Mental Health Directorate and the MBSR project that he leads was a Finalist at the 2016 ADHB Health Excellence Awards.
Nadav's journey in mindfulness started in 1996 when he participated in a 10 days Vipassana (S.N. Goenka) retreat and he has attended multiple mindfulness retreats since. Nadav is certified as a teacher by the Mindfulness Training Institute (MTI) – Australia & New Zealand. He is a member of MTI’s teaching faculty in New Zealand and is an approved supervisor for people on the MTI training pathway.
Nadav's clinical psychology training was psychodynamic. He also completed training in Integrative Psychotherapy (focusing on Gestalt and Existential Psychotherapy) and is a UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) registered psychotherapist. He provides psychological therapy to individuals, families and groups.
Over the two-day conference, you will:
- hear first-hand practical examples of how mindfulness-based approaches have been successfully applied to unleash creativity, productivity and purpose-driven performance across a range of organisations and industry
- connect with people who share the desire for a more meaningful and effective kind of leadership
- learn tools and strategies to create a more engaged and fulfilling workplace culture while taking care of the bottom line
- explore how you can develop your capacity for self-awareness, compassion and authenticity to be empowered to lead in a way that encourages and inspires those around you.
Conference Secretariat
Conferences & Events Ltd
Level 4, 187 Willis Street, Wellington 6011
Phone: +64 4 384 1511
Email: [email protected]
Website: confer.co.nz