We're delighted to welcome the below speakers to CS4HS 2021. Be sure to check back here for updates on more speakers soon.
Alan Kan
Chief Technologist - Mission Ready HQ
In 2017, Alan left his 20-years of corporate career from IBM and his adjunct professorship at Unitec. He reinvented himself as an EdTech entrepreneur to pursue his passion of closing the tech skill gaps in New Zealand. Having experienced first-hand both the tech skill shortage, and the challenges for students to join the tech industry, he co-founded Mission Ready - partnering with NZ’s tech sector, Otago Polytechnic and Auckland Council - to provide work experience and training for anyone who intends to join the industry. He then founded LevelUp Works to upskill New Zealand schools and teachers quickly to deliver the digital curriculum, bringing up next generation tech talents. Alan holds a Masters degree in Information Systems from University of Auckland, and is an IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Co-Creator, an IBM Certified Agile Champion, and an ICAgile Authorised Trainer.
Workshop: Magic touches that turn shocking websites into stunning ones
Workshop: Magic touches that turn shocking websites into stunning ones
ANDREW HAMPTON
Director-General, Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)
This cyber security and information assurance role includes working with New Zealand’s organisations of national significance to help raise their cyber security resilience.
Andrew has spent much of his career in the Justice Sector, including Treaty settlement negotiations, courts administration and leading various significant change programmes. Senior positions held in the Justice Sector include Director of the Office of Treaty Settlements, Deputy Secretary for Courts, and Deputy Chief Executive at the Crown Law Office.
Andrew was Deputy Secretary and Director of the Secretary’s Office at the Ministry of Education. He was also the first Government Chief Talent Officer at the State Services Commission, a new role responsible for leadership development, workforce strategy and employment relations across government.
Andrew has a BA (Hons) and MA (Dist) in Political Science from the University of Canterbury and has attended the Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme.
Andrew has spent much of his career in the Justice Sector, including Treaty settlement negotiations, courts administration and leading various significant change programmes. Senior positions held in the Justice Sector include Director of the Office of Treaty Settlements, Deputy Secretary for Courts, and Deputy Chief Executive at the Crown Law Office.
Andrew was Deputy Secretary and Director of the Secretary’s Office at the Ministry of Education. He was also the first Government Chief Talent Officer at the State Services Commission, a new role responsible for leadership development, workforce strategy and employment relations across government.
Andrew has a BA (Hons) and MA (Dist) in Political Science from the University of Canterbury and has attended the Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme.
Amber Taylor
CEO - ARA Journeys
Co-Founder and CEO of ARA Journeys, Amber (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Whātua, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi) is obsessed with building mobile data platforms, robots, and developing opportunities that support Māori and Pasifika students interested in digital technologies.
ARA Journeys builds mobile games that blend the digital world with te taiao and te ao Māori. Their gaming platforms utilise augmented, and mixed realities and are designed to collect data across multiple channels, providing insights into the mental, physical and environmental wellbeing of communities.
Amber is the Auckland Regional Ambassador for the National Digital Forum (Ministry for Culture & Heritage), member of the Polynesian Creative Cluster (North Asia CAPE), member of the Young Business Leaders Initiative (Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade) and New Zealand scout for the USA Female Founded Club.
Demonstration: Citizen Science in the Classroom
ARA Journeys builds mobile games that blend the digital world with te taiao and te ao Māori. Their gaming platforms utilise augmented, and mixed realities and are designed to collect data across multiple channels, providing insights into the mental, physical and environmental wellbeing of communities.
Amber is the Auckland Regional Ambassador for the National Digital Forum (Ministry for Culture & Heritage), member of the Polynesian Creative Cluster (North Asia CAPE), member of the Young Business Leaders Initiative (Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade) and New Zealand scout for the USA Female Founded Club.
Demonstration: Citizen Science in the Classroom
Professor dave parry
Professor, AUT
Originally from Wales, Dave started off as a physicist and medical physicist in the UK, but moved across to computing during a number of jobs in physiology and nuclear medicine in hospitals in the UK. After coming to Aotearoa/New Zealand in 1994, he worked at National Women’s Hospital and AgResearch until getting a job developing and delivering the world’s first online Health Informatics course in 1998 at Otago. He joined AUT in 2000 and worked on Business Online and then as an online learning advisor for the business faculty until he finished his PhD and became a CS lecturer. His main areas of research interest are ehealth including applications of AI and user experience, knowledge representation and use and activity understanding. In the teaching and learning arena he’s particularly interested in how we can generate and use good evidence for what we do.
Demonstration: Gamification approaches to education
Demonstration: Gamification approaches to education
Dr Donna Cleveland
AUT Senior Lecturer, Programme Director Creative Technologies, Associate Head of Learning & Teaching
Dr Donna Cleveland is the Associate Head of Learning and Teaching, and The Programme Director for the undergraduate Creative Technologies programme in the new School of Future Environments at AUT. Donna’s passion lies in educating emerging designers in transformative and sustainable design practices. She works at the intersection between traditional applications and emerging technologies, such as e-textiles and craft to redefine the future landscape of design.
Demonstration: Plug and Play
Demonstration: Plug and Play
keynote speaker
Frances Valintine CNZM
Founder & CEO - The Mind Lab & Tech Futures Lab
Frances Valintine CNZM is a passionate educator and technologist. For over 20 years she has been committed to shifting education and business practice to respond to the future of work and industry. In 2013 she founded The Mind Lab, developed to empower students and educators to develop applied digital knowledge and capability. In 2016 Frances launched Tech Futures Lab to support individuals, organisations navigate the impact of technological advancement and to embrace the cultural change needed to thrive in the new economy.
In the 2018 New Year Honours, Frances was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit recognising her lifetime of contribution in education and technology. In 2017 Frances received the NZ Flying Kiwi Award, inducted into the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame and was also named one of the top 3 NZ Innovators of the Year at the NZer of the Year awards. In 2016 Frances was named one of the top 50 EdTech Educators in the World by EdTech International, and was also awarded a Sir Peter Blake Leader Award. In 2015 Frances was awarded the Westpac New Zealand Woman of Influence (Innovation) and the Next New Zealand Woman of the Year (Education).
Frances sits on the boards of Watercare and Dilworth School Trust and an advisor to the BNZ. Frances is a selection advisor for the Edmund Hillary Foundation, committed to supporting a community of impact entrepreneurs, investors and changemakers to build meaningful solutions to global problems.
She holds a Master of Education Management from the University of Melbourne.
Keynote: How Collaboration will Shape the Future
In the 2018 New Year Honours, Frances was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit recognising her lifetime of contribution in education and technology. In 2017 Frances received the NZ Flying Kiwi Award, inducted into the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame and was also named one of the top 3 NZ Innovators of the Year at the NZer of the Year awards. In 2016 Frances was named one of the top 50 EdTech Educators in the World by EdTech International, and was also awarded a Sir Peter Blake Leader Award. In 2015 Frances was awarded the Westpac New Zealand Woman of Influence (Innovation) and the Next New Zealand Woman of the Year (Education).
Frances sits on the boards of Watercare and Dilworth School Trust and an advisor to the BNZ. Frances is a selection advisor for the Edmund Hillary Foundation, committed to supporting a community of impact entrepreneurs, investors and changemakers to build meaningful solutions to global problems.
She holds a Master of Education Management from the University of Melbourne.
Keynote: How Collaboration will Shape the Future
Janet van
National Manger - New Zealand Robotics Charitable Trust (Kiwibots)
Janet holds a BE(Hons) in Mechatronics Engineering and BCom in Commercial Law and Economics. She prides herself in being a ‘disruptor’ – challenging stereotypes and barriers to entry facing our marginalised communities and helping people realise their potential.
Janet started her career in medical device design then went on to Fisher and Paykel Healthcare in Surgical Humidification. She then utilised her engineering background with a role as the Creative Operations Engineer for Nanogirl Labs Ltd – a social enterprise creating opportunities through STEM. She led the operation and logistics of their events and engagements, and their large scale live science productions “Nanogirl Live!” both nationally and internationally.
Today, Janet is at the helm of Kiwi robotics education success story, Kiwibots, where she is leading the organisation into the next phase of growth. Her mission? Making robotics and STEM accessible to every young New Zealander, with a focus on future-proofing Kiwi kids for the technological future ahead of them.
Workshop: Robotics is for everyone
Janet started her career in medical device design then went on to Fisher and Paykel Healthcare in Surgical Humidification. She then utilised her engineering background with a role as the Creative Operations Engineer for Nanogirl Labs Ltd – a social enterprise creating opportunities through STEM. She led the operation and logistics of their events and engagements, and their large scale live science productions “Nanogirl Live!” both nationally and internationally.
Today, Janet is at the helm of Kiwi robotics education success story, Kiwibots, where she is leading the organisation into the next phase of growth. Her mission? Making robotics and STEM accessible to every young New Zealander, with a focus on future-proofing Kiwi kids for the technological future ahead of them.
Workshop: Robotics is for everyone
jarek beksa
Lecturer, Game Design – Media Design School
Jarek has worn many hats in his career: programmer, researcher, academic lecturer, founder, designer, producer, and sound engineer. He is currently teaching Game Design at Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand.
His vision is sound - literally. Jarek is passionate about accessible design, sound engineering, user experience, games, and interactive storytelling. He is excited about the ways voice-activated technology could revolutionize these areas.
He is a creator of award-winning voice applications and is leading New Zealand's first voice application studio. Jarek was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship at Auckland University of Technology and is currently working on completing his Ph.D. studies on accessible interfaces in games.
Early this year he became New Zealand’s first Alexa Champion.
Workshop: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Platforms
His vision is sound - literally. Jarek is passionate about accessible design, sound engineering, user experience, games, and interactive storytelling. He is excited about the ways voice-activated technology could revolutionize these areas.
He is a creator of award-winning voice applications and is leading New Zealand's first voice application studio. Jarek was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship at Auckland University of Technology and is currently working on completing his Ph.D. studies on accessible interfaces in games.
Early this year he became New Zealand’s first Alexa Champion.
Workshop: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Platforms
Jennifer Gottschalk
Digital Technologies Teachers, Massey High School
Jennifer currently teaches Digital Technology at Massey High School where she pushes, prods, cajoles and otherwise encourages her students (from year 9 to year 13) to become effective programmers and designers.
Over the years Jennifer has contributed resources for teaching web design, databases (php / sql) and programming to TKI. She also administers the Usability / Heuristics Fails (and Successes) Facebook group where teachers and their students are encouraged to post examples of good and bad usability.
Demonstration: “Getting GitHub” – Transform your Classroom
Over the years Jennifer has contributed resources for teaching web design, databases (php / sql) and programming to TKI. She also administers the Usability / Heuristics Fails (and Successes) Facebook group where teachers and their students are encouraged to post examples of good and bad usability.
Demonstration: “Getting GitHub” – Transform your Classroom
Joy Keene
Deputy Chief Executive and Co-developer of 123Tech Challenge, IT Professionals NZ
Joy is the Deputy CE of IT Professionals and Co-developer of the 123Tech Challenge programme and resources.
Her 25+ years in the industry started with an interest in hardware and accelerated with an entrepreneurial spirt that saw her launch one of NZ’s most successful infrastructure companies in 1999. With multiple awards under her belt she then took to seizing technology business opportunities in the unlikeliest of places before “retiring” by taking on the role at IT Professionals NZ. One thing she always tells students is, she doesn’t code and she’s not that technical but she is passionate and that can take you a very long way!
Aside from technology her passion is lightbulbs, the kind you see switch on when kids “get” technology and are inspired by what they can do with it.
Joy is inspired by the creativity and curiosity of students, demonstrated by the incredible projects they embark on with the 123Tech challenge with little to no experience in digital technologies.
Demonstration: Using Tahi Rua Toru Tech to teach DT in your classroom is as easy as 1,2,3!!
Her 25+ years in the industry started with an interest in hardware and accelerated with an entrepreneurial spirt that saw her launch one of NZ’s most successful infrastructure companies in 1999. With multiple awards under her belt she then took to seizing technology business opportunities in the unlikeliest of places before “retiring” by taking on the role at IT Professionals NZ. One thing she always tells students is, she doesn’t code and she’s not that technical but she is passionate and that can take you a very long way!
Aside from technology her passion is lightbulbs, the kind you see switch on when kids “get” technology and are inspired by what they can do with it.
Joy is inspired by the creativity and curiosity of students, demonstrated by the incredible projects they embark on with the 123Tech challenge with little to no experience in digital technologies.
Demonstration: Using Tahi Rua Toru Tech to teach DT in your classroom is as easy as 1,2,3!!
Karen Lang
Education and Business Development Manager for MIT App Inventor
Karen Lang works as the Education and Business Development Manager for the MIT App Inventor, a drag-and-drop programming language used to make mobile apps. In that role, Karen advocates for the use of App Inventor as a tool to enable people, young and old, to become active creators of technology.
Prior to joining the App Inventor team in 2015, Karen spent the prior twenty years as an educator, focused on Computer Science education and has taught in the US and around the world. She also acted as technology coordinator at American international schools in Venezuela and Hungary. Karen has developed curricula, trained teachers, and presented at various conferences on Computer Science education.
Prior to her educational career, Karen spent ten years as a software engineer, where her passion for technology as a means of innovation and creativity grew.
Demonstration: Making Mobile Apps with MIT App Inventor
Prior to joining the App Inventor team in 2015, Karen spent the prior twenty years as an educator, focused on Computer Science education and has taught in the US and around the world. She also acted as technology coordinator at American international schools in Venezuela and Hungary. Karen has developed curricula, trained teachers, and presented at various conferences on Computer Science education.
Prior to her educational career, Karen spent ten years as a software engineer, where her passion for technology as a means of innovation and creativity grew.
Demonstration: Making Mobile Apps with MIT App Inventor
kawana wallace
Professional Learning Development facilitator OMG. Teaches in Te Reo
Kawana began his journey of studying technology in 2013, when he discovered that he was one of only a handful of Maori studying digital technology and computer sciences at tertiary in New Zealand. After this, he dedicated himself to improving Māori participation in computer sciences and digital technologies.
Over the last 6 years he has worked with a range of people in different communities in the hope that he might inspire school leadership, kaiako (teachers), rangatahi (youth), whānau (families), and communities to follow a path of technology education with confidence. He provides learners with programs that allow them to make mistakes and learn from them, where learners can explore with their hands and build knowledge from the tips of their fingers. His greatest habit of mind is to react to the world with wonderment and awe, to be excited by the amazingness of the world around him, and to bring about change through his passion.
Title: Where do you go after SCRATCH? Introducing Values-Based Game Design
Over the last 6 years he has worked with a range of people in different communities in the hope that he might inspire school leadership, kaiako (teachers), rangatahi (youth), whānau (families), and communities to follow a path of technology education with confidence. He provides learners with programs that allow them to make mistakes and learn from them, where learners can explore with their hands and build knowledge from the tips of their fingers. His greatest habit of mind is to react to the world with wonderment and awe, to be excited by the amazingness of the world around him, and to bring about change through his passion.
Title: Where do you go after SCRATCH? Introducing Values-Based Game Design
keynote speaker
Kerry Topp
Founder | Chief [Re]Generator | The Kerry Topp Collective
Kerry’s an expert facilitator, an inspiring public speaker, and highly respected as a leader who helps mentor and guide those around him. He has 20+ years of experience in operational and strategic leadership and delivery roles in a range of tech businesses - including Datacom, Air New Zealand, Vodafone, TelstraClear & Bellsouth - in New Zealand and internationally.
Kerry is the founder of boutique ecosystem collaboration and innovation specialists, The Kerry Topp Collective. He has significant experience in digital transformation and helps businesses and regions demystify and accelerate ‘Collaborative Leadership and Innovation for Impact’ through a relentless focus on collaboration, innovation, capability growth, and impact.
Kerry is a passionate about creating the path to work for under-represented communities in the technology sector. He has created student innovation programmes, been involved in Y-Tech, scholarship and internship development programmes within corporates and also mentors and guides young people and teachers in understanding the pathways to opportunity in the exciting technology sector.
Title: Te Ara Mahi: A Technology Innovator's Perspective
Kerry is the founder of boutique ecosystem collaboration and innovation specialists, The Kerry Topp Collective. He has significant experience in digital transformation and helps businesses and regions demystify and accelerate ‘Collaborative Leadership and Innovation for Impact’ through a relentless focus on collaboration, innovation, capability growth, and impact.
Kerry is a passionate about creating the path to work for under-represented communities in the technology sector. He has created student innovation programmes, been involved in Y-Tech, scholarship and internship development programmes within corporates and also mentors and guides young people and teachers in understanding the pathways to opportunity in the exciting technology sector.
Title: Te Ara Mahi: A Technology Innovator's Perspective
Dr Kosala Gunawardane
Senior Lecturer in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, AUT
Kosala, senior lecturer, also holds the wellbeing and inclusion director role in the School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences at AUT. She received her PhD degree in Electronics engineering from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, in 2014. She is an IEEE senior member and the vice chair of IEEE Women in Engineering NZ north chapter. Her research interests include analog circuit design, low-dropout regulators, supercapacitor-based non-traditional power electronics applications and power electronic-based renewable energy applications for DC-microgrids.
Demonstration: The Digital Computer: How It Works and What Digital Electronic Does
Demonstration: The Digital Computer: How It Works and What Digital Electronic Does
Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh
Senior Lecturer Engineering Computer & Mathematical Sciences, Director of Women in Tech, Founder/Director SheSharp
Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh is a Director of Women in Technology and Senior Lecturer in AUT’s School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences. She is a well-recognised leader in AI and machine learning and is also the founder of the charitable trust She Sharp, a women’s technology networking and learning group, where she works to encourage young New Zealand girls to consider what a career in technology offers. She was named winner of the Emerging Leader category in the 2013 Westpac Women of Influence Awards and was one of ten finalists for 2018 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year. In 2019 she was the Champion Award winner of the YWCA Equal Pay awards, and in 2020 presented with the Massey University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Maikara Dargaville
Professional Learning Development facilitator OMG. Teaches in te reo Maori
Ko Maikara tōku ingoa. Maikara is originally from Ngā Puhi & Waikato. He grew up on the riverbanks of the Waikato River from Te Puaha o Waikato. He has been teaching in te reo Māori for his entire academic career and most recently has been working with at-risk youth in the Waikato region.
Maikara speaks te reo Māori as his first language, and is fortunate to be surrounded by tamariki, rangatahi and extended whānau that are the same.
Growing up, passionate about technology, he has seen first-hand how having access to resources in your own language lets you place yourself into the context in a way that nothing else does.
Alongside his work facilitating PLD, he coordinates the translation of resources into te reo Māori.
Title: Where do you go after SCRATCH? Introducing Values-Based Game Design
Maikara speaks te reo Māori as his first language, and is fortunate to be surrounded by tamariki, rangatahi and extended whānau that are the same.
Growing up, passionate about technology, he has seen first-hand how having access to resources in your own language lets you place yourself into the context in a way that nothing else does.
Alongside his work facilitating PLD, he coordinates the translation of resources into te reo Māori.
Title: Where do you go after SCRATCH? Introducing Values-Based Game Design
Olivia Morgan
Student Recruitment Advisor, AUT Future Students
Olivia provides knowledge and guidance to students as they navigate their way from secondary school into the next stage of their educational journey. Since graduating from AUT with a Bachelor of International Hospitality Management I have worked in the events industry, coordinating small scale events and conferences; and in international relations, coordinating training programmes here at AUT. I love living in West Auckland surrounded by the Waitakere ranges and wild west coast beaches.
Rebecca Ronald
DT&HM Online for NCEA Learning Designer, The University of Auckland
Rebecca taught Digital Technologies in New Zealand secondary schools for 12 years before moving to The University of Auckland to develop learning materials for DT&HM Online for NCEA.
In her view, opening doors and allowing ākonga to discover the exciting opportunities offered by digital technologies is both a pleasure and a privilege, but sometimes a challenge for busy educators.
Workshop: Discover DT&HM Online
In her view, opening doors and allowing ākonga to discover the exciting opportunities offered by digital technologies is both a pleasure and a privilege, but sometimes a challenge for busy educators.
Workshop: Discover DT&HM Online
Tanya Gray
Front-End Web Development Lead, Soul Machines
Tanya has been working at Soul Machines for the past two years, building web apps which allow people to create and communicate with AI digital humans. Web development is her day job, but introducing others to programming is one of her favourite things to do outside of work. Tanya has a long history of working with teachers and students, usually focusing on web technology such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Python.
Workshop Day 1: Build a dynamic website with Python and Flask
Workshop Day 2: Use SQLite and SQLAlchemy with Python to store and retrieve data
Workshop Day 1: Build a dynamic website with Python and Flask
Workshop Day 2: Use SQLite and SQLAlchemy with Python to store and retrieve data
Victoria Reille
Project Co-ordinator and National Co-ordinator of 123Tech Challenge, IT Professionals NZ
Victoria is Project Coordinator at IT Professionals NZ and National Coordinator for the 123Tech Challenge programme.
Originally beginning her journey within the IT industry as a Graphic Designer, this sparked a passion to work within a space that created opportunity for both businesses and their people, so combining an interest in technology, Victoria transitioned into IT Recruitment working for 15 years within the New Zealand and Australian market.
Seeking a change and the ability to empower and inspire our next generation in IT, Victoria found her way to IT Professionals NZ, as Coordinator for the TechHub and 123Tech programme of works. The enthusiasm and values she holds strongly for IT is mirrored equally by the amazing team at IT Professionals NZ; and also from teachers and students she engages with on a daily basis!
Demonstration: Using Tahi Rua Toru Tech to teach DT in your classroom is as easy as 1,2,3!!
Originally beginning her journey within the IT industry as a Graphic Designer, this sparked a passion to work within a space that created opportunity for both businesses and their people, so combining an interest in technology, Victoria transitioned into IT Recruitment working for 15 years within the New Zealand and Australian market.
Seeking a change and the ability to empower and inspire our next generation in IT, Victoria found her way to IT Professionals NZ, as Coordinator for the TechHub and 123Tech programme of works. The enthusiasm and values she holds strongly for IT is mirrored equally by the amazing team at IT Professionals NZ; and also from teachers and students she engages with on a daily basis!
Demonstration: Using Tahi Rua Toru Tech to teach DT in your classroom is as easy as 1,2,3!!
