Tag: leadership

Creative Welly Episode #29 | Emilie Fetscher & James Bushell

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Emilie Fetscher, Entrepreneur / Designer / Researcher, GM Design @ Xero

Need zest? Meet Emilie. Deeply curious, passionately collaborative, and inspired by the people and world we live in; Emilie brings a diverse background and relentless optimism to all her endeavors. She’s worked in and out of design as an outdoor guide, a freelancer, in a boutique consultancy, as well as starting tech and non-tech businesses before taking the plunge into the large global team that is Xero. Outside of her day job she contributes to the startup ecosystem, mentoring programs for young women, and as a lurker in environmental communities. She’s also an outdoor enthusiast and lover of great dinner table conversations with old friends and new.

James Bushell, Director / Investor / Strategist, MOTIF

James Bushell is the founding director of MOTIF, a specialist business advisory for organisations that want to create a more equitable and sustainable world. He is a leading strategist in incorporating ethics and sustainability into commercial models and has had governance and executive experience in developing, emerging and developed economies. James is also an author and recently released a book called HUMANGOOD – a field guide to ethical leadership.

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Creative Welly Episode #28 | Janine Sudbury & Mark Gee

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Janine Sudbury, Experiential Leadership Development Trainer and Executive Leadership Coach

Janine Sudbury is a former BBC and National Radio broadcast journalist and presenter. She has created one of the most unique training centres in the country which uses horse whispering to teach you how to become a better leader.

She has a BA in Philosophy and Politics, has worked in Congress in Washington DC and has used these experiences to develop Impact Leadership.

Janine has been involved with horses from when she was a young child living in London. Her passion has led her to work on ranches in the United States, break in horses at Mt Nicholas station in Queenstown, ride trackwork at Otaki racetrack, and spend much of her spare time training her two horses at her venue, Sudbury in Kapiti.

Mark Gee, Photographer / Filmmaker / Visual Effects Supervisor

Mark Gee is an award winning photographer, time-lapse filmmaker and visual effects supervisor based in Wellington, New Zealand.

Wholly self-taught, Mark ventures out to the darkest, most remote locations both locally and internationally, enjoying the challenge of combining striking landscapes with the ethereal beauty of the night sky in new, creative ways.

In 2013, Mark won the prestigious Astronomy Photographer of the Year, and has since spread his love of the night sky through various public talks and presentations including TEDx, and astrophotography workshops.

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Creative Welly Episode #27 | Negin Imani & Derek Bradley

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Dr Negin Imani

Negin is a lecturer in Architectural and Building Science, founder of Biomimicry NZ, representing New Zealand in the Biomimicry Institute global network, and a Visiting Scholar at the School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand since 2020.

Negin’s research is focused on sustainable architecture and biomimetic energy efficient building design. She is the first post-doctoral researcher at the VUW school of architecture. Her research investigates possibilities to develop living building modules. She has co-authored the book “Heating with Wolves, Cooling with Cacti”.

As a recipient of the National Science Challenge, Science for Technological Innovation, Seed Project grant, Negin is working as the Principle Investigator of the project, Biomimetic Buildings for Climate Change Adaptation: Future Generation of Facades.

Derek Bradley, CEO, A44 Games

Derek Bradley is the CEO of A44 Games an independent games studio based in Wellington, New Zealand. He was the Game Director on ASHEN, the company’s first title, which was released world-wide at the Annual Game Awards in 2018.

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Creative Welly Episode #25 | Isabella Cawthorn & Richard Shirtcliffe

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Isabella Cawthorn, Editor, Talk Wellington

Isabella has been meddling, influencing and generally making good change in urban spaces for 20-odd years. Her chequered career includes co-founding Frocks On Bikes, doing community engagement on windfarm construction and street improvement projects, editing Talk Wellington, briefing local government candidates on elementary urbanism, helping establish NZ’s tactical urbanism programme, and facilitating rapprochement between local councils’ community development and infrastructure teams.

She’s a 1.5-generation Pākehā from Porirua. Find her on dancefloors, drinking coffee, and striking up conversations on trains.

Richard Shirtcliffe, Story-teller / WildClean Executive Janitor

I’m really just a story-teller, with a passion for building disruptive ‘triple bottom line’ brands.

My kids are my north star, and back in 2018 I watched as they paddled through a sea of waste plastic while learning to surf. Since then I’ve been on a mish to Un-muck Their World. To create businesses that trash the status quo; eliminate single-use plastic; and transform categories by delivering better products in a better way. WildClean.com – the world’s first plastic-negative cleaning co – is the latest.

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Creative Welly Episode #24 | Jo Cribb & James Partridge

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Jo Cribb, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant

Jo is an experienced consultant who is regularly asked to facilitate strategy sessions with leadership teams, coach emerging leaders and lead substantial policy, strategy and gender projects. Recent assignments include facilitating sessions at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, working with the New Zealand Defence Force to develop strategies to increase the gender diversity of the forces, and completing a gender analysis of immigration policy.

Jo was the previous Chief Executive of the Ministry for Women and Deputy Children’s Commissioner. She invests her time and energy in advancing the cause of the vulnerable in society, spearheading some of the most difficult issues of our time, including child abuse, poverty, homelessness, family violence and vulnerable women.

James Partridge, Film Producer / Film Festival Director / Marketing Strategist

James Partridge is creator, innovator and problem solver, working across the creative disciplines of film and marketing. As a film producer, two of the films James has been involved with have screened at the A-List Shanghai International Film Festival – with both being nominated for the Golden Roosters (the Chinese Oscars). As the Founder and Festival Director of the Terror-Fi Film Festival, James oversees New Zealand’s largest genre and cult film festival; that brings together thousands of film fans each year, while also serving as an interface between local talent and the global marketplace. James’ most proud achievement is having developed marketing and fundraising strategies that have helped to raise over $150m for New Zealand not-for-profit organisations.

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Creative Welly Episode #23 | Samantha Gadd & Phyo Thu

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Samantha Gadd, Passionate about all things business and employee experience, Founder / Director of Humankind and EX Design School

I am a super proud mum of three boys, business founder and EX enthusiast. I am obsessed with business, leadership, growth, brand and all things people in business.

I have recently launched EX Design School, having just stepped away from my CEO role at Humankind after nearly 10 years. EX Design School is an online programme and community with global ambitions, looking to transform how business leaders and HR practitioners design awesome employee experiences. I’m excited to learn about how to build a product and global community, alongside putting my business experience to the next test!

Phyo Thu, eMotion Maker, Founder and Creative Director of Fox & Co

After nearly a decade of experience in motion design and visual effects, I started my animation studio, Fox & Co Design, to fuel my passion for storytelling through animation and unite a subculture of like-minded creatives with the same enthusiasm. I’ve been fortunate to have built a talented team that shares my vision, and together, we continue to create inspiring visuals.

Virtual production is becoming a leading trend to constant evolutions in the animation industry – I’m excited to see how we can leverage all the emerging technology to push our boundaries and take our creativity to the next level!

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Creative Welly Episode #17 | Victoria Spackman & Mark Bradford

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Victoria Spackman ONZM

Victoria Spackman ONZM is an independent director and leader based in Wellington, New Zealand. She is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most influential business women and advocates for the creative and arts sectors. She is currently Chair of high-growth trans-Tasman technology company Ackama Group, on the Board and Audit and Risk Committee of Manapou ki te Ao Education New Zealand (a Ministerial appointment) and is chairing the interim establishment board of the Toi Mai Workforce Development Council, which serves the creative, cultural, technology and recreation sectors.

Recent executive roles include Manager Legal and Procurement of Greater Wellington Regional Council and founding executive Director of Te Auaha New Zealand Institute of Creativity, where she established a tertiary education facility teaching 1000+ students every year in the creative industries including film, music, theatre, writing, dance, digital media and more. Prior to that, Victoria was Chief Executive of Gibson Group, one of New Zealand’s largest and longest standing screen and visitor experience production companies which exports to Australia, China, America, Europe and beyond. Victoria led a management buyout of that company in 2014 and remains a shareholder and director.

Dr Mark Bradford, Senior Lecturer, Massey University, Ngā Pae Māhutonga Wellington School of Design

Dr Mark Bradford is a designer and academic at Massey University, Ngā Pae Māhutonga Wellington School of Design in Wellington, New Zealand. Mark has a PhD in Business from Massey Business School.

His interdisciplinary research investigates how design(ing) action is increasingly enacted relationally between people. Through his PhD research process – inspired by the Japanese martial art of Aikidō – he designed the ‘BeWeDō® framework.’ BeWeDō is a unique way of enabling people to feel heard through designing inclusive spaces where physical movement amplifies thinking, enriches exchange and transforms conversations into action. Everyone’s voice matters.

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Creative Welly Episode #14 | Audrea Topps Harjo & Alex Matthews

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Audrea Topps Harjo – COO at A44 Games & Founder of InclusionFX

Audrea Topps Harjo has worked in the entertainment industry for over twenty-five years.

She has worked for Sony Pictures (CONTACT) Rhythm and Hues, Electronic Arts, WETA Digital (RISE OF THE PLANETS OF THE APES), James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment (AVATAR SEQUELS). She produced three independent films (SECRETS, ALL IN, THE AVAILABLE WIFE). She served as Mind & Machine’s VFX Producer on Ridley Scott’s (RAISED BY WOLVES).

She is currently COO at A44 Games and founder of InclusionFX, which is a platform designed to support and amplify underrepresented voices in the VFX for features, television and games industries in Wellington, NZ.

Alex Matthews – Xequals CEO

Alex is a Wellington business person and ‘serial entrepreneur’ with businesses in digital production, web/app development, gaming, and heavily engaged in the innovation sector.

An avid futurist focused on emerging technologies and social trends, Alex is passionate about discussing the future of society and how we can best shape it towards a world we all want to live in.

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Creative Welly Episode #13 | Mayu Suzuki & Trent Yeo

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Mayu Suzuki – Petite Queen Bee of mariri New Zealand / JFW organiser

Mayu is a bridge between Japan and New Zealand – or at least that’s my goal! During the day I am a Mānuka honey expert gifting New Zealand Taonga to Japanese customers on e-commerce, I also organise one of the biggest cultural events “Japan Festival Wellington”.

As a Japanese-Kiwi, I am passionate about culture and identity issues. My mission is to connect Japan and New Zealand in all business, culture, sports and all sectors.

Trent Yeo – Loves team sports

Trent is Executive Director of Ziptrek Ecotours in Queenstown. Ziptrek is an adventure ecotourism zipline business that utilises the power of adventure to help create meaningful memories of place.

Ziptrek is a long time communicator about The Natural Step and now a Future-Fit Pioneer. Ziptrek’s business model assists tens of thousands of guests to learn about sustainability.

Trent is also an ex TEDx event organiser, once produced an online vodcast about NZ for China travellers, represents on board of Tourism Industry Aotearoa and co-starter of Startup Queenstown Lakes.

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Creative Welly Episode #12 | Melissa Clark-Reynolds & Cesar Piotto

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Melissa Clark-Reynolds – Futurist

Melissa Clark Reynolds ONZM, ChMInstD became a Foresight Practitioner and Professional Director after 25 years as a technology entrepreneur and CEO.

She sits on the boards of Little Yellow Bird, Jasmax, and Atkins Ranch. Melissa was previously Deputy Chair of Radio NZ, the first independent Director of Beef & Lamb NZ. Melissa has been part of the Te Hono Primary Sector Bootcamp at Stanford University twice.

She trained as a Foresight Practitioner with The Institute for the Future in Palo Alto and with Clayton Christiansen in his approach to Disruptive Innovation through HBX.

She loves the sea and keeps bees.

Cesar Piotto – Chief Executive, Wellington Cable Car

Cesar leads an incredible team at Wellingtons iconic landmark, the Cable Car. Having joined the team when NZ moved to Alert Level 3 in May 2020, Cesar has a passion for redesigning business systems to improve the user experience, utilise technology and drive growth.

Driven by an inability to say no to a challenge, Cesar relocated to China in 2015 with his family to configure operations for the new Ski Resort in readiness for the 2022 winter Olympics.

Since returning to New Zealand in 2017, Cesar has lived and worked in Queenstown, Ruapehu and now calls Wellington home. Cesar connects with his community and has been involved in TEDxQueenstown and Civil Defence during the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Cesar continues to balance work, study, projects and spending time with his family & skiing.

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