Tag: Wellington

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!

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

Creative Welly Episode #22 | Jane Guy & Brian Lucid

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

Jane Guy, Women’s Business coach, blogger and podcaster.

I’m Jane waving, a UK born citizen of Aotearoa. I am a lover of connecting with people and the sparks that that creates. After 20 years, I have worked with high risk young people and families in both England and New Zealand. A variety of non-profit organisations who specialise in Family and Sexual Violence, Mental Health and young peoples sexual health.

I then launched a blogging and podcasting business and 2021 I now have a womens coaching and programme business where we create safe spaces for women to learn about business online. And I also have a four year old (hardest job in the world).

Brian Lucid, Professor of Interaction Design / Head of School, Ngā Pae Māhutonga / Wellington School of Design

Brian Lucid is a designer and educator whose creative practise is centred upon conceptualising and implementing tools that facilitate creativity and decision-making.

Today, Brian consults on some of the world’s most popular cloud-based online services. His clients include U.S. government agencies, Fortune 500 technology companies, global consumer product manufacturers, cultural institutions, and emerging start-ups.

Brian leads Ngā Pae Māhutonga, the Wellington School of Design at Massey University. He oversees a 135-year-old research-led comprehensive design programme that ranks in the world’s top 100 Art and Design schools. Ngā Pae Māhutonga’s research and curriculum are concentrated upon the impact­ful application of design to uplift people and planet, with an emphasis placed on critically examining the complex problems facing Aotearoa.

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

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.

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

Creative Welly Episode #15 | Queen Olivia & Pat Shepherd

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

Queen Olivia, Meta Drag Queen

Named one of New Zealand’s 10 most Iconic Drag Queens.

On Twitter simulating life on Space Station 1 in geosynchronous orbit about Wellington, NZ with their trusty pussy cat Cuddle Unit 5.

A regular at Rainbow Story Times. (also known as drag queen story time) in libraries across the Wellington region.

Featured in internationally renowned GayTM campaign for ANZ NZ, and modelled for Höpt Soda’s Nön Usual campaign, running nationwide, online, busses, and billboards.

Currently in collaboration modelling for Dave Roil of Hand Sewn Atelier, photo shoots for London Pacific Fashion week, and NZ photographers Tink Lockett, and Bern Stock.

Pat Shepherd – Chief Doer of Things at One Percent Collective

Pat Shepherd is a photographer, graphic designer and founder of NZ-based charity One Percent Collective. He loves making things better through creativity. He’s been doing that for years through his work with SpinningTop on the Thai/Burma border with refugee and migrant children and more recently through One Percent Collective and The Generosity Journal they produce.

One Percent Collective is a super simple concept. Over the past 8 years, almost 700 donors have collectively raised over $2 million dollars for Kiwi-based causes by giving just 1% of their income.

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

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.

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

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.

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

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.

Audio podcast subscription options:

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

Creative Welly Episode #11 | Elizabeth McNaughton & Rohan Wakefield

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

Elizabeth McNaughton – Cofounder and Director of Hummingly

Elizabeth will tell you, “My career has quite literally been a series of disasters” as she has worked on many disasters around the globe.

Elizabeth has led multi-million-dollar recovery programmes for New Zealand Red Cross and was the Executive Director at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet leading work to create a learning legacy from the Canterbury earthquakes. Internationally, Elizabeth has worked for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Asia-Pacific region.

She is a Winston Churchill fellowship recipient, a Leadership New Zealand alumni, an Edmund Hillary Fellow, co-chair of the New Zealand Chapter of the Australasian Women and Emergencies Network and the co-author of Leading in Disaster Recovery: A Companion through the Chaos.

Rohan Wakefield – CEO & Cofounder at Enspiral Dev Academy

Rohan runs an intensive training school for developers. A school that takes only the most passionate and driven students. Training them in modern development technologies and methodologies, and giving them the skills to hit the ground running in a commercial development environment.

Dev Academy replicates a real life programming environment. Giving students first hand experiences and the skills to excel as a web developer.

Our programme has been developed by industry for industry.

Audio podcast subscription options:

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

Creative Welly Episode #10 | Bron Thomson & Paul Atkins

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

Bron Thomson, Founder and CEO, Springload

Bron Thomson is the founder and CEO of Springload, one of New Zealand’s leading digital agencies. Her experience in design, technology and business strategy spans two decades of working in the tech sector in New Zealand. 

Springload has worked with some of New Zealand’s leading organisations, including Te Papa,  RNZ, Kiwibank, Xero, NZ Festival, Red Cross, and many Government agencies.

Bron is an innovator and disruptor, and is leading Springload through a purpose-led transition. Springload became a B-corp in 2019, and is focused on projects that make an impactful difference to society and the planet.

Paul Atkins, Chief Executive, ZEALANDIA

Paul is Chief Executive of ZEALANDIA, a world-first fenced urban eco-sanctuary in Wellington, named as one of the world’s 100 greatest places by Time magazine in 2019.

Paul is also Chair of the Board of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, a national institute of leading New Zealand materials scientists. He has held a number of other executive and board positions including in several exciting start-up companies.

Paul was a Director in the British Council for almost 20 years, and has worked in over 40 countries around the world.
The most important common thread through Paul’s career has been the extraordinary privilege of meeting and working with so many amazing people.

Audio podcast subscription options:

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

Creative Welly Episode #9 | Janelle (Jay) Fenwick & Tom Probert

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

Janelle (Jay) Fenwick, Founder – Teulo CPD Education Platform 

Janelle Fenwick is an incredibly passionate, high-achieving entrepreneur, mother and founder of the architectural brainchild Teulo.

She began her career in insurance, but with a background in the arts, it wasn’t long until creativity changed her trajectory. With a reputation for seeing the world through a lens of endless possibilities and more than 15 years experience working in positions ranging from business development to National Sales Manager, Janelle thrives in the start-up space and has embraced innovation and technology with every step of her exceptional career.

Teulo is the perfect fusion of Janelle’s two creative loves – design and businesses – and since launching, the online digital / webinar platform has continued to grow, challenging the status quo and raising the technology bar on CPD learning while filling the communications gap between architects, designers and builders to ultimately evolve the industry towards our digital futures.

Tom Probert, Head of Marketing and Innovation – Powershop

Now in his third stint in Welly, Tom returned from the UK in 2016 to head up Sales, Marketing and Design at Powershop.

After a short stint as Head of Marketing at Contact Energy in 2019 he returned to Powershop to continue the fight to disrupt the energy category.

His diverse career to date has spanned Sales, Marketing and Product Development across everything from Chocolate, Toothpaste and Ice Cream to Plumbing, Drainage and Electricity.

Audio podcast subscription options:

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar: