Speakers

Summit Speakers in 2024

The Corporate PA Summit attracts a fantastic mix of inspirational speakers, celebrity speakers and leading EAs.

Photos and bios of confirmed speakers will be shown below as they become available.

Karen Walker

Karen Walker is a designer, entrepreneur, businessperson, storyteller, marketer, brand and icon.

For more than 30 years she’s nurtured and built her brand and business which are known for their clever design, adventurous collaborations, imaginative storytelling and constantly redefining approach to retail.

Globally, Karen’s influence has seen her consistently ranked in The Business of Fashion’s powerhouse BoF 500, reflecting her position as on the world stage.

“It was such a pleasure to work with Karen and have her involved in our women’s leadership event. The advice, stories, and lessons she shared with our audience were timely, engaging, and practical. Her presentation provided tangible advice and inspiration at a time when it was truly needed, and her messages resonated with our audience because they were relatable and honest.” Women & Leadership Australia New Zealand

“People were riveted by Karen Walker! She had a fantastic ability to engage, be approachable, down to earth, connect on an individual basis and even provide individual advice too. She was also incredibly entertaining.” Wairarapa Chamber

Alexia Hilbertidou

Alexia has spoken at some of the world’s largest conferences such as The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and One Young World, sharing stages with speakers such as Richard Branson, HRH Meghan Markle, and JK Rowling. Alexia is a living, breathing example of how Gen Z are making their mark on the world, becoming a Deloitte Global Scholar, National Geographic Explorer, Scientific Communicator for NASA Space Agency, and a Facebook Leadership Fellow.

Alexia has received over 30 Awards for her work including being named the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Award Winner, 2020 Pacific Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Semi-Finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year, the Most Influential NZ Woman under 25 at the Westpac Women of Influence Awards, and Finalist for World Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2020.

Dr Gina Cleo

Dr Gina Cleo is one of the world’s leading experts in habit change and wellbeing.

She has a PhD in habit change and is an Adjunct Professor at Bond University. She also holds a Bachelor in Health Sciences with a double major in Biomedical & Sport Science & a Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics. Gina’s passion for wellbeing extends beyond just what we eat; rather she has dedicated her career to helping people understand their habits and how small consistent steps impact longer term health and wellbeing.

Her research has been published in highly reputable medical journals globally and she has appeared for over 200 news outlets including major television networks, print and online publications.

James Castrission

James is a famous explorer constantly pushing the boundaries of human endurance.

On 26th January 2012, he made history by completing the longest unsupported polar expedition of all time, alongside his best mate, Jonesy. In 100 years of polar exploration no-one had EVER walked from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back without assistance. Many had tried, none had succeeded. After 89 gruelling days they made it back to the coast after having skied 2275km with everything they needed to survive in the harshest environment on Earth.

Four years earlier they Crossed the Ditch – paddling 3318km without assistance across the Tasman Sea for another world first. They braved 10 metre swells, howling winds, endured severe food and sleep deprivation and adverse winds and currents. They became the first kayakers to cross the Tasman Sea as well as becoming the longest transoceanic double kayak expedition. Staggering upon the shores of New Zealand, the adventurers were sunburnt, bearded, underweight, and physically and mentally wasted…but most of all happy to be alive.

In 2013, he founded MyAdventure Group – committed to providing high-end corporate Adventure-based development programs. Harnessing lessons learnt from the most hostile environments on earth, his corporate programs are designed to develop teams and drive competitive advantage in organisations.

He holds 2 Guinness World Records for his accomplishments and is highly regarded as one of Australia’s premier public speakers. He has written 2 bestselling books: Crossing the Ditch and Extreme South.

Dr Michelle Dickinson

Dr Michelle Dickinson (MNZM) is a Nanotechnologist and Materials Engineer. She has spent the last two decades contributing to cutting-edge technologies, researching solutions for medical and technology applications for clients who range from small start-ups to large corporates.

Having set up and run New Zealand’s only nanomechanical testing laboratory that specialises in making and breaking tiny things (nano and micro), Michelle spends her time helping companies with board advisory around science and technology commercialisation including technical consulting for investors and VC’s looking for ROI advice for high-tech start-ups. Her experience spans academia, government labs and large-scale R&D departments. She says the key to success is not necessarily how great the technology is, but how well the science is communicated and how diverse the engineering team is.

Michelle’s success comes from her hard work and lots of lucky opportunities, allowing her to break the poverty cycle she grew up in through education. This experience led her to Co-Found Nanogirl Labs, a socially conscious business designed to create beautiful and engaging content to help everyone build confidence around STEM.

Nanogirl Labs is both an in-person and a digital platform that highlights positive, diverse role models with fun and engaging storylines and kinaesthetic based learning helping everyone to see that they can be a creator not just a consumer. Nanogirl Labs’s goal is to help people have a meaningful relationship with technology no matter their educational background or socioeconomic status. Their projects include the bestselling book The Kitchen Science Cookbook and TV show, a digital STEM platform and STEM education in schools in the pacific islands.

Accolades
Michelle has been recognised for her many services to New Zealand for her work in STEM including; becoming a Member of New Zealand Order of Merit for services to science in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours, awarded the Sir Peter Blake Leadership award in 2015, was the winner of the Women of Influence award for science and innovation in 2016, winner of the Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication Prize and the New Zealand Association of Scientists Science Communicators Award in 2014.

Hayley Holt (summit MC)

Much-loved television presenter, Hayley Holt, is an outstanding MC and speaker. Hayley has had an extensive career in TV and media, and is currently the Sports News Presenter on 1 News at 6pm. Prior to this role, Hayley was co-presenter on TVNZ’s Breakfast for three years alongside Jack Tame and John Campbell – a role she absolutely loved!

For eight years, Hayley was a reporter and presenter on the cult-favourite sports entertainment show The Crowd Goes Wild.

Hayley is a former professional Snowboarder and Ballroom Dancer, featuring on 3 seasons of New Zealand’s Dancing with the Stars competing as a dancer and then as a judge, which then lead to a role on the hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.

In April of 2023, Hayley released her book, Second Chances, where she details the raw and honest account of her story of alcoholism, recovery and courage in the face of loss, all within the public eye.

Casey Beros

For 15 years, Casey’s job has been to ask questions of our brightest minds on how to live a happier, healthier life. She is fascinated by how communication affects the care we receive, and how that affects outcomes. She is often called upon to act as a conduit between clinician and consumer – a role she relishes and navigates with aplomb.

An experienced health journalist, Casey holds her own in nuanced, complex and dense medical territory as a speaker, and is often called upon to act as a medical facilitator for some of our biggest health brands. An engaging and entertaining speaker, she’ll have you crying with laughter one minute and tearing up the next.

Casey gave the closing keynote at the Corporate PA Summit in Perth, and was easily one of the best speakers we’ve ever worked with, creating a huge impact with our WA-based attendees. Travelling from Perth, Casey is the wellbeing expert on Channel 10’s Well Traveller, and has hosted TV programs for the ABC (Tonic) and Channel 10 (Everyday Health) and writes frequently for Australia’s leading digital platforms. In 2021, she released her first book, The ‘Bad’ Girl’s Guide to Better – blending her love of entertainment and education to deliver a stealth help guide to navigating the obstacle course of life. A Mum of two young girls, she is particularly passionate about mental and women’s health.

Lisa O’Neill (masterclass facilitator)

Feisty, funny and fabulous. Lisa O’Neill is an absolute beam of light that will electrify your life.

With the rare ability to deliver powerful messages through side-splitting humour, Lisa is highly sought after as a keynote speaker, facilitator and MC across Australia and New Zealand.

After more than a decade on stage, Lisa is consistently top-rated in conference and workshop evaluations. Participants love her straight-talking, refreshing wisdom and infectious laughter. They respond to her call to live big lives and to become the best version of themselves.

Lisa is the author of five books, ‘Look Gorgeous Be Happy’, ‘Juggling in High Heels’, ’The Lickable Third’, ‘100 Questions to Self Awareness’ and ‘Everything You Want’.

Amanda Rose (masterclass facilitor)

As mentor and advisor to women in executive roles and SMEs, Amanda is known for her strategic, practical approach to leadership and business.

As one of the most influential people on LinkedIn, Amanda Rose (#BossLady) has been quoted as an “internet winning blogger” by TIME.com and contributes regularly to ABC’s The Drum and the Daily Telegraph. Amanda appears weekly on Sunrise Hot Topics, SkyNews Weekend Edition and RnB Fridays with Mike & Emma.

A passionate keynote speaker, professional development trainer and workshop facilitator, Amanda Rose has worked with the Australian Defence Force, CPA Australia, Law Institute, UTS, UBER, ANZ, Local Government and the Royal Australian Navy in the areas of confident leadership, conflict resolution and relationship building.

Amanda’s qualifications include a BBA (Mktg & Psych) from Macquarie University, Masters CommMgmt from UTS, and a GradCert Educational Leadership from Macquarie University. She is currently studying a GradDipBusLaw at Sydney University.

Really wonderful summit. The quality of the speakers blew me away. I’ll definitely be back next year. Thank you.
Port Nelson

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