The Corporate Health & Wellbeing Summit attracts a fantastic mix of inspirational speakers and successful case study speakers. The 2019 summit builds upon this tradition, with an agenda packed full of exceptional speakers. Photos and bios of confirmed speakers are shown below:
A specialist leader, manager and trainer, Dion Jensen has over 20 years live operational experience across varying industries and countries, consistently providing solutions to client problems. Dion achieves the stated objectives by understanding and influencing the human element involved in the situation. Fundamentally, Dion believes that ‘Confidence is the oxygen of action.’
From his previous experience in the Military and Police, Dion entered the corporate world with an expertise in structure and an in-depth understanding of the human psyche and how both relate to training and business.
A clinically endorsed author, keynote speaker and master trainer, Dion’s number one talent is that of ‘Influence.’ This has ensured that when conducting training, the outcome is always achieved in a positive manner, with the skills taught able to be retained and results able to be tracked long after an interaction.
Dion uses an intelligence based analytical approach to understanding a situation and a client’s needs, then leveraging off his experience as a Learning and Development Manager can create a tailored or bespoke workshop to suit the client leveraging off his own content.
His inter-cultural corporate communication skills are excellent, as a result of being born and raised in Asia, to having a Pacific Island Father and an English Mother, as well as many years dealing with diverse cultures during times of trauma and conflict as a Police Officer.
Dion’s experience as a Police Officer is utilized in both his communication and conflict de-escalation workshops, where he allows the student to create the best opportunity to achieve the desired outcome.
Using this background, Dion created ‘Protecting Women’ a course designed specifically for women to protect themselves and has a clear understanding of women in leadership and the role of men in the women in leadership space.
Dion’s demeanour is upbeat and positive and when you attend his workshops, you are greeted by a 6’4 athletic and commanding presence, wearing a large smile and presenting a welcoming energy.
Dr Libby Weaver (PhD) is one of Australasia’s leading nutritional biochemists. Armed with an abundance of knowledge, scientific research and a true desire to help people regain their energy and vitality, Dr Libby empowers and inspires people to take charge of their health and happiness through her books, live events and nutritional support range.
Having sold over 350,000 books across New Zealand and Australia, she is a eleven-times bestselling author.
A respected international speaker, Dr Libby’s expertise in nutritional biochemistry has led her to share the stage with Marianne Williamson, Sir Richard Branson, Tony Robbins and Dr Oz. She is regularly called on as an authoritative figure in the health and wellness industry and has been featured in numerous media publications including The Times, The Huffington Post, Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Women’s Weekly and she appears regularly on breakfast radio and television.
With a natural ability to break even the most complex of concepts into layman’s terms, Dr Libby’s health messages embrace her unique three-pillared approach that explore the interplay between nutrition, emotions and the biochemistry of the body.
It’s no surprise that when it comes to achieving and maintaining ultimate health and wellbeing, Hollywood stars, Deborra-lee Furness and Hugh Jackman, describe her as a “one stop shop in achieving and maintaining ultimate health and wellbeing.”
Mike King has for years been known as the iconic Kiwi entertainer but that role has changed dramatically since the conception of his hugely popular radio show ‘The Nutters Club’.
The show evolved from Mike’s own experience of mental illness and addiction and has become a huge success. The aim of the show is to ‘forever change the way people feel, think, talk and behave in relation to mental health’.
These days Mike is better known for his work as a prominent mental health educator and motivational speaker with the work he does under his charity and with his conference speaking. Mike’s aim is to reverse the population trends of depression and suicide by effecting a positive social change.
Mike works with all levels within an organisation to help with mental health and safety in the workplace. His message is accessible and pertinent to all staff and often helps companies identify anyone who may be struggling and in need of further assistance.
Hannah McQueen is a financial force of nature who is driven by a desire to make Kiwis smarter about money and has built a career on her ability to help them get ahead.
Hannah has no time for doubters – if someone tells her she can’t, she will – and she has.
At just 38, Hannah is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Masters of Taxation Studies. She has founded a successful business, is the author of three books, is a mother of two and is a columnist and the go-to media commentator on personal finance issues.
Her business, enableMe – Financial Personal Trainers, has been a game changer for thousands of Kiwis since it opened 10 years ago. It now has 11 branches around the country, but it has its roots in Hannah’s own experience of her first mortgage. Running the sums, she quickly realised no matter how good the rate, she’d paying many times the original loan in interest to the bank. So, she approached the Mathematics Department at the University of Auckland and worked with them to create a formula that would enable her to pay her loan off as quickly as possible, with as much flexibility as possible. Realising she was on to something, she patented the formula. Helping people conquer or leverage their natural tendencies and find the surplus cash to make the most of that formula is the foundation of enableMe. Hannah and her team have helped thousands of clients, whether middle income or high net worth, get ahead.
Hannah is now turning her attention to making kids more financially capable, sooner. In researching her latest book “From Pocket Money to Property: How to Create Financially Independent Kids” she realised that while this generation will need to be much more financially astute than their parents, no one is equipping them for that reality. In 2018 Hannah will be launching a new online tool to teach kids of all ages the money skills they desperately need, and a mentoring programme to help teenagers select and work towards a fulfilling career.
Hannah McQueen is hugely driven, passionate about what she does and proud of the fact she’s able to change lives by giving people control over their finances.
Patrick (Paddy) Gower is widely regarded as one of the best communicators in the business, with an irrepressible personality.
Paddy is currently Newshub’s National Correspondent, where he concentrates on breaking and covering stories of national significance, or in his words “getting out and about with real Kiwis doing stories about real issues.”
Previously the political editor, he spent ten years in the Parliamentary Press Gallery covering four different Prime Ministers and three different Governments.
He’s moderated the Newshub leader’s debate between Jacinda Ardern and Bill English, questioned Donald Trump multiple times during the US Election and has covered stories in places as varied as Afghanistan, Iraq and Kiribati.
Patrick has been a journalist for 20 years, starting as the night shift reporter at the New Zealand Herald. He has unique insight into how the government works and New Zealand’s place in the world.
As a polished MC, he has an authoritative and engaging style and is able to bring his skills in hard journalism to tackle any situation.
Shannah and Lyndall, The Essentialists are internationally acclaimed educators of life and wellness skills. Dubbed the Thelma & Louise of life and wellness, Shannah and Lyndall between them have more than three decades of presenting and executive coaching experience across public and corporate sectors globally. Shannah and Lyndall work with a diverse range of leaders and levels from CEO’s, management executives, entrepreneurs, sporting leaders including Olympians and many people in between to empower and educate.
There is a reason companies like Google, Nike and Apple are embracing wellness and life skills as a tool for reducing stress in their companies. They have realized the detrimental impact stress has on the efficiency and health of their staff. For people globally, it is time to educate them, to bring them back to some form of self care and reduce the burden on our health and corporate investments. Shannah and Lyndall educate and inspire their audiences to take control of their health and ultimately their happiness by implementing and committing to what it essential.
Shannah is a leading Australian business and life strategist and is the author of best-sellers Simplify, Structure, Succeed-the practical toolkit for modern life and The Life Plan – simple strategies for a meaningful life. An Advanced Certified Life Coach and NLP practitioner, Shannah works individually and in groups with a diverse range of executives, business owners, entrepreneurs and sporting leaders and participants. A speaker on the circuit, focusing on the importance of a life plan along with simple strategies for success in life, both personally and professionally she is a regular guest at conferences and offsite retreats. Recent clients include Macquarie Bank, Deloitte, CBA, NAB, HPE, Mercedes Benz, Mortgage Choice, MTA Travel, Sussan Group, QBE and many more. She has built her business from referral only that has her coaching her clients on a global level and is a leader in creating simple structures that enable clients to gain control of their lives in our era of time famine. “I work with clients, groups and teams to find clarity in vision and what tools they need to allow them to grow, evolve and flourish each year as people.” Shannah’s expertise is sought after in the media. Recent coverage includes The Age/Sydney Morning Herald Business Day, BRW, Marie Claire, Herald Sun, Women’s Health, Coach Magazine, Management Today, The Australian Financial Review and Sunday Life.
Shannah’s motto is “stop being a passenger in life, jump into the driver’s seat and take control”.
Lyndall is a wellness entrepreneur, qualified and accredited coach and founder of the Aurora Spa Group, Australia’s pioneering, award-winning urban spa group. Lyndall brings to her work the “hard yards” of running a thriving business with more than 100 staff; the knowledge gained from creating successful consumer brands and the knowledge that comes from being a loving mother and spouse. “I work with people who want to create the business, life or career they want. Whether its individuals, executives or entire organisations, I believe that with the right tools, motivation, guidance and support, we can all achieve our own vision of success”. Lyndall’s professional background has led global corporate businesses, freelancers, business start-ups, busy mums and many people in between to achieve their vision of success. Lyndall is a regular contributor on wellness & lifestyle topics in the media. Recent coverage includes: The Today Show, Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Bulletin and many global on line platforms and publications. Lyndall has a powerful combination of hands-on business experience and more than two decades working one-on-one and in groups with busy, successful people who are feeling overworked, overwhelmed and overscheduled. “I am on your team and here to help you”.
Lion is NZ’s largest alcoholic beverages company which employs approx. 1,000 people. Robin is passionate about helping people be the best they can be, really make a difference and have a great time doing it, having experience in a number of People & Culture roles at Lion for over 7 years.
She is also passionate about the impact that highly engaged people and a great culture have on commercial outcomes, being a Chartered Accountant and having worked in Finance and Commercial roles at Lion and EY for the 17 years prior.
Lion NZ has won a number of awards recently for their work around culture and wellbeing including the Work-Life Balance category at the Diversity Works NZ Awards 2017, and Outstanding Workplace at the NZ HR Awards 2018. In addition they were a finalist in the Wellbeing category at the NZ Workplace Health & Safety Awards 2018 for their work on mental health.
Katrina has built a reputation as a pioneer of workplace wellness.
She has over 20 years ‘on-the-ground’ experience in the development and implementation of multi award-winning wellness and human capital solutions for small to large organisations across the globe. This includes two-time winner and finalist of the AHRI Award for Best Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2012/2009 and 2011 respectively) and three-time winner of the Australian HR Award for Best Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2006/2007/2009)
As a thought leader in the field, in 2009, Katrina was engaged by the industry body, The Workplace Health Association of Australia (previously HAPIA) to develop the inaugural Best Practice Guidelines for Workplace Health.
Katrina is a sought-after speaker and trainer, having presented throughout Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom, including as an Adjunct Lecturer with the Centre for Environment and Population Health, Griffith University. In 2015 she launched the inaugural Wellness Wise™ Academy, designed to educate and empower senior leaders, practitioners and site-based champions in-house to foster a successful and sustainable workplace health and wellness strategy.
In her spare time, you’ll find Katrina relaxing in a yoga pose, enjoying a nice glass of Barossa Shiraz or planning her next travel adventure with her family.
Blythe Rowe is a people and culture expert and is widely recognised for her passion, energy and her ability to shake things up. After 13 years working in Senior HR roles for some of the region’s largest businesses including McDonald’s and the retail giant, Bunnings, Blythe’s obsession for people and performance led her to become the founder and director of the training organisation, Human Incite.
Blythe is brilliant at revving up productivity and performance in individuals and organisations, whether it’s via her high energy keynote presentations, training workshops or one on one leadership mentoring. Blythe is the author of the book ‘Bullies, Blamers & Bludgers’ and is on a mission to rid our workplaces of toxic behaviours, build meaningful relationships and create workplaces worth belonging to.
Blythe is a bit of a closet nerd as she loves to continually learn. She holds a Masters in Management Enterprise, a Bachelor of Business, she is an accredited NLP practitioner/coach and is a Global Partner of the About my Brain Institute (AMBI), offering her clients brain-based assessments and solutions through a better understanding of the brain.
Her passion, energy and enthusiasm is infectious. Combine these with her expertise in people leadership and neuroleadership and her ability to ‘tell it like it is’, in a fun, yet pragmatic and practical way, will prove the perfect ingredients to inspire you and your team into action.