(aka the Tattooed Skateboarding Principal)

Hamish Brewer grew up in a home disrupted by poverty, addiction, and family dysfunction. He understands the feelings of fear, lostness, and desperation that overwhelm too many children today—because that was his life. That experience is what drives him to work relentlessly to empower people living in the toughest areas to envision and create a better future for themselves.

“RELENTLESS IS MORE THAN A MOTTO. IT’S A MISSION OF TOTAL PASSION AND PURPOSE. AND IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO WIN AT WORK AND AT LIFE.”

Founder GirlBoss

Described by the NZ Herald as the Headmistress of Gen Z, Alexia is the founder of GirlBoss NZ - the school project which has become NZ’s largest organisation for young women. In 8 years, GirlBoss has grown to 17,500 members and programmes have been implemented in more than 400 schools across New Zealand, Australia and the Cook Islands.

I am a maximilist. I believe that red and pink always go together. I believe that we create our worlds. That our beliefs control our reality. That potential is accessed through action. That we have unlimited possibilities. That what we want leads us to what we need. That energy is everything. That freedom comes liberating ourselves from our conditioning and limitations. That magnificent lives are lived by people who love themselves and the life that they lead.

Host of The Nutters Club and mental health advocate

Hamish Williams’ various roles in media have seen him work as a senior producer and field journalist for TVNZ, TV3, RNZ, NBR, Stuff and Mediaworks, covering news stories from all corners of New Zealand.

Ian Taylor’s journey is a remarkable reflection of New Zealand's technological and cultural evolution.

After 20 years in construction, Lance spent 22 years as a cop becoming the lead crisis negotiator. Qualifying in NZ, Australia, and the FBI, he was described as “The most qualified and highly skilled negotiator within NZ Police”, training with the elite tactical units of Police, Corrections, Fire, Military, and the FBI.

The published author of three bestselling books – Behind the Tape; life on the police frontline, Dark Side of the Brain; adapting to adversity and Anxiety is a Worry; understanding & managing anxiety.

Lance is a regular media and podcast guest and provides inspirational keynotes and coaching workshops.

A respected cultural leader and resilience educator, Jemarl Paerata is committed to strengthening identity, wellbeing, and performance through Te Ao Māori principles and a deep connection to the natural world.

Through grounded storytelling and evidence‑informed cultural practice, Jemarl helps audiences understand their responses to pressure, reconnect with what drives them, and strengthen who they are — both individually and collectively. His work resonates across corporate, community, and education settings, offering a culturally anchored approach to resilience and modern leadership.

Justin Kabbani is one of Australia’s most in-demand AI trainers and keynote speakers, known for making AI feel simple, powerful, and immediately useful.

Over the past two years, Justin has trained more than 2,000 professionals across Australia and beyond, consistently earning feedback like “mind-blowing,” and “game-changing”.

His signature Prime, Prompt, Produce framework has transformed how business leaders, executive assistants, marketers, and teams think, work, and communicate with AI, without needing to be “tech people.”

Justin believes AI isn’t here to replace people. It’s here to take the robotic work off our plate, so we can focus on what humans do best.

David Downs is a business leader, public servant, consultant, board director, speaker and genetically modified organism. David is now CEO of The New Zealand Story, an ambitious government-funded organisation which markets New Zealand to the world.

Alicia McKay is a straight-talking strategist. Author, speaker, consultant and entrepreneur, Alicia has worked with over 120 organisations, from tiny charities and rural Councils to global corporations and federal agencies.

She specialises in strategy, decision-making and change, with particular expertise in the public sector. In 2025, Alicia was named one of the world’s Top 25 Thinkers in Local Government by the UK's LGIU. She speaks to conferences and the media and is a trusted advisor to local, state and federal governments. Her strategy models and decision frameworks are used worldwide.

Alicia runs signature courses including Not An MBA, Strategic Public Leaders, and Local Legends. She is a prolific writer, publishing a popular weekly newsletter and regular essays on power, systems and culture. Alicia is the author of three books -From Strategy to Action, You Don’t Need An MBA, and Local Legends.