Mark Bruce-Miller is a leader in experiential education in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a strong focus on designing and delivering programmes that connect young people to place, purpose, and pathways into employment. As Chief Executive of Whenua Iti Outdoors and Experiential Education New Zealand, Mark has led the development of innovative, large-scale programmes that integrate outdoor learning, youth development, and career readiness. With over two decades of experience in the sector, Mark has worked extensively with secondary schools, government agencies, and international education partners to create programmes that respond to the changing needs of young people. His work is grounded in the belief that learning is most powerful when it is experiential, relational, and connected to the real world. Mark has been instrumental in the development of programmes such as Manaaki Tāpoi, which support rangatahi to build confidence, resilience, and practical employability skills through hands-on, place-based learning. These programmes are intentionally designed to support diverse learners, including those who are disengaged from traditional education pathways, and have demonstrated strong outcomes in engagement, achievement, and transitions into employment and further training. A key feature of Mark’s work is the integration of kaupapa Māori perspectives and Indigenous knowledge into programme design and delivery. He works in partnership with iwi and community stakeholders to ensure programmes are culturally grounded and locally relevant, supporting a strong sense of identity, belonging, and connection for participants. This approach reflects a broader commitment to equity and to improving outcomes for Māori learners within education and employment systems. Mark’s work is underpinned by a Quadruple Bottom Line framework, which evaluates impact across learner development, wellbeing, community connection, and organisational sustainability. This evidence-based approach has enabled the organisation to scale its programmes while maintaining a strong focus on quality and outcomes. In addition to his leadership in New Zealand, Mark works internationally with schools and higher education institutions, particularly in North America, supporting the development of experiential and study abroad programmes. He is a regular presenter at international conferences, where he shares practical insights into how experiential, place-based learning can support both employability and wellbeing in a rapidly changing world.

Murdoch Carpenter is based in Aotearoa New Zealand working as the Design Manager at the Tertiary Education Commission. His current focus is finding the intersections between complex data systems and user needs to design the best user experience on the Tahatū Career Navigator website. He has 20 years experience spanning Government, Advertising, E-learning and Information Technology.

Peter Doake is the Founder and CEO of INZONE Experience Ltd, with over 20 years of experience developing innovative, community-focused initiatives that support young people to explore career pathways and opportunities. In the early 2000s, Peter and his wife Donna launched the INZONE motivational show, a self-funded initiative designed to inspire high school students to believe in their potential and explore future employment opportunities. The programme reached over 300,000 students across New Zealand within three years, laying the foundation for INZONE’s ongoing work in career development. Building on this success, Peter went on to develop a range of practical career engagement tools, including a mobile careers coach and a network of interactive career kiosks. These kiosks enable students to explore real career pathways through authentic industry stories and access tailored follow-up information to support further exploration. Through INZONE, Peter has worked alongside industry partners, educators, and organisations nationwide to strengthen connections between education and employment. His work focuses on using technology and storytelling to improve career awareness, increase industry visibility, and create more accessible pathways for young people navigating an increasingly complex world of work.

Yasmin Frazer leads financial education initiatives across Aotearoa New Zealand in her role as Learning Lead at Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission. She oversees the Commission’s partnership with the Ministry of Education to implement compulsory financial education in schools, chairs the Financial Education Provider Advisory Group, and represents New Zealand in the OECD INFE group, contributing to global financial education efforts. Yasmin heads the Sorted in Schools programme — Te whai hua, kia ora — ensuring accessible, high-quality financial capability education for secondary schools across the motu. With a background as a teacher and in various school leadership roles, she brings deep experience in curriculum design, assessment, and student wellbeing to her work advancing financial education nationwide.

Linda, an internationally respected scholar in the field of funds of knowledge, is driven by a commitment to advancing equitable access to effective education. Her doctoral thesis was entitled "Applying funds of knowledge in a New Zealand high school: The emergence of team-based collaboration as an approach." In this study, small teams of students, parents and teachers negotiated, implemented, and evaluated strategies for the teacher to learn about the students’ funds of knowledge. This research question and approach tied together Linda’s interest in drawing on perspectives of multiple participants - especially minoritized students - and investigating impacts that arise. Similarly, in this workshop, a key aim is to enhance outcomes by drawing on multiple perspectives and expertise. Linda brings a wealth of applied professional experience in education to her academic role. As a fully registered secondary school teacher with more than twenty years’ experience in New Zealand and the Cook Islands, she is well-placed to support students’ transition from school to university. She has contributed to NCEA as a teacher, NZQA Principal's Liaison Officer, and in examinations-related roles. Linda is Associate Dean (Students) in Te Pukenga Wai: The Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences at VUW. Over the past 3 years, Linda has been heavily involved in Victoria University’s Provisional Admission Programme for students who have not met the University Entrance standard. She has gained valuable insights into supporting students to develop the skills and dispositions necessary for success in university level study; in academic reading and writing, critical thinking, learning techniques and strategies, and navigation of the university environment. She is currently involved in a study of first year students’ perspectives of course features in the BCom. Anne is a passionate and effective educator whose work has contributed internationally to the use of technology in education. She researches and has led innovations in face-to-face, online and blended learning environments. She is particularly interested in the use of digital technology to support learning. Anne has extensive expertise in education including several years as a secondary school teacher during which time she held a range of teaching and management roles. She contributed towards the development of NCEA through standards writing and review panels, facilitating professional development, moderation and examination marking roles, writing curriculum support materials and teaching and learning guides. Her PhD focused on how teachers’ conceptions and beliefs about assessment were influenced by their role as NCEA assessors.

Dr Sherrie Lee is originally from Singapore and brings a cross cultural perspective to her role as a Career Consultant at Victoria University of Wellington. In this role, she designs and delivers career development and employability programmes, including initiatives that support international students. She has over 10 years’ experience in facilitation, coaching, and training programme development across Singapore and New Zealand. Sherrie holds a PhD in Education from the University of Waikato, where her research examined the informal learning practices of international learners, and a Master of Arts in TESOL from the University of Southern California. She is a Certified Career Services Provider (NCDA), a Professional Member of the Career Development Association of New Zealand, and a member of ISANA NZ. She also leads a special interest group on character strengths for career practitioners. In addition to her professional practice, Sherrie maintains a personal blog, thediasporicacademic.com, where she reflects on her research interests, personal experiences of migration and settlement, and contemporary topics in career development. Her work is grounded in strengths based practice and a commitment to supporting well being, resilience, and sustainable career development. Her life motto is drawn from the film Dead Poets Society: “Carpe diem. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.”

Dedre is a Chartered Accountant specialising in financial reporting, currently Deputy Head of the Accounting department at the University of Auckland and as Pathways Program Manager at Chartered Accountants ANZ.

Dr Val O'Reilly Ko Aoraki te maunga Ko Waitaki te awa Ko Takitimu te waka Ko Kāi Tahu te iwi Ko Val O’Reilly ahau Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa. In her mahi as a career development practitioner, educator, and researcher Val centres relational approaches to wayfinding and navigating careers. Her practice is grounded in ongoing reflection on Ko wai au? (Who am I?) and in Te Ao Māori, shaping a commitment to supporting others to make sense of their career journeys. She brings extensive experience working with diverse learners in secondary school settings, as well as experience across tertiary, community, and professional contexts in Aotearoa. Alongside her practice, Val contributes to governance in a community arts organisation and participates in national conversations on artificial intelligence through the AI Forum NZ. Her professional journey includes leadership within the career development field and a strong commitment to sharing knowledge through publishing and presenting. This is reflected in her doctoral research on professional identity and standards, which explored how practitioners understand themselves and their work. At the heart of her work is a curiosity about how people make sense of their lives and futures, and a belief that wayfinding is not a solitary act, but something we do together. Amanda Smidt Ko whenua o tāku whānau a Āwherika ki te tonga Ko Drakensberg te maunga te rū nei taku ngākau Nō Ōtautahi āhau Ko Ōtākaro te awa e mahea nei aku māharahara Ko Amanda Smidt tōku ingoa. Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa. Amanda's practice as a career development practitioner, educator, and mentor is grounded in a systems theory worldview and a career wayfinding approach—placing people, context, and connections at the heart of meaningful and sustainable career development. She brings extensive experience across secondary education, vocational training, and career counselling in both South Africa and Aotearoa New Zealand. Her work focuses on career counselling and coaching, practitioner supervision, assessor training and moderation, and developing innovative wayfinding-informed programmes and resources. Amanda’s interests include supporting young people to navigate the complexity and uncertainty of transitions from school into further education and meaningful work. She helps them to orient, explore, and move forward with agency, curiosity, and hope. Alongside her counselling practice, Amanda partners with a regional economic development agency and community organisations to design and facilitate workshops, events, and career development initiatives for women and emerging leaders, as well as migrant and former refugee communities. She has published and presented both within the profession and across related disciplines. Amanda holds a Master of Professional Practice in Career Development and is an Executive Director of The Career Development Company.

Louise Saviker is the Chief Executive of Student Job Search, where she leads the charity's efforts to connect tertiary students with job opportunities which help fund their studies and lives. Louise brings leadership experience, a Master’s in Human Resources and Organisational Development, and a strong understanding of the evolving student workforce. She and the team at SJS know students who work during study gain more than just an income - they learn time management, communication, and many more skills they will take into their careers long-term.

Matthew Sin is the Founder and Executive Director of the Life Development Institute (LDI) and Founder and Honorary President of the Hong Kong Life Planning Association (LPAHK). Recognised as a visionary leader in lifelong career development, he has pioneered a scalable, inclusive ecosystem that bridges education, social services, business, and government sectors across Greater China and the Asia-Pacific region. Holding a Master’s degree in Positive Psychology in Education from The Education University of Hong Kong, Matthew is an NCDA Certified Master Trainer of Career Development (CDM) and one of the first Certified Supervisors of Career Practitioners (CSCP) in the region. Through his innovative “Train the Trainer” model and the strategic “Three Expansions” framework—expanding the ecosystem, professional capacity, and inclusive access—he has trained over 1,000 practitioners, partnered with more than 700 organisations, and supported more than 100,000 individuals across 600+ schools and communities. His initiatives empower culturally diverse communities, 50+ adults, youth with special educational needs, and marginalised groups through experiential programmes grounded in positive psychology, fostering hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and belonging. As APCDA’s Hong Kong Regional Representative, he drives cross-border collaboration and evidence-based practice. Benson is the Co-Founder of the Life Development Institute and has delivered the Facilitating Career Development Program—Career Development Advisor (CDA) certification in Hong Kong since 2021. With more than 15 years of corporate experience spanning banking, recruitment, human resources, and international operations in London, Singapore, and Hong Kong, he transitioned into career coaching, corporate training, and life development facilitation in 2018. He holds multiple professional credentials including Career Development Instructor (CDI), Career Development Advisor (CDA), Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), and Certified Supervisor of Career Practitioners (CSCP). Passionate about active citizenship and overseas experience, Benson particularly supports ethnic minorities and underprivileged communities. Known for his pragmatic, conscientious approach, he designs experiential workshops and tailored people solutions that integrate corporate insights with career pathways, guiding individuals from “campus to career” and “corporate to calling” while building sustainable life development ecosystems across the Asia-Pacific region.