How New Zealand demographics are changing New Zealand's future

Frances Valintine CNZM is a leading technologist and educator focused on the technologies shaping the world and impacting how we live, work and connect. She has led and founded multiple institutes of higher education and is currently the Chair of academyEX Group, an Australian and New Zealand postgraduate institute focused on qualifications and programmes for working professionals. Frances is also on the Board of the University of Silicon Valley; she is a recipient of the Flying Kiwi Award and an inductee to the New Zealand Hitech Hall of Fame. She was also recognised by the CIO Awards for her lifetime contribution to technology. In 2014, her organisation, The Mind Lab, won the Best Start-Up in Asia-Pacific award, as judged by Sir Richard Branson and Steve Wozniak. She has a Master's degree from the University of Melbourne and is an alumnus of the Singularity University.

Christina is a lifelong learner with a profound passion for exploring diverse cultures and disciplines. Her curiosity has inspired extensive global travel, from teaching English to Buddhist monks in Laos and volunteering at a Thai orphanage to visiting museums across Europe, the UK, and Asia. A highlight of her travels is the Bishop Museum in Hawai'i, which she visits frequently, including during the 2014 World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education.

Her academic journey began with law and politics at Waikato University, where she discovered dispute resolution. She subsequently earned a Master’s in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Strathclyde University, UK. This period included an exchange at the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai and research in Hong Kong on the ombudsman's role.

Currently a Learning Facilitator for Love Heart Social Learning, Christina also teaches the Restorative Practices microcredential at Victoria University. A fully accredited restorative justice facilitator and assessor, she recently delivered mediation training in Micronesia. Previously, she served as Director of Employee Assistance Resolution Services at Victoria University.

Outside of work, Christina enjoys connecting with loved ones and attending international events, such as the 2025 Restorative Practices conference in Singapore, to continually expand her expertise.