Society & Us 6-week Course

Paula Gair is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning. Her work is focused on the safe and ethical use of technology including AI, Cyber Security, Privacy and Online Harm Reduction as well as Organisational Strategy, Governance and Risk. Paula completed her Master’s research on cyber, privacy and online risks and mitigation strategies for non-technical audiences, incorporating insights from behavioural science. She now supports businesses and leaders navigating AI adoption in order to align innovation with responsible technology use. She also teaches and supervises postgraduate students at AcademyEX across diverse academic Masters research projects that are aiming to create positive impact across diverse sectors navigating complexity and disruption. Paula brings a global perspective, having supported major digital transformations for global NGOs and businesses: living and working across 10 countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas before returning home to Aotearoa New Zealand.

SESSION ABSTRACT: Unhack My Brain - Have you ever wondered what is happening to our brains during extended use of social media and screentime? Have you wondered about the impact of all that scrolling on the next generation (or yourself)? Let’s talk about what is happening in our brains when we click, scroll or respond to a notification, text or email message. We’ll also discuss strategies to help regain our attention and retrain our brains.

Dr Shireen Chua works at the intersection of leadership, culture, and sustainability, exploring how individuals and organisations can navigate complexity in an increasingly interconnected world. With a PhD in Organisational Leadership from the University of Waikato, she brings both academic depth and practical insight to her work. As a teaching fellow, facilitator, and TEDx speaker, Shireen supports leaders and organisations to develop intercultural agility and more adaptive mindsets. Her work focuses on the deeper layers of culture—helping people understand the values and worldviews that shape how we relate to others, our communities, and the wider world. She is passionate about creating environments where wellbeing, creativity, and purpose can flourish alongside performance.

SESSION ABSTRACT: Culture and Connection: Understanding Ourselves in a Complex World - Culture is complex—shaped by the many social and relational groups we each belong to, and the experiences that make us uniquely who we are. In this session, Dr Shireen Chua explores how deepening our awareness of ourselves can open up a richer understanding of others and the world around us.

Michelle Allbon is the CEO and co-founder of The Fractional Directory, a technology startup focused on unlocking access to fractional executive talent across the Asia-Pacific region. With a strong background in revenue leadership within the technology sector, she works as a fractional Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), supporting high-growth companies to build predictable revenue models and scale effectively in digitally transforming markets.

Michelle is passionate about the future of work and the evolving role of fractional leadership, advocating for more flexible, high-impact career models and organisational structures. Known for her people-first leadership style, she focuses on empowering teams, mentoring emerging leaders, and driving sustainable business growth through clarity, innovation, and strong execution.

SESSION ABSTRACT: What If Retirement Isn’t the End of Your Working Life, But the Start of a New Chapter? - More professionals are choosing flexible, purpose-driven ways to use their expertise later in their careers. One emerging model, known as Fractional Leadership, allows experienced professionals to work with organisations part-time, bringing strategic knowledge and leadership without the demands of full-time employment. Michelle Allbon, founder of Fractional Directory, will share insights from this growing global movement and discuss how people are redefining the concept of “retirement” by staying engaged, contributing meaningfully, and continuing to shape businesses and communities in embedded Leadership roles.

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.

SESSION ABSTRACT: How New Zealand demographics are changing New Zealand's future. Our country's population is rapidly aging, our birth rate has fallen to an all-time low, and many of our best and brightest are increasingly heading offshore in the pursuit of opportunity. What does Aotearoa, New Zealand, look like in five, ten and twenty years from now? What assumptions are we making that no longer hold true? What industries will prop up our economy? And who will be our workforce? Frances will share the data points, insights and prediction models that paint a picture of who we are as a nation today and who we will be in the future.

Dmitry Zavialov is a political scientist, curriculum specialist, and educator specialising in international relations, political rhetoric, and human rights. Originally from Tajikistan, he holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Otago (New Zealand), an MA in Human Rights and Multi-Level Governance from the University of Padua (Italy), and a Specialist degree (MA equivalent) in International Relations from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

He has extensive experience teaching university courses and contributing to academic research. He is the author of Whataboutism in International Politics: Russia and the UN Security Council (2008–2024), published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2025. Dmitry has professional experience across public, governmental, and international non-governmental organisations. He currently serves as a Learning Designer at Skills Institute in Auckland, New Zealand. He is also a lecturer at Free University, where he teaches a course on rhetoric in international relations, and a teacher of Public Speaking at Onehunga High School Adult Learning Centre. Beyond his core role, he leads community initiatives, including regular “Walk and Talk” meetups that promote conversation free from logical fallacies and manipulation.

SESSION ABSTRACT: Power, Ideas, and Persuasion: Understanding Global Politics in an Age of Narratives - International politics is not shaped by power alone. It is also influenced by the ideas, interpretations, and narratives through which political leaders, institutions, and societies understand the world. This talk explores how power operates in the international system while examining how rhetoric and political storytelling shape public perception of global events. Drawing on the history of international relations and several major theoretical perspectives, the session explains how states justify their actions, frame conflicts, and build alliances. Through accessible examples from contemporary world politics, participants will gain new tools for interpreting international developments and recognising the persuasive strategies that influence how global events are presented and understood.

Dr Andrea Edwards is an environmental scientist and educator with a strong commitment to fairness, equity, and the wellbeing of communities. With a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Auckland, her research has focused on environmental justice in New Zealand, including the impacts of industrial activity and environmental racism on ethnic communities. Her work brings a human lens to environmental issues, highlighting how environmental decisions affect people in very real and often unequal ways.

Andrea is currently Head of Standards at Eco Choice Aotearoa, where she translates complex environmental science into practical standards that guide organisations toward more sustainable products and practices. Alongside her scientific work, she is a dedicated facilitator with the Peace Foundation, teaching conflict resolution and empathy skills to young people across Auckland. Passionate about education and connection, Andrea is driven by a desire to create a more equitable and sustainable future for both people and the planet.

SESSION ABSTRACT: A Fair Share? Environmental Justice in Aotearoa New Zealand - Not everyone experiences the environment equally - and those of us who have lived a little longer often know this better than most. Over our lifetimes, we've watched neighbourhoods change, industries come and go, and environmental concerns move from the fringes to the front page. But one question doesn't get asked nearly enough: are some communities consistently left to carry more than their fair share of environmental burdens? In this session, Dr Andrea Edwards draws on her research into environmental justice in Aotearoa/ New Zealand to explore how the places we live, and who we are, can shape our exposure to pollution, poor air quality, and environmental neglect. Older adults are often among the most vulnerable to environmental harm. Yet they are among the least consulted when decisions are made. Why is that, and what does it mean for the future of our communities? Come ready to share your own observations, ask questions, and see your environment through a fresh lens.