Technological Impact 6-week Course

Andrew Weaver is a payments and technology expert with nearly 30 years of experience across the global cards and digital payments industry. As founder of Legacy Consulting, he advises financial institutions, technology providers, and industry organisations throughout New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, with a focus on fraud risk, digital identity, and modern payment solutions.

Andrew is widely recognised for his leadership in payment security, real-time fraud detection, and the adoption of emerging technologies such as contactless and mobile payments. He has also played a key role in advancing New Zealand’s digital identity ecosystem, bringing together industry and government stakeholders to drive secure, innovative, and user-centric solutions for the future of payments.

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 did we get here? Our world has been shaped by technology and digitalisation. In just three short decades, we moved from being slow adopters of the Internet to supercharged adopters of artificial intelligence. The speed of adoption and change has moved at a dizzying pace, and it is hard to imagine what the world will look like in 2030. Frances will decipher the world of technological disruption and paint a path of the journey ahead, as AI, Quantum Computing, Robotics and Data change the building blocks of the future.

Dr David Parsons is a leading expert in digital education, innovation, and applied learning technologies, currently serving as Research Director at academyEX in Auckland and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Educational Studies & Leadership at the University of Canterbury. With more than 30 years of experience across academia and the software industry, he has built an international reputation for advancing the effective use of digital tools to enhance learning outcomes while maintaining strong pedagogical foundations. He has held senior academic roles, including Associate Professor of Information Technology at Massey University, and has also worked as an IT consultant with global organisations such as Oracle and IBM. He has published extensively across the domains of software development and education, having authored more than 200 articles and books. He is also a strong advocate for lifelong learning and continues to contribute to the evolution of education through research-led teaching and innovation.

SESSION: Abstract: Getting Creative with Digital Technologies - This is a hands-on, entertaining, collaborative session where you will get the chance to show your creative side. The first part of the session will involve stop-motion movie making using your own mobile devices and the wide range of props and materials we have available in the lab. You can try out movie-making features such as green screen, soundtracks, and special effects. The second activity will involve creating sounds using a Makey Makey, an electronic device that lets you control a computer using various items such as Play-Doh, aluminium foil, and people. Bring your laptop if you have one.

Dr Roy Davies works across emerging technology, design, and big ideas, with a particular interest in calm computing, mixed reality, assistive technology, and new ways for digital tools to become more natural, human, and quietly helpful in everyday life. He enjoys helping people make sense of complex change, explore new possibilities, and build strong ideas with confidence. Roy brings a thoughtful and engaging style that encourages curiosity, conversation, and the pleasure of learning.

SESSION: Abstract: How technology is becoming more human - and what that means for us. Technology is changing fast, but it does not have to feel cold, confusing, or overwhelming. In this talk, Dr Roy Davies will explore how technology is starting to become more human in the way it fits into our lives - quieter, more helpful, and less about demanding our constant attention. Drawing on ideas from AI, mixed reality, calm computing, and assistive technology, he will look at what these changes might mean in practice, and how we can approach them with curiosity, confidence, and a bit of imagination.

Kriv Naicker is a senior international executive, entrepreneur, lecturer, industry commentator and professional director with 25+ years’ experience in leadership, strategy and technology. He is the Founder and co-Chair of IoT Forum New Zealand (previously New Zealand IoT Alliance), board member of Connected Technology Alliance Australia (previously IoT Alliance Australia) and Managing Director of Synaptec NZ (an innovation and strategy advisory organisation that focuses on the impact of Emerging, Exponential & Disruptive Technologies).

A regular commentator and lecturer on IoT, AI, Telecommunications and emerging technologies, Kriv brings a unique blend of governance experience, industry insight, and global perspective.

SESSION: Abstract: This session explores the transformative convergence of the Physical AI and the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT). Moving beyond AI that simply generates digital insights, the discussion focuses on "Embodied Intelligence" - the moment the digital mind gains a physical body to sense, reason and act autonomously in our real-world environments. Participants will examine the Synaptec Sense-Reason-Act framework which bridges the gap between perfect computer simulations and messy reality by integrating intelligent infrastructure with robotic actuators to enable safe, adaptive, and real-time interaction with the physical world. To bring these concepts to life, the session includes an activity challenge where attendees will apply these principles to solve a real-world edge case. By combining the connectivity of IoT with the reasoning power of advanced models, this session highlights how systems are evolving into intelligent actors capable of everything from predictive maintenance to high-dexterity tasks.

Kate Sutton is a strategy and innovation leader specialising in urban development, economic transformation, and cross-sector collaboration. As a Director at Deloitte and Future of Auckland Lead, she works with public and private sector organisations to design and deliver transformative solutions that address complex societal and economic challenges. With more than 15 years of experience advising governments and leading initiatives across business, civil society, and international development, she brings a global perspective to building sustainable, inclusive, and future-focused cities.
Kate has built her career at the intersection of innovation and impact, including founding a consultancy focused on social enterprise and impact investment, supporting entrepreneurs in emerging markets, and contributing to large-scale programmes across the Pacific and beyond. She is widely recognised for her work in fostering partnerships that drive system-level change, and for her thought leadership on innovation ecosystems and urban transformation in New Zealand. She holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and an MA from the University of Auckland.

SESSION: Abstract: The Greatest Innovations Were Social, Not Technical - When we think of innovation, we often think of gadgets and technology. But many of the most powerful innovations of the past century were social — new ways of organising, supporting one another, and solving shared problems. This session looks at the “quiet inventions” that reshaped society, from public institutions to community-led initiatives, and asks what we can learn from them today. It’s a reflective, story-driven exploration of how change really improves lives — and why it still matters.