Trends at TRENZ
Thursday 11 May, 9am-11am
Who is the visitor of the future? What will they want? How can businesses evolve their product offering and the way they operate to cater to the customer of the future?
Book your spot at TRENZ Talks to find out! Check out the speakers below.
Kaila Colbin
Kaila Colbin is founder and CEO of Boma, an organisation building a world of intentional, intelligent, courageous leaders.
An award-winning leader renowned for impact, Kaila developed TEDxChristchurch into New Zealand’s flagship TEDx event and brought Singularity University to New Zealand and Australia, supporting thousands of people to engage with exponentially accelerating technologies and their impact on humanity.
As a founder of the non-profit Ministry of Awesome, Kaila played a critical role in developing Christchurch’s startup ecosystem. She has extensive governance experience, and has been involved with mergers, capital raises, and company sales in the US and NZ. She trained with Brené Brown and Al Gore, and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors and a certified Project Management Professional.
A native New Yorker, Kaila’s work to champion Aotearoa New Zealand on a global stage saw her given the 2022 Kea World Class New Zealand “Friend of New Zealand” award. Her purpose in life is to be an uplifting presence.
David Downs
Genetically Modified Optimist
David has had a successful career in the private and public sector and is now CEO of The New Zealand Story, an ambitious government-funded organisation marketing New Zealand to the world. He also acts as a consultant and is a director on several boards, including as Chair of The Icehouse. David is an ex-comedian, TV and radio actor, semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year, cancer survivor and a published author of the books No.8 Re-wired, No.8 Recharged, A Mild Touch of the Cancer, and Silver Linings. David founded SOS Business, a hugely successful not-for-profit initiative to help cafes and other small businesses during covid-19.
Tania Rodger, Wētā Workshop
Tania Rodger co-owns and runs Wētā Workshop with husband Richard Taylor. Wētā Workshop has an international reputation as one of the film industry’s most successful design and special effects studios. Best known for large-scale feature films such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong, as well as being known for The Chronicles of Narnia, District 9, Avatar, Elysium, Chappie, The Hobbit trilogy, The Great Wall, Ghost in the Shell, Power Rangers, Blade Runner 2049, Thor: Love and Thunder; Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever and Avatar: The Way of Water. Wētā Workshop has also produced hundreds of miniatures, models and puppets for TV shows like Hercules, Xena and Thunderbirds Are Go. Tania has worked in this creative business for over 30 years.
Tania co-owns Pukeko Pictures, who have created and developed a number of properties together including the award-winning television show Jane and the Dragon, pre-school series The WotWots, Thunderbirds Are Go and Cleverman. Pukeko Pictures is also the first NZ production company to have a co-production agreement with China producing Kiddets.
Tania also co-owns the Roxy Cinema in Wellington. This gorgeous art deco cinema theatre, multi-arts venue, and restaurant is located in Miramar, in the centre of the filming making district of Wellington.
Tania and Richard are Patrons for the Little Miracles Trust in New Zealand.
Rik Athorne, Wētā Workshop
Part of Weta Workshop’s Senior Leadership Team, Rik leads Weta Workshop’s Location Based Entertainment division overseeing the creative direction, vision development and project design for creative and immersive experiences including museum exhibitions, world expos, attractions, immersive experiences and art installations.
Rik’s passion and enthusiasm for out-of-the-box creative leadership and collaboration maintains a creative energy in the LBE division and results in positive strategic relationships with clients and project partners.
Originally from the UK where he worked as a producer/director in television, Rik joined Weta Workshop in 2007 as Head of Design. In this role Rik oversaw a world-class creative team that provided groundbreaking conceptual ideas and design for the entertainment and creative industries. During Rik’s time at Weta Workshop he has helped lead the growth and diversification of the company through seeking out innovative opportunities that has enabled Weta Workshop to continue bringing its creativity into new sectors of the creative industries where boundaries are able to be pushed.
David Ermen
David Ermen has 15 years of experience in tourism consulting and education in New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. For 7 years, he helped to build up PwC’s Tourism & Hospitality Centre of Excellence EMEA in Zurich, leading projects on tourism strategy, sustainability, as well as service quality systems and training for the hotel industry.
Since returning to New Zealand in 2020, he has supported RTOs with their destination management processes and run sustainability workshops and training online and in-person. David partnered with TIA on the Wellington sustainable tourism project and The Green Room in the Bay of Plenty, helping operators start their sustainability journey.
David has worked with the UNWTO on tourism’s contribution to the SDGs, and he is an official trainer for the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). He mentors innovative start-ups on sustainability and service design.
