Theme: The Changing Face of Manukau

Join us for the first ever TEDxManukauInstituteOfTechnology: The Changing Face of Manukau.

Licensed by TED and organised by the Faculty of Creative Arts, TEDx Manukau Institute of Technology brings together eleven of Auckland’s brightest minds under the theme of ‘The Changing Face of Manukau’.

Speakers include young footwear entrepreneur Gustaavia Lui, Sustainability Manager for Auckland Airport, Martin Fryer, and Pasefika pedagogue, Michelle Johannson.

The event’s organiser and award-winning writer, Courtney Sina Meredith says, “The event aims to showcase people and ideas aligned with the Manukau Institute of Technology - our wonderful staff, graduates, partners and people from the wider community of South Auckland.”

The day of talks, food and networking will focus on provoking forward-thinking solutions for local and global issues, including social innovation, creative decolonisation and sustainability.

Since the beginning of the TEDx program in 2009, nearly 15,000 events have been held in every corner of the globe. And now, a new TEDx milestone has been reached: one billion views of TEDx Talks.

Full list of speakers:

Gus Gilmore, CEO Manukau Institute of Technology
Jenny Salesa, MP for Manukau East
Ngahuia Harrison, (Ngātiwai, Ngapuhi) PhD student and Auckland based artist working predominantly in lens-based media
Gustavia Lui, Founder and Director of Staavias
Ema Tavola, Curator, artist and arts administrator
Dr. Lehan Stemmet, Associate Dean Faculty of Business and Information Technology, Manukau Institute of Technology
Moe Laga, Renowned performance artist, queer advocate and cover girl for the event
Barry Ogilvie, Manager – Strategy, Manukau Institute of Technology
Michelle Johansson, Director-Playwright-Manager of the Black Friars, Associate Director of Teacher Preparation and Support for Teach First NZ: Ako Mātātupu
Ole Maiava, Creative entrepreneur, writer and event specialist
Martin Fryer, Sustainability Manager at Auckland Airport
MC for the day: Yolande Ah Chong

9am-10am registrations
10am-4pm talks and networking

MIT Manukau
Corner of Manukau Station Road and Davies Rioad
Auckland, Auckland, 2104
New Zealand

Barry Ogilvie

Barry Ogilvie has worked in the tertiary education system for 20 years in a variety of management roles, and is currently Manager of Strategy at Manukau Institute of Technology. For a number of years Barry has studied Social Impact Bond (SIB) initiatives around the globe, and he hopes to mobilise the voice of South Auckland in an election year to breath life into New Zealand's SIB initiatives.

Gustavia Lui

Gustavia Lui is the Founder and Director of footwear brand Staavias, producing high-end handcrafted shoes for Women sized 10-14. Realising that a personal challenge could be turned into a global opportunity, Gustavia’s vision and dedication has resulted in one New Zealand’s most exciting footwear enterprises.

Jenny Salesa

Member of Parliament for Manukau East, Jenny has 20 years' experience in policy as a health specialist and as a senior official in the Health and Education sectors. Jenny's work also includes the founding of a grassroots community health provider in Auckland, and spreading an international evidence-based health initiative to other cities.

Lehan Stemmet

Dr. Lehan Stemmet is an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business and IT at Manukau Institute of Technology. He is passionate about seeing people reach their full potential and has an affinity for multidisciplinary applied research, broadly categorised in the cognitive and behavioural neuroscience space. He is qualified in biochemistry and microbiology, as well as in organisational and experimental psychology.

Martin Fryer

Sustainability Manager at Auckland Airport, Martin is English ex-pat living in Manukau who enjoys thinking globally and implementing positive change.

Michelle Johansson

Theatre director and playwright, doctoral scholar, educationalist, and a former high school dropout, Michelle is currently Associate Director of Teacher Preparation and Support for Teach First NZ: Ako Mātātupu. Michelle is passionate about South Auckland Pasifika education, and a staunch advocate for the breaking down of stereotypes through performance.

Moe Laga

Performance artist and queer advocate, Moe Laga has blessed the stage numerous times in varied productions that range from traditional to experimental. Versed in the art of performance, dance and all out spectacle, Moe is graduating this year with a Bachelor of Creative Arts from Manukau Institute of Technology. She recently starred in Femslick with her collective FAFSWAG as part of Auckland Pride Festival, and can often be seen dazzling crowds either as a judge or a participant at vogue balls.

Ngahuia Harrison

Ngahuia Harrison (Ngātiwai, Ngāpuhi) is an artist working predominantly in lens-based media. She is completing her practice-led PhD at Auckland University of Technology, examining Ngātiwai philosophies and the way in which these concepts can be applied to creative practice.