KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr Ganesh Nana (Chief Economist, Editor, BERL Forecasts)

Ganesh’s area of expertise is where numbers and economics intersect. However, economics is, according to Ganesh, firstly and foremost about people - their jobs, their incomes, their futures. His passion for economics and numbers is matched by his strong belief that robust economic analysis can make a positive difference to peoples’ futures.

As Chief Economist, Ganesh is responsible for the professional direction and integrity of all BERL economic research. He oversees the development and application of several databases and economic models, as well as BERL’s assessments of the state of the NZ economy and near-term prospects, through BERL Forecasts and Monthly Monitor.

Ganesh also provides economic commentary and discussion pieces for several publications and media outlets, including a regular column in the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise magazine bright.

His specialist skills in quantitative analysis and modelling have been supplemented by 25 years work experience in the field of economics.
He started work as a researcher at the Project on Economic Planning at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). Thereafter he went to England and gained ‘hands-on’ experience of the UK Treasury and the OECD Multimod models, working in the House of Commons and, later, for Oxford Economic Forecasting Ltd.

On his return to New Zealand in 1992 he tutored and lectured at VUW, as well undertaking some sub-contract work for BERL. He joined BERL full-time in 1998.

Ganesh gained his PhD in economics from VUW in 2000. Before economics (and numbers), Ganesh regards cricket as his first passion, and also maintains an intense interest in rugby (as well as most other sports).

Professor Jim Bright (BA, PhD, FAPS)

Jim is a recognised expert in career development, performance and creative strategies for individuals and organisations. He has an honours degree and PhD in Psychology and is a registered psychologist. His research has been published in eight languages, included in leading text books, and he has presented by invitation around the world.

Jim is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker who can skilfully combine evidence-based psychological insights into human behaviour with music and movies to convey a serious message in a fun way. He has run a thriving practice for over ten years, Bright and Associates, working with many leading organisations around the world and providing executive coaching and career transition services. Jim’s clients have included many of the leading organisations in Australia: BHP, Lend Lease, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, AMP Financial Capital, Chandler Macleod, Departments of Defence, Education, Commerce, Audit Office, Ombudsman’s Office and Finametrica.

Jim has recently collaborated with jazz virtuoso and internationally acclaimed musician James Morrison. They have developed an entertaining and informative presentation on creativity and personal performance called Beyond Personal Mastery® and a similar offering for corporates called Beyond Corporate Mastery®. 

Jim is active in Australian media sharing his knowledge through a weekly column and feature articles for the Sydney Morning Herald, on various commercial radio stations and has appeared regularly on Channel 10 presenting career slots, and as a guest on the ABC, Channel 7 and Channel 9.  

Jim was born in the United Kingdom, and is based in Sydney, Australia, but travels the world giving presentations and consulting. He is married to Karen, a careers counsellor and author of Getting a brilliant job: the student’s guide and Land that job in Australia: the skilled migrants guide and has two young sons.

Bright & Associates website – a brief video about Jim's background and an overview of the topics he will cover in his keynote presentation (please note that to access the video you will be asked to register your name and details).

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Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith

BA DipTch MA(Hons) PhD
Ngati Awa / Ngati Porou
Pro Vice-Chancellor Maori
Professor of Education and Maori Development

Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith (Ngati Awa, Ngati Porou) has a professional background in Maori and indigenous education. In July, Professor Smith took up the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor Maori at the University of Waikato.

Professor Smith has been a teacher in primary and secondary schools (1974–1985) and has taught at the University of Auckland (1989–2007). Until recently she was the co-Director of Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, hosted by the University of Auckland, one of seven Centres of Research Excellence established by the Government in 2002.   

Her research interests are wide-ranging and collaborative and include Marsden funded research on the Native Schools System and on New Zealand youth. She is known internationally for her work on research methodology and Maori and indigenous education.

Professor Smith has served on a number of national advisory committees including the Tertiary Education Advisory Committee (TEAC) and the Maori Tertiary Reference, is currently a member on the Health Research Council, is chair of the Maori Health Council, and president of New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE).

Lynne Bezanson and Sareena Hopkins

Lynne (on right in photo) and Sareena (left in photo) are Co-Executive Directors of the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF). CCDF is a project-based non-profit organisation whose mission is to strengthen access to quality career services for Canadians of all ages. Both Lynne and Sareena are career counsellors, adult educators, researchers and program developers and both are deeply committed to what they do.
 
CCDF has been a strong contributor to establishing the International Career Development and Public Policy Symposia movement. Canada hosted three Symposia including the inaugural symposia. The Symposia movement has been a key mechanism for keeping the findings of the OECD 55 country study on career guidance policies on the policy agendas of many countries. Lynne is on the Board of the International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy. Sareena is President of the Career Development Chapter of the Canadian Counselling Association.  
 
In Canada, CCDF was a driving force behind the articulation of competency standards for practice in career development. Since then, other countries have followed suit and internationally, the IAEVG has published its own international competency framework. CCDF has developed and delivered a wide range of innovative training programs based on these competencies.  
 
CCDF chairs the Canadian Research Working Group on Evidence Based Practice in Career Development, a unique pan-Canadian collaboration among six francophone and anglophone universities. Their current research project is testing the impact of career development programs on worker retention and satisfaction. Members of the CRWG are also active international “evidence-base” research partners.
 
Recently, CCDF completed a research paper on the construct of resilience and its application to career development. Based on this research, CCDF developed a curriculum for senior secondary students focused on strategies to build “career resilience”. Within a year of writing the paper and curriculum, both Lynne and Sareena faced events in their lives that called on and challenged their own resilience. In their respective journeys, they have learned a great deal about what it means to be resilient. They are convinced these lessons apply not only to thriving in our lives – but thriving in our careers. They believe strongly that there are promising applications for career development practice and their keynote will combine a review of the research, their own stories, the lessons they've learned and their application to careers guidance.

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