Ray Avery social entrepreneur, scientist, inventor and New Zealander of the Year 2010
Ray's groundbreaking work in the developing world has brought him respect and recognition internationally. As Technical Advisor to the Fred Hollows Foundation, Ray designed, and commissioned two state-of-the-art Intraocular Lens Laboratories in Nepal and Eritrea.
Thanks to this innovative lens manufacturing technology, the global cost of Intraocular lenses has dropped to less than $6.00, making modern cataract surgery available to the poorest of the poor.
Working throughout Africa and Asia and exposed to the raw and real shortcomings in healthcare, Ray was determined to use his knowledge of Pharmaceuticals, Science, Project Management and Product Design to tackle big health issues endemic throughout the developing world at a very practical sustainable level.

Irene Pink
Irene started her career in comedy after being rejected by a boyfriend who thought he was funnier. Since then she has gone from strength to strength winning the Best New Female Comic at the Body Form Comedy Awards in London (2001) and being a finalist for the New Zealand Comedy Guild Awards ‘Best Female Comedian’ (2005 – 2009). What she will do with the subject matter of surviving and thriving is anyone's guess....

Baruch Ter Wal | Branding: more than just a logo
Baruch is the architect of successful sales and branding campaigns for companies like WhereScape Software, Aquaflow and The ICEHOUSE. He is an authority on business-to-business sales and marketing and is the architect of dozens of successful communications and branding projects for some of New Zealand’s largest companies, as well as a host of innovative start-ups. He is a Trustee of the Centre for Social Innovation and serves as a creative industries advisor to Auckland City.

Sian Jaquet | Money and You: a healthy relationship?
Sian’s career path has been boundary-less in every sense, culminating in her present role as a professional development coach. Her approach is simple; she tells it like it is – 'it' being your life! With honesty and integrity, Sian assists in reviewing who you are, deciding your core values, and discovering what’s holding you back from the life you want to live. She then opens her “tool box” and offers solutions to the challenges of living in a world where there are so many demands placed upon us and our time.

Richard Howard | Success Intelligence
Richard Howard has a developed a multi-faceted career path in the arts and creative sector which has included drama and musical theatre performance, arts management and production, events and promotions management, and the design and delivery of professional development opportunities for creative entrepreneurs. He has been behind projects such as The Big Idea website development, the New Space Programme, ART Venture, ART Generator network, Survive & Thrive 09/10.

Lorraine Blackley | Your creativity can transform your business
A creative and social entrepreneur, Lorraine has 20 years experience in designing and facilitating programmes supporting people to step into their full potential. Author of "Creative Process Chart", an illustrated book that you can use in personal and professional settings to stay motivated and on track to manifest whatever it is you want. She is a creative process consultant and transformational coach.

Helen Baxter | Work smarter not harder
Managing Directrix of Mohawk Media training & consultancy (Wellington), and reporter for the g33k show on Kiwi FM, Helen loathes commuting, loves computing and is on the edge of the autistic spectrum. When living in Auckland, she provided expert input into The Big Idea for which she later wrote a regular column. She is a “hunter gatherer” of media developments and solutions with huge passion.

Vicki Allpress-Hill | Marketing on a shoestring
Vicki has spent nearly two decades bringing audiences to the arts. She has held senior marketing roles with a number of high profile performing arts and online music organisations. Since 2000, she has had a particular interest and involvement in e-marketing in the arts and is a regular international speaker, writer and consultant on the subject of using online channels effectively to attract and retain arts patrons. Recently, Vicki has created The Audience Connection to provide strategic marketing services to the creative industries, and works with a range of clients in the cultural sector in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Russell Toplis | Top five money tips and tools
Russell Toplis is a highly experienced top business accountant with PKF Melville Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers. He brings many years of experience to providing general business support from preparing business plans through to wealth preservation. He loves working with creative people and businesses and is able to make people feel at ease around discussing accountancy and financial management.

Lorraine Barry | Getting your story out there
A music industry marketing specialist and Board member of the New Zealand Music Commission who, prior to her move to New Zealand, was Director, International Marketing for Virgin Records. In 2005, Lorraine met the iconic, national treasure, Dave Dobbyn and so began her move into music management. As well as Dave Dobbyn, her roster includes The Electric Confectionaires, Lucid3, the Dukes, Mark Vanilau and the latest addition, jazz/r&b singer L.A.Mitchell. Lorraine mentors for the Music Managers Forum and Rockquest, and in 2008, Lorraine was named Music Manager of the Year.

Sarah Trotman | Talk right: getting what you need
Sarah is a small-business sector specialist who has established Small Business Expo Ltd which runs the largest event held for business in NZ, successfully bringing together both private and public entities to deliver a network of much needed support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of the New Zealand economy.
Her Excellence in Business Support Awards recognise the best of business support offered in NZ. Sarah currently mentors a number of business owners and individuals and is a Director on a number of not-for-profit boards.

Elisabeth Vaneveld | Open Space: bring your ‘offer’ or ‘request’
The Executive Director of The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui Trust, Elisabeth is also the Programme Director of ART Venture, a leading acceleration and development programme for creative entrepreneurs working in Auckland who are keen to fast-track their projects, organisations and enterprises. She has worked in the creative sector for over thirty years, undertaking many roles and projects including devising productions, managing tours, organising festivals, running shows and events, creating projects across art forms, saving historic buildings, supporting new voices, developing partnerships, building networks and facilitating change.