Event logo for 'The Upside! Positivity by Design' at Kaleidoscope Evolving Leaders Forum 2025, with white text on black background.

Our line up this year.

  • Black and white professional portrait of Dr. Oliver Hartwich, wearing a suit and tie, with orange hand-drawn outline and text announcing registration dates for an event.

    Dr Oliver Hartwich

    Applying a Global Lens to New Zealand’s Future

    Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he served as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration and a PhD in Law from Bochum University in Germany.

  • Melissa Crawfords picture

    Melissa Crawford

    Applied AI — The Impact of AI on the Future of Work

    Melissa Crawford is a highly regarded thought leader in the future of work, with a unique blend of expertise that spans people and technology.

    With a career that includes senior roles across some of New Zealand’s largest organisations, Melissa brings a wealth of experience from diverse industries, including tech, airlines, banking, FMCG, retail, education, and energy.

    With two technology degrees alongside her People & Strategy experience, Melissa offers a unique perspective on the impact of technology on the future of work.
    She is deeply passionate about people and organisational psychology, understanding the human impacts of future technologies and the evolving nature of the future of work.

  • Black and white photograph of a smiling woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a blazer and a necklace, with handwritten text in pink that says "Dame Prof Farah Palmer".

    Dame Professor Farah Palmer

    Unshakeable: Leading with Purpose in Unfamiliar Spaces

    Dame Farah Palmer is a pioneering figure in sport, education, and leadership. As former captain of the Black Ferns, she led the team to multiple Rugby World Cup victories. She was the first woman appointed to the board of New Zealand Rugby, later serving as co-chair until her retirement in 2024.

    Farah was instrumental in New Zealand’s successful bid to host the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup and continues to shape the future of sport and education. As Executive Director of Māori Student Success at Massey University, she advocates for equity, tikanga Māori, and Treaty-aligned leadership. Her academic achievements include a doctorate in sport and leadership from Otago University.

    Her governance work includes the NZ Māori Rugby Board, Sport NZ, and the Pūhoro Charitable Trust. Her research focuses on sport for development and Māori women in leadership. In 2022, she was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to sport and the community.

  • Cams Photo

    Cam Calkoen

    Finding the Upside - Positivity by Design!

    Cam Calkoen is a dreamer, a doer, and a champion of possibility. Born with cerebral palsy and told that walking and talking would be his greatest challenges, Cam was determined not to let these predictions define his future. He dreamed big, taking on the world with a spirit of resilience and ambition that would shape every step of his journey.

    From an early age, Cam set his sights on extraordinary goals. He became an athletic gold medalist, showcasing his ability to push beyond physical limitations and inspiring those around him to do the same. His passion for making a difference extended into philanthropy, where he proved himself to be a highly effective charitable fundraiser and a creative force in the social enterprise space. With every milestone, he showed that dreams fuel progress and that authenticity and attitude can overcome even the greatest odds.
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