Hear the truly inspirational stories of world-class Kiwis at Kea Inspire
Kiwis have a rare opportunity to hear from a philanthropic hero, a survivor of Congo’s raging civil war, a Kiwi who sold
her business to Google and more this June and July at Kea Inspire.
Now in its fourth year, Kea Inspire is New Zealand’s inspirational international speaker series programme featuring New
Zealand innovators. Previous events have been held at Google and Virgin Group offices around the world, and this year
sees some of New Zealand’s most inspiring Kiwis tell their untold tales.
Speakers at Kea Inspire 2015 include:
• Audette Exel, founder of the ethical capital-raising Adara Group who was named a “Hero of Philanthropy” by
Forbes magazine.
• Benjamin Mugisho, a survivor of the Congo civil war who co-founded of an education-based NGO serving children in
the Great Lakes Region in Africa,.
• Dr Swee Tan, an internationally recognised plastic surgeon and research scientist.
• Beatrice Faumuina ONZM, a four-time Olympian and UN Goodwill Ambassador;
• Cam Calkoen, an entrepreneur, athlete and world-class motivational speaker with cerebral palsy;
• Yoseph Ayele, a graduate of Harvard, Cambridge and Victoria Universities who is on a mission to advance
innovative projects to solve big problems and to nurture pioneering communities in New Zealand;
• Melissa Clark-Reynolds, an international professional speaker on business, entrepreneurship and technology;
• Alex Reece, an author, philanthropist and founder of the Cricket Live Foundation.
• Victoria Ransom, the Kiwi who famously sold her company Wildfire to Google in 2012.
Audiences will be treated to the inspiring stories each of the speakers have about their journeys of success, providing
insight and sharing wisdom to the next generation of New Zealand leaders.
The Auckland programme of Kea Inspire will be held at AUT University’s Sir Paul Reeves Building on Monday 29 June from
3pm-6pm, with tickets available from bit.ly/KeaInspireAkl. Speakers at the Auckland event include Audette Exel, Melissa Clark-Reynolds, Benjamin Mugisho, Dr Swee Tan, Beatrice
Faumuina and Cam Calkoen.
The Wellington programme of Kea Inspire will be held at Te Papa on Tuesday 30 June from 3pm-6pm, with tickets available
from bit.ly/KeaInspireWlg. Speakers at the Wellington event include Audette Exel, Melissa Clark-Reynolds, Yoseph Ayele, Dr Swee Tan and Cam
Calkoen.
The Canterbury programme of Kea Inspire will be held at the Wigram Air Force Museum on Wednesday 1 July from
2:30pm-6:30pm, with tickets available from bit.ly/KeaInspireCan. Speakers at the Canterbury event include Audette Exel, Melissa Clark-Reynolds, Dr Swee Tan, Victoria Ransom, Alex
Reese and Cam Calkoen.
The New Zealand 2015 programme of Kea Inspire is an initiative established as part of Kea’s World Class New Zealand
Awards. The programme is delivered with help from Kea’s partners AUT University and the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of
Commerce.
ENDS