Speakers

Jennifer is Director of the Public Policy Institute and a Professor of Politics and Public Policy in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Auckland. Her research and publications focus on Australian and New Zealand politics and policy, gender, policy analysis and political leadership, and the politics of sport. Her research involves engagement with a range of government agencies, policy consultancies and non-profit organisations, and her publications appear in scholarly journals both internationally and in New Zealand, as books, editions, and peer reviewed reports. She regularly shares her findings with community organisations and the media, both in New Zealand and internationally.

Hon Damien O’Connor believes every New Zealander, regardless of their background or family situation, deserves the opportunity to realise their full potential and participate in their community and society. Damien stands for the values of equality and opportunity, and for the responsibility we owe to each other to maintain these values.

Damien’s background in farming and adventure tourism drives his view that we need well-paid, sustainable jobs and industry growth to improve our future. He is a passionate advocate for rural communities and for a thriving agricultural sector. Damien was first elected to Parliament in 1993 and has served as a Minister in both the fifth and sixth Labour Governments, and spokesperson in Opposition for a variety of roles, including Agriculture, Biosecurity, Food Safety, Tourism, Immigration and Health.

Damien is an active sportsman and represented Buller at athletics. He has won West Coast Young Farmer of the Year and enjoys sports including skiing, white water rafting, jet boating, motorsports and playing rugby for the New Zealand Parliamentary Team.

Allan Gyngell is National President of the Australian Institute of International Affairs and an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University. His long career in Australian foreign policy included appointments as Director-General of the Office of National Assessments, founding Executive Director of the Lowy Institute, and to senior positions in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He served as an Australian diplomat in Yangon, Singapore, and Washington.

He has written widely on Australian foreign policy and is the author of Fear of Abandonment: Australia in the World Since 1942 and, with Michael Wesley, Making Australian Foreign Policy. He is co-presenter with Dr Darren Lim of the podcast Australia in the World.

He is an Officer in the Order of Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

Hamish is Executive Director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) – Whare Tawāhi-a-mahi i Aotearoa. Previous to this, he completed a PhD in international history at the LSE, with research publications, higher education teaching and online course design experience. He is also a communications professional with leadership experience in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Kristen Bondietti is an adviser and analyst on international trade regulation, law and policy. She is Program Director for Trade Policy and Research at the Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University. She also serves on the Secretariat for the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council in Australia (AusPECC) and as an Expert for the Technical Services Panel for the Indonesia – Australia CEPA Economic Cooperation Program (Katalis).

​Kristen has over 20 years of experience advising government, international organisations, business and industry groups in Australia, South East Asia and the Indo Pacific region. Expertise and experience spans technical analysis and policy advice on trade arrangements and impacts, joint research with institutions in Australia, Korea, The Philippines, Thailand and China and consulting on research and capacity building projects in Australia, the Mekong region, South East Asia and North Asia.

​Kristen has a Masters degree in International Law from the University of Melbourne and undergraduate degrees in Law and in Economics from the Australian National University. She has ground consulting experience across Australia, ASEAN and North Asia.

Shiro Armstrong is an Associate Professor of economics at the Crawford School of Public Policy in the College of Asia and the Pacific at The Australian National University. He is Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre, Editor of the East Asia Forum, and Director of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research. He is also a Visiting Professor at Keio University, Research Associate at the Center on Japanese Economy and Business at the Columbia Business School, Visiting Fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan and Research Associate at the New Zealand APEC Study Centre. He is the Australian representative on the Research Institute Network of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, ERIA.

Chris is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law. Chris teaches and researches on competition and company law and international trade regulation. He has published a number of articles in these areas and has a particular interest in international competition law. Chris acted as an advisor to a number of international organisations and governments on trade matters.

Robert Scollay is Honorary Associate Professor in the Economics Department at the University of Auckland and former Director of the New Zealand APEC Study Centre.  He has a long history of contributing research and policy analysis to the APEC process and also to the work of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), including as international coordinator of PECC’s Trade Policy Forum for several years.  His recent research and publications have focused heavily on regional trade agreements and regional economic integration initiatives, including APEC, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), as well as multilateral liberalisation and the global trade architecture.  Dr Scollay has also undertaken consultancies for the World Bank, UNCTAD, ESCAP, Asian Development Bank, Inter American Development Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat, the ASEAN Secretariat, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and the Asia New Zealand Foundation, as well as various agencies of the New Zealand and Australian governments.

Natasha Hamilton-Hart joined the Department of Management and International Business at The University of Auckland in January 2011. Prior to joining The University of Auckland, she held positions at the National University of Singapore and the Australian National University. She received her PhD from Cornell University in 1999 and BA (Hons) from the University of Otago in 1990. Special Interests: – Business and government – Business networks in Southeast Asia – Capital mobility and international finance – Financial policy and the banking industry in East Asia – Natural resource sector firms and property rights systems – Regional cooperation in East Asia – Southeast Asia and the United States.

Stephanie Honey is Associate Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum, serves as policy advisor to the New Zealand members of the APEC Business Advisory Council and runs an independent trade policy consultancy working with government and business clients. She is also co-founder of a business offering executive education in trade policy. Stephanie’s interests include regional economic integration especially in the Asia-Pacific, the WTO, agriculture and food trade, services and digital trade, non-tariff barriers and inclusive growth involving SMEs and women in trade. Prior to becoming a consultant, Stephanie was a trade negotiator at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including serving for a time as the New Zealand Agriculture Negotiator in the WTO Doha Round, at the New Zealand Mission to the EU in Brussels, as the senior New Zealand official responsible for the bilateral relationship with Australia and in a variety of other roles.

Saia Mataele has extensive experience in economic development, digital transformation, business and the Pacific. He is a trusted advisor to Government officials, business and community leaders on economic development, equity, digital transformation, and community development priorities, both in NZ and across the Pacific.

Saia also holds several governance roles including as a Board Member for the EMA (Employers & Manufacturing Association) and the Public Trust.

Haiping Zhang joined the Department of Economics in July 2016. Prior to this, he held positions as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Singapore Management University (2007-2016) and a visiting research fellow at the Centre for European Integration Studies (2007-2013). He received his PhD in Economics from the University of Bonn in 2006. He is a co-director of the New Zealand APEC Study Centre and a research associate at the New Zealand Asia Institute. His current research focuses on international macroeconomics and trade, digital transformation, intangible investment in the knowledge-based economy, and green transition. His work has been published in leading economics journals, e.g., Economic Theory, Journal of Development Economics, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Canadian Journal of Economics.

Jason Mika is Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Kahungunu. Jason was born in Whakatāne and raised mainly in Rotortua. Jason is married with seven children. He is an associate professor at Te Raupapa Waikato Management School and Te Kotahi Research Institute, University of Waikato, in Hamilton, New Zealand. Jason’s research, teaching, writing, and practice centres on Indigenous business philosophy in multiple sites, sectors, and scales, including Indigenous trade, tourism, agribusiness, and the marine economy. In 2015, Jason completed a PhD in Māori entrepreneurship at Massey University. In 2019, Jason was a Fulbright-Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga senior scholar at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment and the University of Arizona’s Native Nations Institute. Jason is a member of the Academy of Management, Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, and Te Apārangi Royal Society of New Zealand. Prior to academia, Jason was a management consultant and government analyst specialising in Māori economic development. Jason’s research has been influential in several areas of public policy including international trade, environmental policy, business statistics, and tax administration.

Rino has been the Labour MP for Te Tai Tonga since 2011. He proudly represents Māori in the largest electorate in the country.

Rino has deep connections across Ngāi Tahu on his paternal side, and to Ngāti Hine in the Far North on his maternal side. Historically his family has given significant parliamentary service to Māori in Te Waipounamu and Labour in the southern Māori electorate.

Rino is a passionate believer in Māori development and social justice. Coming from a close-knit, hard-working whānau, his depth of concern and awareness of service for people has been nurtured from a young age.

Prior to entering Parliament, Rino had over fourteen years’ experience working in Māori economic development roles. These included engagements as a private consultant, as Chief Executive of the Federation of Māori Authorities, and working for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu within its seafood businesses. He also led government trade promotion initiatives across Māori business sectors. His understanding of legal and commercial issues is a result of his early career as a commercial lawyer.

Rino is an experienced Member of Parliament. He has had the privilege of being Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, as well as to the Minister for Trade and Export Growth (Māori Trade), and now holds the portfolios for Courts and Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth.

Michelle Deshong is from Townsville, North Queensland and draws here connection to Kuku Yulanji nation. She has completed a BA with First Class Honours in Political Science and Indigenous studies and is working on her PhD (on the participation of Aboriginal women in public and political life) at James Cook University. Michelle is currently the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute.

Michelle has worked in both the Government and NGO sectors, and has held many senior leadership roles and she currently holds a number of directorship roles in the Not for Profit sector, including the Supply Nation Board, Thirrili and the OXFAM Indigenous Advisory Council. In 2013 Michelle was named in the Australian Financial Review/Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards.

Michelle has extensive experience in areas of leadership, governance and politics. She has a strong commitment to human rights and has also been an NGO representative on many occasions at the United Nations forums on the Commission on the Status of Women and Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. She has a strong background in gender equality and works to ensures that the voices of Indigenous women are represented at all levels.

In 2016 Michelle is undertook research in the USA and Canada as part of her Fulbright scholarship to develop strategies for Nation building, leadership and gender equality. She was also named as the 2015 National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year.

Traci is an award-winning company director and a recognised industry leader.  She is a trusted advisor to Māori, Government, and industry on strategic and economic development.  Traci’s skills and experience are openly endorsed by other notable public and private sector leaders, and she is recognised nationally and internationally as a credible Māori and business leader. 

Traci is known for her strong and inclusive leadership and her clear focus on building the wealth and prosperity of Aotearoa New Zealand.  She has been described as a leader with the courage to speak out and lead by example, and someone who listens, learns, and lets other lead and grow.

Traci is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and Māori, a Justice of the Peace, and a Marriage Celebrant.

Moana is a singer, songwriter and documentary maker. Moana is the recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Life Time Recipient of the Toi Iho Māori Made Mark, and received the 2005 Te Tohu Mahi Hou a Te Waka Toi Award from Te Waka Toi in recognition of ‘outstanding leadership and contribution to the development of new directions in Māori art’.

Offstage, Moana is part of an award-winning documentary team and a writer and trustee of Mana Trust, which produces the weekly E-Tangata. She was named a Distinguished Alumna of the University of Auckland in 2019.

He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea.
He uri ahau nō Ngāti Mutunga, nō Ngāti Kahangunu hoki.
E mihi atu nei, tēnā koutou kātoa!

An award winning and dynamic senior executive with 25+ years of global business experience. Someone who instinctively looks beyond the “status quo”, thinking innovatively to improve, simplify and streamline. An experienced people leader with a strategic mindset, a passion for achieving operational excellence moulded by a strong Te Ao Māori worldview. Possessing a foundation in business, sports and marketing with qualifications in psychology, communications and Māori development, the emphasis now is upon blending my extensive experience with my culture, to bring about prosperous outcomes for tāngata whenua and raise cultural comfortability for tāngata Tiriti. Tīhei Mauri ora.

Nicole is the Divisional Manager for the Australia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has previously served as Divisional Manager for the South East Asia Division and the UN Human Rights and Commonwealth Division. She has also served as a New Zealand Ambassador and a Foreign Policy consultant. She has a Masters Degree (Honours, First Class) in International Relations and Development. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (History) (Honours).

Amy has over 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service, most of which has been in leadership roles (Director and above). Amy has a collaborative leadership style, focusing on delivering outcomes while ensuring staff gain experience and expertise to further their own careers.

Amy is an experienced trade negotiator, confident working with industries and other stakeholders, across the APS and Ministerial offices to deliver government priorities. Through various roles in Canberra and overseas, Amy has delivered new market access outcomes, resolved trade barriers, participated in free trade agreement negotiations and supported industries to expand their export opportunities.

In her previous position as a ministerial adviser, Amy worked closely with the department to ensure the Minister’s expectations were known and met, and that government priorities were delivered. Amy also consulted with advisers from other offices, stakeholders and academia to ensure the Minister was aware of all views on policy matters.

Amy has gained experience beyond trade policy through roles in the DFAT crisis centre and COVID-19 Coordination Unit.

Stuart Horne is currently the Divisional Manager of the Economic Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Having previously worked as a corporate lawyer, Stuart joined the Ministry in 1999. He had stints in the Ministry’s Legal Division and its Trade Negotiations Division followed by a posting in Brussels.

Stuart also has extensive Pacific experience having served as New Zealand’s Special Coordinator to the Small Island Developing States Conference in 2014, following a posting as Deputy High Commissioner in Samoa and time in the Ministry’s Pacific Division. Prior to joining the Economic Division, Stuart headed up MFAT’s Middle East and Africa Division.

Stuart is married with two children and has a BA/LLB (Hons) from the University of Otago.

 Simon Tucker is Director of Global Sustainability, Stakeholder Affairs and Trade at Fonterra. In this role he leads teams responsible for Fonterra’s global trade strategy, its corporate sustainability, environmental partnerships and community and social investment programmes, the company’s relationships with local and central government in New Zealand and with foreign governments, and Fonterra’s industry partners.

Simon has spent over twelve years in the New Zealand dairy industry including in leadership roles at DairyNZ, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand and with Fonterra’s US-based business.  During his career, Simon has also spent considerable time working for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with assignments in Tehran, Washington and as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Canada.  He also spent several years working in Parliament as adviser to the Minister for Trade

Dr Maureen Benson-Rea (PhD) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management and International Business at The University of Auckland Business School, where she is currently also Associate Dean Postgraduate Research. With a BA (Hons) in European Studies, majoring in politics, an MBA and a PhD in Marketing and International Business, Maureen has held academic positions in the UK as well as several international policy roles with a major UK business organisation, the Confederation of British industry. There she advised companies, developed policy and represented the views of British business, with focus on trade policy and the EU, in Whitehall, Westminster, and Brussels.

Maureen was the founding co-director of the University of Auckland’s Europe Institute, where she is currently Chair of the Advisory Board. She also represents the Institute on the Management Committee of the New Zealand Europe Business Council. A company director and board chair, Maureen specialises in international business and strategy, with a particular focus on the European region. She has supervised over 100 postgraduate students and her research has appeared in International Business Review, European Management Journal, Industrial Marketing Management, Marketing Theory, Public Administration, Journal of Business Research, and Multinational Business Review among others.

Stuart is married with two children and has a BA/LLB (Hons) from the University of Otago.

Dr. Deborah Elms is the Executive Director and Founder of the Asian Trade Centre (ATC) in Singapore. She is also President of the Asia Business Trade Association (ABTA) and the Board Director of the Asian Trade Centre Foundation (ATCF).

Dr. Elms is on the board of the Trade and Investment Negotiation Adviser (TINA) at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP). She is on the International Advisory Council for APCO (2021-Present) and was a member of the International Technical Advisory Committee of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance and Chair of the Working Group on Trade Policy and Law. She was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Trade and Investment Council for 2018-2020.

Prior to founding ATC/ATCF and the ABTA, she was head of the Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade & Negotiations (TFCTN) and Senior fellow of International Political Economy at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Dr. Elms received a PhD in political science from the University of Washington, a MA in International Relations from the University of Southern California, and bachelor’s degrees from Boston University.

She is the author of numerous articles, editor of several books, writes a bimonthly column for Borderlex, and regularly publishes the Talking Trade Blog at www.asiantradecentre.org/talkingtrade. Dr. Elms also routinely appears on television and in major newspapers and magazines around the world to comment on trade and economic issues.  Dr. Elms also makes frequent appearances at a range of global trade and economic workshops, conferences, capacity building sessions and negotiations.

Deborah has been brought over by the Latin American Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence

The Latin America Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPE) is bringing Dr Elms to New Zealand to highlight how regional trade agreements like the CPTPP and DEPA connect New Zealand, Latin American, and Asia-Pacific economies and to explore the prospects for these agreements in 2023. After her contributions to ATEPs she will be headlining two events the CAPE is running with the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (in Wellington) and the Latin America New Zealand Business Council (in Auckland) on “Latin America and Regional Trade: Trans-Pacific Views on Collaborations and Developments”. For further details about these events please contact Craig Nicholson at craig.nicholson@vuw.ac.nz.

The Latin America CAPE is one of three Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence supported by a consortium of four New Zealand universities: Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato, and the University of Otago. The other two CAPEs are focused on North Asia and Southeast Asia.  Utilising university networks and knowledge, the CAPEs deliver a range of innovative programmes, resources and initiatives that enable New Zealanders to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Asia-Pacific, and build future-focused  commercial, educational and cultural relationships in the region’s vital economies. For more information on the CAPEs please contact Aaron Hailwood at aaron.hailwood@vuw.ac.nz

Stephen Jacobi is the Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum (www.tradeworks.org.nz). He also serves as Alternate Member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC: www.abaconline.org) and as New Zealand Member of the Business Advisory Council of the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement).

Mr Jacobi grew up in Auckland and was educated at Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University.  He has a First Class Honours degree in French and German and is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Paris, as well as the Leadership Seminar of Georgetown University in Washington DC and the New Zealand  Institute for Strategic Leadership (Millbrook).  He was a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University in 2013.  He is a member of the World Class New Zealander network.

Mr Jacobi was formerly Chief Executive of the New Zealand Forest Industries Council, Executive Director of the NZ US Council 2005-2014 and Executive Director of the NZ China Council 2016-19,  Mr Jacobi is a frequent media and public commentator on industry and trade issues.

Mr Jacobi held posts as Deputy High Commissioner in Ottawa, Assistant Trade Commissioner in Paris, adviser on trade and diplomatic issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Private Secretary to the then Minister for Trade Negotiations.

Director International Policy

New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries

 Phil Houlding is the Director of International Policy at the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. As Director of International Policy, he leads teams focussed on the international competitiveness of the New Zealand primary sector. This includes trade and sustainability policy, especially climate change and oceans governance.

Prior to taking up his current role in February 2019, Phil worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with trade and environment-focussed postings in Jakarta and Washington DC.

Between 2013 and early 2015 he was the Trade and Economic Manager for the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand.

Phil holds a First-Class Master’s degree in English literature, a BA in German and a BSc. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Auckland.

Mark Sinclair is a career diplomat. He has served offshore in Tokyo, Honiara, Canberra, and Geneva. His most recent offshore assignments were as ambassador to Japan and Mexico.

He has had a series of trade roles from 2001 in New Zealand’s WTO mission in Geneva, as director of MFAT’s trade negotiations division, and as chief negotiator for the trans-Pacific Partnership negotiation. He was also New Zealand’s climate change ambassador briefly after his return from Tokyo. He was MFAT deputy secretary responsible for the Americas and Asia from early 2020.

He is now New Zealand’s chief negotiator for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a Biden administration initiative involving 14 Indo-Pacific countries with a strong focus on new economy issues, including climate and trade.

Trade Commissioner at Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand

Glynis heads PTI NZ and brings with her a wealth of experience of the Blue Pacific region in both policy and technical coordination.

Most recently at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Glynis is passionate about supporting Pacific Island Countries to realise their potential through growing in their export capability as well as securing investment into business and infrastructure.

Malcolm is the incoming Chief Executive of Genesis Energy having recently completed 9 years as CE of Christchurch Airport. He is a New Zealand Delegate of the APEC Business Council and leading its working group on Climate Leadership for Business;  a member of the Climate Leaders Coalition Advisory Board; a member of the Sustainable Business Council of New Zealand; a member of Business New Zealand’s Major Companies Group;  and has served on the Governments Trade for All Working Group. He has also previously held a number of senior executive and governance roles within New Zealand’s transport, aviation and tourism sectors.

During his time at Christchurch Airport Malcolm has led through earthquakes, terror attacks and global pandemics. Throughout he made the embedding of stakeholder equity a priority, balancing the needs of People, Planet and Profit. Christchurch Airport doubled in value across his 9 years while also eliminating 90% of its scope one emissions, becoming one of the world’s most water efficient airports and diverting over 50% of waste from landfill through embedding circular economics into the campus. In late 2020 became the first airport in the world to reach the world airports association’s (ACI) highest level for airport carbon reduction, alongside embedding circular economics in waste and water. Christchurch Airport currently coaches around 40 international airports in these areas and is currently cowriting the next generation of global standards for airport sustainability with the Airport Council International (ACI), the world airports body.

Associate Professor Rachel Maunganui Wolfgramm, serves  as Associate Dean Māori, Associate Dean Pacific and Director of the Dame Mira Szászy Research Centre at the University of Auckland Business School. She is also Executive Director of Nga Ara Whetu,  Center for Climate, Biodiversity and Society.  Rachel is of Te Aupōuri, Ngai Takoto and Whakatōhea descent and her heritage includes Vava’u Tonga, and Irish. For almost two decades, Rachel has dedicated her research and teaching to new generations of leaders committed to creating thriving social ecological communities of engagement and practice, sustainability, Mātauranga Māori, leadership, and economies of wellbeing. She works with peers in international communities and is widely published. 

Chief Product and Supply Chain Officer, TradeWindow

Adrian has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership roles covering health, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, retail, renewable energy and international trade. Before joining TradeWindow in 2021 Adrian was the New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Taiwan for four years where he developed a first-hand appreciation of the challenges facing New Zealand exporters. Adrian has also lived and worked in mainland China with pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer where he held several technology leadership roles. Adrian holds a Bachelors and Masters degree (Hons) from the University of Auckland.

Regulatory Affairs Manager

As Regulatory Affairs Manager Niels leads Air New Zealand’s global engagement with government agencies and regulators, focusing on key strategic issues that impact the airline including: market access, decarbonisation, border digitisation, and resilience.  He has a background in global policy and law having previously worked for New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels & The Hague and commercial law firm Simpson Grierson.              

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Deputy Secretary Trade and Economic Group

Vangelis Vitalis is Deputy Secretary, Trade and Economic at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He is also the chair of the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting for New Zealand’s host year in 2021 and the Chief Negotiator for the FTA with the European Union. Previously, Vangelis was the Chief Negotiator who concluded the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and before that led the conclusion of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA).

Vangelis has previously worked as an economist at the OECD Secretariat and has chaired (in a personal capacity) the OECD Working Party on Trade and the Environment and the OECD Global Forum on Trade and Climate Change.

Prior to taking up his role in 2017, Vangelis was the New Zealand Ambassador to the EU and most recently was New Zealand’s Permanent Representative to the WTO in Geneva where he chaired the agriculture negotiations in a personal capacity, including helping to draft the text of the Nairobi Ministerial Decision which eliminated agricultural export subsidies.

Greg is accountable for the business operations of the Beca group, leading delivery of our global strategic objectives. With a distinguished track record in project delivery and business growth, he has extensive experience in the consulting sector.

He was Managing Director for our Australia operation for six years, leading and building our services for that region. He has also been Regional Manager in Wellington, New Zealand, focusing on government and commercial sectors, particularly in Defence, Rail and Airports

Fran O’Sullivan is a New Zealand Herald business columnist and is Head of Business for NZME.

She has an active interest in New Zealand’s primary external relationships and has participated in all New Zealand leadership forums with the United States, China and Australia and is a frequent attendee at Apec Leaders’ Week meetings.

Fran has a long association with Apec and was a member of the Apec Business Leadership Group for New Zealand’s successful hosting in 2021 and served on the CEO Summit committee. She was also a member of the CEO Summit Board for the 1999 Apec in Auckland.

Fran founded a private company NZINC. in 2005 to further business engagement with NZ’s key offshore markets. Her company – in partnership with the Auckland Business Chamber – co-hosts the annual China Business Summit and last year launched the United States Business Summit.

She is a former deputy chair of the New Zealand committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and is a current member of both the New Zealand United States Council and the New Zealand China Council.

She was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019 for services to business and journalism.