MÄori ki te ao Pakihi - How to breath Indigenous Values into your business.
Dan Walker has tribal affiliations to Tangahoe, Ngati Ruanui, Nga Ruahinerangi, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Te Atiawa, Maniapoto, Tuhourangi and Pakeha. He is a mokopuna of the great freedom fighter Titokowaru and wahine leader Ruaputahanga.
He was privileged to be nurtured under the manaakitanga of Kāi Tahu iwi for over 25 years of his life in Ōtautahi, and he currently lives in, and pays respect to, the whenua lands of Ngāti Manuhiri in Stanmore Bay, Auckland, with his wife Michelle and their three tamariki, Josh, Tyler and Maia.
Dan is Global Co-Chair of Indigenous at Microsoft, where he is focused on supporting Indigenous empowerment wherever Microsoft operates, and raising the Indigenous voice in technology globally. He works as a Channel Executive across Australia and New Zealand, looking after Partners and Cloud Solutions at Microsoft.
Through the help of his whānau, his elders and tribal teachers, Dan has learned much of his Māori cultural wisdom through more than 15 years of service to his iwi, Ngāti Ruanui. His experiences have shaped his belief that Indigenous wisdom is for everyone and that we need to reclaim and apply this wisdom in modern contexts. His Masters degree focused on tikanga Māori ki te ao matihiko – Māori values as a framework for digital leadership, and involved interviews with Indigenous leaders around the world exploring Indigenous perspectives in a digital context.
Beyond his role at Microsoft, Dan is deeply committed to his community, serving as the Deputy Chair of NZ Māori Tourism, Pou Tuara of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui, Director of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Chair of the Child Cancer Foundation. He also holds a variety of community trustee and voluntary roles around the motu. He holds both an MBA and a Masters in Advanced Leadership.
Dan was awarded the Young Māori Business Leader of the Year award and was named in the University of Auckland 40 Under 40 last year.
Talking Points
Creating Value-Led Businesses
Creating Value-Led Businesses
From the moment Dan stepped on stage, it was clear that this was a skilled and engaging presenter. One of the things that struck me most about Dan was his ability to hold the audience's atte ... keep reading Simply Privacy
Dan is an exceptional and genuine speaker who effortlessly transcends conventional boundaries in adapting to his audience. Prior to the conference, he took the time to research and join our briefing session, demonstrating a genuine understanding of his audience. We were captivated by his energy, enjoyed his dancing, and appreciated his authenticity. Thank you, Dan, for being truly awesome!
Dan had the audiences attention right from the get go - he had that tricky spot just after a break and did a great job of story telling and relating to who he was speaking to.