Frances Valintine CNZM is a pioneering educator and technologist whose career has been dedicated to transforming how people learn and prepare for the future.
Growing up in New Zealand, Frances developed a deep curiosity about how technology could shape society and create opportunities for people of all ages. Over the past 25 years, she has focused on reimagining education and business practices to equip individuals and organisations with the skills, mindset and knowledge essential for the rapidly evolving world of work, shifting societal expectations, and the urgent need to protect the planet.
In 2013, she founded The Mind Lab, an innovative organisation aimed at empowering students and teachers to build practical digital skills and rethink traditional approaches to learning. Under Frances’ leadership, The Mind Lab has helped a generation of educators gain confidence in emerging technologies and inspired young people to explore new ways of learning. The impact was immediate, with The Mind Lab winning Best Start-Up in Asia Pacific in 2014, judged by tech icons Steve Wozniak and Sir Richard Branson.
Continuing her mission to expand educational horizons, Frances went on to establish academyEX, a postgraduate institute where she now serves as Founder and Board Director. AcademyEX focuses on professional development across technological innovation, education, sustainability and leadership.
Her work has earned her significant recognition. In 2015, she was named Westpac New Zealand Woman of Influence (Innovation) and Next New Zealand Woman of the Year (Education). The following year, she was selected as one of the top 50 EdTech Educators in the world by EdTech International and honoured with a Sir Peter Blake Leader Award. In 2017, she received the NZ Flying Kiwi Award, was inducted into the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame, and was named one of the top three New Zealand Innovators of the Year at the New Zealander of the Year awards.
In 2018, Frances was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her lifelong contribution to education and technology. Her accolades continued with a lifetime award for Outstanding Contribution to Technology and Business at the CIO Awards in 2020, and in 2022, she was inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs.
Beyond her professional ventures, Frances is deeply committed to fostering positive change in Aotearoa. She serves on the board of Watercare, advises the Edmund Hillary Foundation, judges the Hi Tech Awards, and acts as the National Expert for the global World Summit Awards. She also mentors several female technology leaders worldwide and is a director of On Being Bold, an initiative encouraging women and girls to aim high. Frances contributes internationally as a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Silicon Valley.
She is the author of Future You, a book encouraging adults to keep learning and stay connected in a fast-changing world. Frances holds a Master of Education Management from the University of Melbourne and continues to be driven by a strong sense of purpose to ensure Aotearoa thrives in an increasingly digital future.
