Name: Celebrity Speakers New Zealand
Price range: $

Profile

Michelle Dickinson and Joe Davis are innovators and entrepreneurs whose work has reshaped how people connect with science, technology, and learning.

Michelle, a nanotechnologist and materials engineer, has spent more than two decades driving breakthroughs across industries, from medical advancements to novel solutions for start-ups and global corporations. She founded New Zealand’s only nanomechanical testing laboratory and is recognised for translating complex science into engaging, practical applications. Through bestselling books and hands-on educational programmes, she has brought STEM to audiences around the world, with a mission to spark curiosity and break down barriers to participation.

Joe’s career spans software development, design, performing arts, sea rescue, and leadership in both corporate and not-for-profit sectors. As CEO of Nanogirl Labs, he led a team of educators, technologists, and storytellers to deliver innovative learning experiences across books, live events, and digital platforms. A sought-after advisor and facilitator, Joe works with boards, executive teams, and major brands to shape strategy, foster innovation, and build strong, resilient cultures. His book Silver Linings captures insights from New Zealand businesses and community leaders who thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working at the intersection of science, creativity, and business, Michelle and Joe have created platforms and initiatives that inspire, educate, and empower. Their combined expertise has helped organisations and individuals navigate complex challenges, embrace technological change, and imagine bold futures.

Expertise

Talking Points

Joe and Michelle’s Approach

Joe Davis and Dr. Michelle Dickinson deliver an engaging and interactive session centred on the Explorer Mindset—a framework designed to help teams navigate rapid change with purpose, curiosity, adaptability, and empathy. Using humour, energy, and real-world examples, they highlight how embracing new experiences, taking calculated risks, and leveraging diverse perspectives can lead to greater outcomes. By focusing on the power of team diversity and individual strengths, they demonstrate how collaboration and varied viewpoints drive innovation and resilience. Through interactive activities, participants reflect on these concepts, gaining actionable insights to apply within their organisations.

Exponential Change, Mindset & Meaning

Explore the future. Rethink your response.

We are living through a moment of unprecedented acceleration. Exponential technologies-from AI to quantum computing-are reshaping industries, redefining value chains, and forcing leaders to think beyond linear plans. This highly interactive workshop offers senior teams a compelling framework for understanding technological disruption and its implications for strategy, leadership, and culture.

We’ll explore the key signals shaping the future, and help your team reflect on the mindset shifts required to navigate-and lead through-uncertainty. How do we build resilient, adaptable organisations in a time when the pace of change is outpacing our ability to plan? What will it take to foster cultures that embrace experimentation, agility, and meaningful innovation? This is the conversation to have before setting your AI strategy-not just what to do, but how to think.

1–2 hours. Suitable for leadership teams, large audiences, or immersive small-group sessions.

Hands-On and Human: Your First Time On the Tools

Demystify the tech. Solve real problems.

AI can feel like magic-or madness-from the outside. This workshop offers a guided, live introduction to the tools transforming the business world, grounded in real-world use cases and hands-on problem solving. Participants won’t just hear about AI; they’ll use it to tackle a business challenge, right there in the room.

Together, we’ll live-code and deploy a working application using accessible no-code/low-code tools. We’ll break down AI fundamentals in plain language, showcase cross-sector applications, and help participants identify where AI could add immediate value to their own context. Designed for those early in their AI journey, this is your team’s first confident step into the AI-enabled world.

1–2 hours. Adaptable for executive classrooms or larger group settings. Interactive via mobile / tablet.

Deeper Dive: From Familiarity to Fluency

Create. Collaborate. Pitch the future.

This fast-paced, startup-style workshop builds on foundational AI knowledge and accelerates capability through team-based experimentation. Participants use a suite of generative AI tools to imagine, research, and pitch a brand-new venture that applies exponential technology to a real-world problem.

Over two hours, we guide teams through a high-energy, collaborative sprint-from concept to prototype to pitch. Along the way, they’ll explore practical AI tools for ideation, analysis, content generation, and even app creation. Ideal for teams who’ve had their first exposure to AI and are ready to deepen their experience in a supportive, high-trust environment.

Limited to 25 participants. Requires tabletop setup and device access.

Build and Deploy Your First AI Agent

Make your first move-from ideas to implementation.

This workshop is for business leaders ready to go beyond the theory of AI and build something real. In just two hours, with no technical experience required, participants will design and deploy a working AI agent that addresses a genuine business need-whether that’s summarising documents, triaging customer emails, or automating a routine process.

Using simple, powerful no-code tools, you’ll experience what it’s like to go from problem to prototype at AI speed. Along the way, we’ll unpack how AI agents work, where they’re already transforming business functions, and how to think strategically about their future role in your organisation. This is your on-ramp to intelligent automation-and the future of work.

Limited to 15 participants. Requires tabletop setup and device access.