The Icehouse Alumni Conference 2023

When and Where Is The Icehouse Alumni Conference Taking Place?

Here's What You'll Get From The Icehouse Alumni Conference

• World Class Speakers and Motivators 
• Inspiration on tap, with takeaways that can be applied to your business
• Reflection sessions allowing time to digest what you have heard
• Connection with Kiwi Business Owners & Leaders that have journeyed with The Icehouse
• A chance to reunite with your personal Icehouse programme cohort
• Complimentary morning tea, lunch, and social drinks

Alex Hagan

Alex Hagan is a reformed statistician and an unreformed futurist who helps organizations navigate unpredictable futures with confidence by combining data science and strategic foresight. Having worked in product management for venture-funded startups and helped map out future opportunities with governments and companies around the world, Alex brings a pragmatic approach to discovering and scaling opportunities in the complex "New Normal". Alex is the author of Thriving in Complexity and What The Hell Do We Do Now.  

Tim Brown

Virtual Guest Speaker

Tim is the creative vision behind Allbirds, with an eye for all things design. His experience as a World Cup soccer player for New Zealand led him to think about things on a grand scale, whether that be crafting shoes or running a business.He's constantly driven by the desire to do things better. For him, it’s not about the specific product or sport, it’s about the meaning and intention behind it. Tim earned a BS in Design from the University of Cincinnati before playing professional soccer, followed by a Master’s in Management from the London School of Economics.  

Cecilia Robinson

Cecilia Robinson is the Founder and Co-CEO of Tend - a full-service primary healthcare provider, offering GP services online and in clinic. Cecilia founded her first business Au Pair Link, aged 21, with husband James Robinson. In 2013, Cecilia won the EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

In 2012, Cecilia Co-founded My Food Bag. In 2016, the founding team sold 70 percent of the company to Waterman Capital. In 2018 Cecilia and James retired as CEOs. However, Cecilia returned as a Director in August 2022. 

Cecilia was also a founding Trustee of The Prince’s Trust New Zealand focussing on Youth Entrepreneurship and the Environment and supports multiple NZ charities and social enterprises.

 

John Holt

John is a serial Founder and Company Director who is committed to founding, growing and supporting high impact ventures that will better New Zealand and New Zealanders. His purpose statement is:  "to actively engage the world, learn and grow and share with others." 

John’s latest venture and primary focus with co founder Andrea van der Meel is a global platform for consumer consideration - All Things Considered - where considerate consumers can research and discover the ethics and sustainability of the brands they buy from and have their say. 
  
John's non profit work includes roles as Chairperson and Trustee of the  FreeForAll  Charitable Trust and Chair/founder of Kiwi Landing Pad Limited (trading as  Territory 3). 

Emily Blythe

Emily Blythe is an entrepreneur, educator, student pilot and CEO of Pyper Vision, an innovative aerospace start-up. Pyper Vision has developed a cutting-edge intelligent dispersal system that clears fog from the ground, allowing for safer and more efficient takeoffs. The New Zealand-based company has spent five years on research and development, conducting over 200 fog dispersal tests to bring their vision to life. With a mission to make flying accessible to everyone, regardless of weather conditions, Pyper Vision is at the forefront of change in the aviation industry. As the founder and CEO, Blythe is a driving force behind the company's success, making significant strides in the aerospace sector. Her groundbreaking technology has already earned her recognition, including the prestigious 2023 Spark New Zealand Innovator of the Year Award Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau, which acknowledges her contribution to making airport fog delays a thing of the past.

Facilitating Team

 Chris Woods and Deb Shepherd 

Chris is the Theresa Gattung Chair for Women and Entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland Business School. Her research and teaching interests are in the area of women, family business, SME growth, social entrepreneurship and Māori entrepreneurship.  She is a founding faculty member of The Icehouse Growth programmes. Chris consults with a variety of SMEs on strategy, leadership and family business issues. 

Deb has spent the past 20 years working with owner managers of NZ SMEs and family businesses in a variety of roles as advisor, director, owner, and facilitator. She is a founding faculty member of The Icehouse Growth programmes and has been involved in the development, design and delivery of the Owner Manager business growth programmes for SMEs from all sectors and industries since 2001. She is also a co-author of the book “Changing gears: How to take your kiwi business from the kitchen table to the board table.”