Our Past Speakers
Image: Sarah Smuts Kennedy, Sound of Drawing, 8 December 2016
Michelle Dickinson : Aug 2022
Founder, CTO Nanogirl Labs Ltd
‘Creators, not just consumers - why everyone, everywhere deserves a meaningful relationship with STEM’
Prof Sir Richard Faull: May 2022
Neuroscientist
University of Auckland
‘Wonders and Marvels of the Human Brain - the exciting research on human brain diseases’
Sir David Skegg : Jun 2021
‘Coronaviruses, Commerce and the Health of people’.
Sir David Skegg is an epidemiologist and university administrator. He is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago.
He was the Vice-Chancellor of the University from 2004 to 2011 and President of the Royal Society of New Zealand. He was also an advisor to the world Health Organization in Geneva for more than 30 years.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, David was asked to be a special adviser to the Epidemic Response Committee of the New Zealand Parliament. He was also called as a witness by the equivalent select committee of the UK House of Commons.
Keith Woodley : Feb 2020
Keith Woodley spoke on the journey of the Bar-tailed Godwits from the shores of Miranda via North
Korea to their breeding place in Alaska and then the huge 7,000 kilometre journey back to Miranda.
Many members have since made the trip to Pukorokoro Miranda to watch the fascinating variety of shorebirds.
Jennifer Ward-Lealand : Nov 2020
Our November Christmas Luncheon speaker chose her topic as her journey stepping aboard the Te Reo Maori Waka. We all knew her as the most accomplished New Zealand actress of our time and she told us about her passion for the stage from an early age. Then she spoke of her journey into studying the Maori language which she is fluent in. Jennifer is a mentor and educator for the acting world, particularly coaching actors in intimacy scenes. She was made a Dame in the 2020 New Year Honours List for services to the Acting industry.
Sir Ray Avery : Jul 2019
‘New Zealand the Clever country’
Sir Ray Avery is a New Zealand pharmaceutical scientist, inventor, author and social entrepreneur in Mt Eden. His life is a quintessential rags-to-riches story which began inorphanages and foster homes in England and in 2011 he was appointed a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Sarah Hughes : Jul 2021
Artist. Discussed her Public Art works in Auckland
Sara Hughes is a dynamic artist with a career well established and highly regarded in Australasia.
Sara has exhibited in major public galleries throughout New Zealand and her paintings and installations are held in many important public and private collections.
Sarah Smuts Kennedy : Jul 2020
‘For the love of bees – An environmental initiative with the vision to make Auckland the most bee friendly city on earth’
Michael Van De Elzen : Nov 2018
‘Good from Scratch’
Mike is a renowned chef who starred on a number of television shows, most recently Television New Zealand’s Eat Well for Less New Zealand. He is also the founder of the Good from Scratch Cookery School which is located at Muriwai.