BEIA Conference & AGM 2025 Speakers

We’re thrilled to welcome Doug Kamo back as our Conference MC for 2025, bringing his signature energy and expertise to the stage once again.

With over 25 years in the performance and entertainment industry, Dunedin-based triple threat Doug Kamo, has earned the reputation of 'Mr Entertainment' being one of the busiest producers, directors and entertainment practitioners in the country. He has amassed an impressive array of drama, television, concert, musical theatre and master of ceremony credits.

As a producer and director, Doug has been responsible for over 60 national and international musical theatre productions. He is also founder and director of DKCM Ltd (Doug Kamo Creative Management), a market leader for corporate entertainment solutions, tours, concerts and theatrical experiences which designs live entertainment and event & production solutions for multiple corporate and ticketed events each year.

Dr. Alia Bojilova, former SAS psychologist, is a leading expert in leadership, resilience and curiosity. Known for her insight, energy and commitment, she has guided thousands of leaders, teams and organisations in high-pressure environments across New Zealand and globally. As a peak performance psychologist, she has worked with Government, Olympians, commercial sectors, health, education, creative industries and not-for-profits. Her book, The Resilience Toolkit, outlines a proven four-step process to unlock potential. A sought-after keynote speaker, she is also a recipient of the United Nations Commendation and the Inaugural Meritorious Service Medal for negotiating critical incidents in the Middle East. Alia currently partners in two venture firms in New Zealand and North America.

Dave Wild is the author of Futurework – A Guidebook for The Future of Work.

Living on the edge of the world in Aotearoa New Zealand, Dave has presented on stages and screens across the globe from San Francisco to South Auckland to Sydney.

As a Futurist he’s inspired and guided audiences at industry conferences, government meetings and team events for clients such as Microsoft, L’Oréal, Toyota and Red Cross.

Dave inspires audiences with future insights and tools that open minds to new possibilities ahead.

His engaging and uplifting approach reaches beyond stages and screens to challenge and energise audiences – creating a greater future for all.

International speaker, coach, and author of seven personal development books, Jess specialises in mindset, performance, and leadership. With a background in senior HR roles and a decade in people development, she connects easily with businesses. Her mission is to bring the ‘being’ back into human-being, blending ancient wisdom with modern challenges.

A brush with burnout led her to train with Buddhist monks and nuns, shaping her approach to resilience and self-belief. Now, she empowers others through her writing, business, and speaking engagements. A proud member of the rainbow community, Jess has been featured on TV3, BBC, RNZ, Stuff, and NZ Business Magazine, and is praised as inspiring, articulate, and relatable by audiences.

Sarah grew up on a farm in Hawke’s Bay and now lives in Wellington with her partner, two children and a shed full of bikes. As a speaker and advocate, she facilitates menopause / ruahinetanga conversations across Aotearoa, sharing her lived experience with 50+ organisations including Air New Zealand, Xero, NZDF, IRD, MBIE, councils and the PPTA. A freelance writer and campaigner, she’s explored menopause since 2019 after perimenopause impacted her health. In 2020, she launched Menopause Over Martinis, a grassroots movement to make menopause less taboo. Her mahi features in media and social platforms. For World Menopause Day 2024, her third ad series appeared on 55 Locky Dock screens and in shopping centres nationwide.

Described by the NZ Herald as the Headmistress of Gen Z, Alexia Hilbertidou founded GirlBoss NZ at 16 to get more women to the boardroom table. It’s now Aotearoa’s largest organisation for young women, reaching 27 countries and 100,000+ students. Through GirlBoss Edge, 5,000+ youth have launched leadership projects. Alexia has spoken at the UN, World Economic Forum, and shared platforms with Sir Richard Branson and Meghan Markle. At 19, she joined a USD $4.8B philanthropic board. Her 50+ honours include Forbes 30 Under 30 and the Queen’s Young Leader Medal. A National Geographic Explorer and former NASA VIP, she holds a Master’s in Emerging Tech and studied at Cambridge. Her Disney+ documentary premieres in 2025.

Smart tourism leaders know that a great visitor experience is tied to the success of their business. But have you ever been taught how experience design really works?

Better-than-the-rest visitor experiences rarely happen by chance. They are often carefully architected using key principles that can be applied to any business. Brad Rowe is a tourism strategist and founder of Tourism x Design, specialising in creating unforgettable visitor experiences and commercially successful tourism ventures. Based in Queenstown, Brad has spent over 15 years leading the design, development and launch of innovative tourism products, from first-in-the-world experiences to destination-wide strategies.

Liam Dann is Business Editor at The New Zealand Herald and author of bestselling BBQ Economics. With over two decades in journalism, he’s a writer, columnist, radio commentator, and multimedia producer. He found his niche in financial journalism in the early 2000s, covering agriculture, aviation, tech, markets, and economics. As Editor of the Business Herald (2007–2015), he led coverage through the global financial crisis. His reporting has taken him from China to Europe and the US. Liam’s passion for economic storytelling stems from time in London’s financial sector. He’s a devoted father, vinyl collector, and part-time DJ. Through humour and insight, he makes economics accessible, drawing on a vast network to illuminate New Zealand’s financial landscape.