High Commissioner of India to New Zealand A career diplomat, he joined Indian Foreign Service in 1991. He was Ambassador of India to Mexico from April 2016 to June 2019. He concurrently also served as High Commissioner to Belize. During his tenure, India-Mexico ́Privileged Partnership’ saw huge advancement: bilateral trade increased from $ 5.9 bn in 2015 to$10.15 bn in 2018 registering 75%growth.

GNZM, QSO Ex-Governor General of New Zealand Sir Anand Satyanand is a well-known New Zealander of Indian origin.  After a career as a lawyer based in Auckland, he has held a number of roles in public life as a Judge, Ombudsman and Governor-General.  More recently, he has chaired the Royal Commission into Abuse In Care and in August 2019, was elected Chancellor of the University of Waikato.

CEO, Asia-Pacific Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited Judith Swales leads Fonterra’s Global Consumer & Foodservice business, responsible for delivering innovative nutritional products and solutions to consumers in over 80 countries. Prior to this she lead the transformation of the Velocity & Innovation business unit, shaping the future of Fonterra by harnessing innovation, emerging technologies and game changing business models.

Leader, National Party; Leader of the Opposition Hon Simon Bridges is National MP for Tauranga and Leader of the National Party. In the last National-led Government, Simon held several ministerial portfolios including Labour, Energy, Transport, Communications, Economic Development and Leader of the House. Prior to standing for Parliament, Simon was a senior Crown Prosecutor in the District and High Courts. He had been a prosecutor in Tauranga since 2001, working largely on jury trials.

Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Ethnic Communities, List MP Labour Party Priyanca has lived and worked overseas, and around Aotearoa NZ. She has spent her work life advocating on behalf of groups of people whose voices are often unheard - women survivors of domestic violence, and migrant workers who have been exploited - and lobbying government for legislative and policy change.

Consulate of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon is one of New Zealand’s leading businessman of Indian-origin and wears multiple hats of being a cement and media baron, philanthropist, and Honorary Consul of India in Auckland. Bhav is also passionately involved in the India-NZ relationship and formerly been on the Board and the Treasurer of India NZ Business Council–the premier trade organisation in New Zealand working for over 25 years to build trade relations between the two countries.

Director of Research and Engagement, Asia New Zealand Foundation Suzannah joined the Asia New Zealand Foundation in March 2019, after serving as New Zealand’s Deputy High Commissioner to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Deputy Ambassador to Nepal and as New Zealand’s Deputy High Commissioner to Vanuatu. During her thirteen years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, she also served in the Ministry’s Australia, Pacific and Europe Divisions.

Founder & CEO, J Curve Author, Navigating India Bharat R Joshi's career has spanned the roles of entrepreneur, author, social worker and mentor. Bharat is CEO of J-Curve Ventures Pvt. Ltd. He serves on boards of ACTL and JKTI (Joshi Konoike Transport and Infrastructure). The companies have interests in logistics, technology and infrastructure. Bharat is the recipient of multiple awards for his contributions in philanthropic, academic and business pursuits.

Deputy Chair, Federation of Maori Authorities Liz Mellish is Chair of the Palmerston North Reserve Trust. She was an Executive Committee member of the Federation of Māori Authorities and chaired the Te Ture Whenua Māori Technical Advisory Group. She is a director of Hikoikoi Management Ltd, MetLifeCare Palmerston North, and property development company Haukawakawa Ltd. She is a Trustee of Wharewaka o Poneke Charitable Trust and a director of its commercial arm.

Principal Policy Advisor, Americas and Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Grahame has been the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Principal Adviser on Asia and the Americas since 2017, leading strategic policy development and contributing to organisational governance. His senior roles include New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Acting Deputy Secretary, Asia-Europe meeting Ambassador, Deputy Head of Mission in Washington, and membership of several Asia-related boards.

CEO & Founder, Valocity Global CEO & Founder, Data Insight Carmen Vicelich is not your typical anything – a powerhouse entrepreneur who has rapidly built two multi-million-dollar, international data and technology businesses at the same time as balancing life as a wife and mother of four young children. Carmen’s energy, drive and ability to make the complex simple has already earnt her numerous awards – both personally and for both her businesses.

Chair, INZBC A mechanical engineer by trade, with a Master of Business Administration from Sydney University, Sameer has extensive experience in management and leadership roles in various countries and industries. He has good knowledge and understanding of international trade through his work in the Middle East, Fiji, India, Australia and New Zealand, and has strong networks across the globe.

Chief Executive, Whitireia NZ & WelTec Chris is the Chief Executive of the Wellington Institute of Technology and Whitireia Community Polytechnic, a position he has held since May 2015. He was previously Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) at Whitireia for three years. Chris worked in the Middle East setting up and operating a polytechnic in the Kingdom of Bahrain and prior to this was the Corporate Services Director at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

Founder & Owner, Redesign Group, NZ Jo Pennycuick is the founder and owner of Redesign Group-a global design and branding company that works predominately in the airport, retail and commercial sector. Redesign is among some of the few Kiwi companies with major Indian operations.

Director Jeena Australia Zubin has over 20 years of work experience in India and Overseas markets for both privately owned and various reputed Logistics companies. He joined Jeena- India, in 2004 as Sales & grew to the Rank of Vice President – International Business. Being stationed in China & HKG for a period of over 3 yrs, he was instrumental in building Jeena's International Business in the Far East region. He moved to AUS in JAN 2019 & today he represents Jeena Australia as Director.

Co-founder, Martin Jenkins Kevin Jenkins is a co-fopunder of www.MartinJenkins.co.nz working at the intersection of business, innovation, and regulation. He specialises in strategy, performance, and change. He is also regularly called on for his expertise in public policy and issues management, and in governance, including internationally. He has advised in the science and innovation, financial services, building and construction, transport, justice, health, and primary sectors.

Manager, International Trade, Beef+Lamb NZ Esther Guy-Meakin is Manager, International Trade at B+L NZ. She comes with a background in trade policy and trade negotiations after a career at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade where she did a range of trade and economic focused roles including, Lead Goods Negotiator on the RCEP, Pacific Alliance, and India-New Zealand FTA negotiations and Legal Advisor on Services and Investment in the TPP negotiations.

General Manager Aeronautical Commercial Auckland Airport Scott Tasker leads Auckland Airport’s aeronautical commercial team, focusing on sustainably growing our airline capacity, improving route connectivity and increasing passenger volumes. Scott has more than 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and has held a number of roles in airline sales, marketing and management with Emirates and Lufthansa.

Partner, PwC, NZ Ravi Mehta is a Partner at PwC NZ. He has 20 years experience advising businesses on cross- border structures and planning. He has been involved with several New Zealand high profile multi - Jurisdictional M&A transactions, and continues to advise multi - nationals on their New Zealand operations. He is currently the Financial Advisory Services (FAS) line of service leader for the Australian and Asia markets.

Tariff and International Trade Specialist, Mondiale Freight Services Sharni has over 16 years of experience in providing advice to companies on customs and quarantine related issues which includes complex valuation, tariff disputes, import permits, free trade agreements and duty management.

CEO, NZTech Graeme Muller is the CEO of NZTech and is passionate about the impact that technology can make to the economy and society. During his tenure, NZTech's membership has seen phenomenal growth. This includes the establishment of the Tech Alliance, representing 22 of New Zealand's largest tech associations and more than 1,000 organisations that collectively employ more than 10% of New Zealand’s workforce. Graeme has a 20 year career in technology and business research.

Chief Systems Architect, XERRA Dr Duncan Steel is employed by the Xerra Earth Observation Institute with its HQ in Alexandra, but is based in Nelson. Engaged in space research for forty years in the UK, USA, Australia, Sweden, Canada and NZ, he has worked for NASA, ESA, various universities and observatories, and also run his own space consultancy. Regarded as an expert on asteroids, comets, meteors and space debris, Duncan also conducts research in other areas of physics and space science.

Director, ORB 360 Jay is a Chartered Accountant and a Director of Orb360, Chartered Accounting firms based in Auckland and Wellington. Jay has over 13 years of Accounting, forensic accounting and tax experience. Some of his previous roles includes, Tax Manager at Grant Thornton and Crowe Horwath (WHK), Tax Investigator at the IRD, Forensic Accountant at McDonald Vague, and Financial Accountant at Flight Centre. Jay specializes in International and domestic tax.