Speakers

Dr Ainsleigh Cribb-Su’a (Ngāti Maniapoto) is the Director for Research and Evaluation at the National Hauora Coalition (NHC). Ainsleigh is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with a background in Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Ainsleigh is the Deputy Chair of The NZ Psychologists Board and works in governance in the NGO sector. Previously an Adjunct Research Fellow of both AUT and Canterbury University, Ainsleigh's continued research interests relate to Māori maternal mental health and wellbeing, mental health e-therapies and tamariki infectious disease prevention and intervention. More recently, Ainsleigh’s research centre at the NHC, has engaged with Medtech-iQ to collaborate on designing research projects in the use of new technologies and AI in primary/community care.

Byron is an Investment Manager at Movac, New Zealand’s most experienced and successful venture capital firm providing support to Kiwi founders & leaders to help accelerate the growth of their tech businesses. Movac's Emerge Fund which Byron spends significant time working within is specifically focused on early stage deep-tech investments and has made several MedTech investments to date. He holds a Master of Engineering in Bioengineering, a conjoint Bachelor of Engineering (in Mechanical Engineering) and Commerce (Majoring in Finance and Marketing), and is on the MedTech-iQ Tāmaki Makaurau Steering Committee and the RNZYS Finance and Risk Committee.

Liz is a comprehensive nurse with a career spanning clinical practice, operational management, and strategic service development. Currently serving as the Clinical Improvement Lead at Youthline Auckland, Liz works to implement best-practice, clinical governance frameworks and ensure young people receive effective, accessible, and culturally responsive support. With over a decade of experience in the health sector, Liz has held key leadership roles across various organisations, including Counties Manukau Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, the National Hauora Coalition, Whakarongorau, and the University of Auckland.

Rebecca Warr has over 14 years’ experience in commercialisation and product development and is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and playing a critical role in transforming innovative research into global impact. In her current role at the University of Canterbury, Rebecca leads the Technology Transfer team who are responsible for translating UC research beyond the University. Prior to this, she worked for a NZ-founded Biotech start-up.

Robyn Whittaker is a public health physician and currently Director Evidence, Research and Clinical Trials at Te Whatu Ora | HealthNZ. She is Chair National AI Expert Advisory Group and a member of the WHO expert group on Ethics & Governance of AI in Healthcare. She is adjunct Professor with the National Institute for Health Innovation, University of Auckland. Her research interests are in digital population health programmes. She is co-lead of the Clinical Translation module of Te Tītoki Mataora | MedTech Research Translator and Clinical Director of Medtech-iQ Tamaki Makaurau at the University of Auckland.

Simon’s research interest lies in cardiovascular control, neuroscience and creating novel medical devices. He has founded 3 companies from his research the latest being Kitea Health which as a big audacious goal of changing the way healthcare is delivered for those with chronic health condition. He is a Professor of Physiology and Bioengineering at the University of Auckland. He has published over 150 publications and given +50 invited lectures. He has patents in the area of wireless power, pressure sensing and wireless communications. In 2017 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. His main aim in life is to stop others making the same mistakes he has made in commercialising research.