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Conference News

Master of ceremonies and Keynote speakers

MC

Maggie Barry is perhaps best known for her role as host of the popular television programme "Palmers Garden Show".

Maggie's media career began in late 1981 when she joined Radio New Zealand's 2ZD in Masterton. She went on to work for stations in Taupo, Palmerston North and Wellington before joining National Radio in 1986. She began by hosting "Morning Report" and then the 9.00am to noon slot.
During her time with National Radio, Maggie spent seven weeks covering the USA Presidential Elections. In 1990 she was the New Zealand representative invited to be part of an international group of scrutineers observing the first free elections in Nepal for 32 years.

Maggie left National Radio in 1991 and in early 1992 joined television as front-person for the "Palmers Garden Show" and was a regular presenter on "Counterpoint". In 1993 she fronted the nightly current affairs programme "Primetime".
Her career in gardening began in 1978 working for the Wellington City Council. This work experience was a pre-requisite to her Diploma of Horticulture that she completed at Lincoln College (as it was then), in 1979. Then in 1980-81 she worked as a self-employed gardener before joining Radio New Zealand.

Currently Maggie is a freelance presenter on National Radio, “Morning Report”, “Checkpoint” and current affairs nine-noon programmes. She is also a media trainer and her clients include National Radio reporters and presenters as well as the NZ Olympic Rowing Squad. She is a freelance writer for various papers and publications.

Maggie was a producer, presenter and writer of the TV documentary Kiwi Ora: NZ goes to Chelsea in 2004, following the progress of the design team who won a gold award at London’s Chelsea flower show (Finalist in best documentary category in the 2005 Qantas TV awards). Also in 2004, she was a presenter and co-producer of a television special on Auckland’s Ellerslie Flower Show (10^th EFS special for TVNZ).

In 2005 Maggie was appointed Patron of Mary Potter Hospice.

Speakers

Chin-Ning Chu - Internationally renowned speaker and the bestselling author of The Asian Mind Game, Thick Face, Black Heart, and The Art of War for Women.
Chin-Ning Chu is the president of the Strategic Learning Institute, president of Asian Marketing Consultants, Inc. and chairperson of NeuroScience Industries, Inc. She advises top-level executives and multinational corporations around the world and is considered one of the foremost authority on understanding the Asian business psyche.

Rob Sarkies^[1] - Director and co-writer of the two hit New Zealand movies Scarfies and Out of the Blue.
A love of drama, photography and pyrotechnics led Rob to start making films at age ten. After repeated entries in the televised "Spot On" film competition he eventually won the competition and went on to make short films through the 1990's including the multi-award winning "Signing Off". His short films have played in festivals and sold to television stations all over the world.
Paper

Dr Ginger Levin, PgMP, PMP - PM author and one of the most highly qualified PM educators in the world. Dr Levin is active in project management maturity at the organizational and personal levels and has participated in the development of six maturity models.
Ginger Levin, D.P.A., is a consultant in project management with more than 25 years of professional experience in the public and private sectors. She earned her B.B.A. from Wake Forest University and her M.S.A. and D.P.A. from The George Washington University, where she also received the outstanding dissertation award.
For the past 6 years, Dr. Levin has been active in project management maturity at the organizational and personal levels and has participated in the development of six maturity models. She has worked in or supported PMOs at First USA, Citibank, UPS, the National Finance Center of the USDA, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Prior to her consulting work, Dr. Levin held positions of increasing responsibility with the federal government.
Abstract

Jamie Fitzgerald & Kevin Biggar - Antarctic crossing and other extreme adventure projects

In January 2007 Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald became the first New Zealanders to reach the South Pole unsupported.

Adventurous, determined and goal driven the pair did all the initial marketing, public relations and sponsorship for the trip themselves, gaining valuable experience in both project management and running their own business. They successfully used the media as part of their fundraising campaign and opened their own advertising agency to sell advertising space to exclusive media. Their business plan and attention to detail helped them when daily changes in weather and circumstances forced them to constantly adjust their objectives.

Kevin and Jamie first became famous when they completed the gruelling trans-Atlantic rowing race in a record time in 2003. They smashed the record by more than 21 hours completing the gruelling race after just over 40 days and 5 hours at sea. They were nine hours ahead of their closest rivals. The pair partnered again in late 2006, and successfully reached the South Pole after 52 days in January 2007. The total distance covered was 2,200km.

To reach their destination they had to haul along their sleds weighing more than 150kg each in temperatures reaching the depth of -40^oC. To prepare for this they spent time in New Zealand's coldest fridge and hauled tyres around streets. The motivation for this trip was three-fold: to help raise young people's awareness of outdoor pursuits; to find a challenge in a different discipline; and because 2007 is the 50th anniversary of Scott Base.

The pair promise to keep audiences at the edge of their seats with anecdotal presentations drawing from their amazing experiences.