Speakers & Presentations
The KANZ Broadband Summit: Digital Futures will feature speakers from a range of innovative research and commercial companies from Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Hon. Steven Joyce, New Zealand
Hon Steven Joyce is Minister of Transport; Minister for Communications and Information Technology; Associate Minister of Finance; and Associate Minister for Infrastructure.
After completing a zoology degree at Massey University, Steven started his first radio station, Energy FM, in his home town of New Plymouth, at age 21. Along with two business partners, he built up The RadioWorks over 17 years until, as a listed public company, it consisted of 22 local radio stations and four national radio networks. In 2000/2001 RadioWorks was purchased by Canadian company Canwest. Steven retired as Managing Director in April 2001 on his 38th birthday.
He chaired the National Party's Campaign Review after the 2002 election, and then its major Strategic Review which led to a full reorganisation of the Party. He took on the role of the Party's first General Manager, and led it through to the 2005 election. He managed the 2005 election campaign.
Steven was Chief Executive of NZAX-listed Jasons Travel Media Limited, a tourism marketing company, for two years from August 2006. He has also been a director and Chairman of Taranaki-based hospital bed manufacturing and export company Howard Wright Limited, and a consultant to National Leader John Key.
Steven chaired the National Party's successful 2008 national election campaign and was also elected as a list MP at the same election. He was then appointed as a Minister in the new Cabinet.
Steven spends his spare time developing his lifestyle property north of Auckland, where he lives with his wife and daughter.
Mr Choi See-Joong, Korea
Mr Choi See-Joong was appointed as the Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission in March 2008.
Born in 1937 in Pohang, Korea, Mr Choi began his journalist career as a reporter at Dong-Yang News Agency in 1963, and then as a political reporter at Donga Ilbo, one of Korea's major daily newspapers. From 1980, Mr Choi became a Research Commissioner at the Research Institute for National Security and Unification. Beginning from 1986, Mr Choi served as Vice Chief of Donga Ilbo's Politics Department, and then as Chief of the same department in 1988. In the same year, Mr Choi started writing editorials for the same paper. He retired from Donga Ilbo after serving as Deputy Chief of the Editorial Department from 1993 to May 1994. Following his service as President of Gallup Korea from June 1994 until May 2007, Mr Choi joined the Preparatory Committee for the Inaugural Ceremony of the 17th President of Korea as an advisor in January 2008.
Mr Choi holds a B.A. degree in Politics from the Seoul National University in Korea.
The Korean Communications Commission (KCC) is fully responsible for both broadcasting policy and regulation of the former Korean Broadcasting Commission and communications policy and regulation of the former Ministry of Information and Communication. KCC aims to proactively respond to the convergence between broadcasting and telecommunications and to ensure the freedom and the public interest of broadcasting, as well as to promote balanced development and global competitiveness of broadcasting and telecommunications industry.
Senator Stephen Conroy, Australia
Senator Stephen Conroy is the Australian Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. He is also Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Passionate about the media and communications sector and about engaging with industry to foster innovation and growth, Stephen has had active involvement in the communications portfolio for six years—first as Senate representative for shadow communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner and then as shadow communications minister until the November 2007 federal election.
Stephen was appointed as a Senator for Victoria for the Australian Labor Party in 1996.
Previously he was an industrial officer and superannuation officer for the Transport Workers Union Victorian Branch from 1992 to 1996, a ministerial adviser to Victoria's Minister for Industry from 1990 to 1992 and an assistant adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1990.
From 1986 to 1987, Stephen was an electorate officer for the federal Member for Canberra, consultant to the Minister for Science and Minister assisting the Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce and electorate officer for the Minister for Home Affairs. He worked for the Metal Trades Industry Association from 1984 to 1986.
Keynote Speaker: Adam Smith, Google
Adam Smith leads Google's Enterprise efforts in New Zealand. Adam is focused on driving the greater adoption of Google's suite of Enterprise Products including the Google Apps and Postini offerings as well as Google's Enterprise search and Geo solutions. Adam spent three years with Google in New York where he helped launch the United States channel business, supporting Google's fast growth in the North American market.
Prior to that, Adam was involved in software for many years, working with Percussion Software, the largest Lotus Notes ISV in the United States at the time.
Raised in New Orleans, Adam graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in International Relations. Adam has recently moved to the Google regional headquarters in Sydney, and is a sunny resident of Bondi Beach.
Keynote speaker: Mario Wynands, Sidhe
Mario Wynands is the Managing Director and a co-founder of Sidhe, the largest game production studio in New Zealand. Over the last decade, Mario has facilitated the development and release of products for Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo console platforms into markets including Australasia, North America, Europe, Japan, and Korea. Mario is also the president of the New Zealand Game Developers Association which seeks to promote and support the game development industry within New Zealand.
Founded in 1997, Sidhe is an award-winning developer of console, handheld and PC games. Sidhe has a proven track record of creating high-quality, licensed and original titles for a worldwide audience. The studio has produced more than 20 high-profile titles including ShatterT (PS3), GripShiftR (360, PS3, PSP), Madagascar Kartz (360, PS3, Wii), Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 (Wii), Speed Racer The Videogame (Wii, PS2), as well as multiple games based on the NRL Rugby League franchise.
Master of Ceremonies: Rob Spray, New Zealand
Telecommunications Industry Group
Rob Spray is the CEO of the Telecommunications Industry Group (NZ). Rob has been in the computing and telecommunications sectors all his working life.
Rob has spent the last 16 years working with Nortel globally in Sales and General Management roles in Europe, Asia and New Zealand. His last role at Nortel was leading the service providers Channels and Partners organisation for Nortel Asia. This assignment channelised Nortel's Service Provider business in China, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and India. Rob, working with a regional organisation and in country teams selected, established and supported the partners to transform Nortel from a direct to an indirect sales and support model in Asia.
A past TUANZ (Telecommunications Users Association) board member, Rob was appointed the Inaugural CEO of the Telecommunications Industry Association in July 2009.
Master of Ceremonies: Brett O'Riley, New Zealand
NZICT Group
Brett O'Riley is the CEO of NZICT Group, representing the supply side of the ICT industry. He is passionate about the opportunity for ICT to transform New Zealand, while acknowledging the scale of many of the challenges to be addressed, and the need for a cohesive pan industry approach.
Prior to joining NZICT, Brett held senior executive roles at Ochre Services, Gen-i, Nava Networks, Southern Cross Cable Network, Telecom New Zealand and Pacific Gateway Exchange. He has also been a press secretary and ministerial advisor under previous National and Labour governments.
Brett is Vice chairman of the Advisory Council of the Pacific Telecommunications Council, a regular writer and speaker on ICT issues, and away from business he has been extensively involved as an international sports administrator and participant.