Influencial duo hosts Techweek19 webcast

Unfiltered’s Jake Millar and Kiwi Innovation Ambassador Sian Simpson will host Techweek TV, a series of over 50 free webcasts during Techweek19.

The duo will be joined by a line up of tech and innovation leaders, and to make the sessions truly interactive, will take questions coming in live from audience members.

“Having worked with our best and brightest entrepreneurs and talent for almost a decade, I am super excited to be presenting Techweek TV to the nation this May! I think technology and innovation is an incredible enabler; both at the forefront of new industries, but also in traditional sectors aiming to stay relevant and scale,” says Simpson (pictured below).

Millar says: “I’m thrilled to be involved with Techweek TV to create a platform to inspire the next generation of technology leaders and game-changers in New Zealand. The innovation coming out of New Zealand right now is incredible.”

Techweek TV was piloted last year and has had a major revamp for 2019 with Callaghan Innovation coming on as a strategic partner. The programme has been expanded to cover a diverse range of topics, from how Aotearoa’s culture of kaitiaki (guardianship) sets Kiwi startups apart, to the role technology is playing throughout the health sector. The schedule begins with a stream of the Techweek launch and wraps up with Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck discussing what it took to become the global leader in small satellite launches.

“Callaghan Innovation, New Zealand’s innovation agency, is delighted to partner with Techweek for a third consecutive year, and to introduce Techweek TV as a new joint initiative for 2019,” explains Callaghan Innovation CEO, Vic Crone. “Techweek TV is a great platform for us to showcase the technology expertise behind some of New Zealand’s most innovative businesses.”

Each session is designed to inspire viewers with ways to activate innovation within their own organisations, supporting Callaghan Innovation’s overall goal of accelerating business growth for a better New Zealand.

“The sessions shine a light on where technology is going globally, and how New Zealanders must adapt”, says Vic Crone. “Many feature successful kiwi innovators who have taken risks and defied the odds to achieve great heights. Each session also offers viewers practical information to help them to actively connect with the people, insights, opportunities and networks they need to succeed within our innovation ecosystem. That includes information about how partnering with Callaghan Innovation can help businesses to receive the right advice and funding, at the right time, for greatest impact. Techweek TV is another way that Callaghan Innovation is working to empower our New Zealand innovators.”

Techweek19 Festival Manager Alicia Northridge says the programme is purposely extremely diverse, showcasing how tech connects with everything we do.

“Techweek TV is an amazing online learning opportunity for individuals and businesses. We know that not everyone can make it to Techweek events, but these sessions are designed to be short and high impact, and they’re also free.

“We’re especially encouraging those who are under-represented in the tech sector – that is, women, youth and those from the Māori and Pasifika communities – to put a few sessions in their calendar and hear from some of New Zealand’s top innovators and our wonderful hosts Sian and Jake.”

Jake Millar (pictured above) summarises, “Our goal is to showcase innovation in a way that is inspiring, motivating and also educational for the next generation of tech leaders, to give them the confidence to start and scale global tech companies from New Zealand.”

Sian Simpson concludes, “With tech being our 3rd biggest export it’s an amazing future for us as a country. Innovation exists in all corners of New Zealand so I’m excited to hit the road, host some amazing discussions, ask some hard questions, and for kiwis in every home across the country to be able to be part of Techweek for 2019.”

Techweek TV will be streamed live on techweek.co.nz, celebrating innovation that’s good for the world. Viewers can email in questions and feedback during the live streams to twtv@techweek.co.nz.

Techweek TV: 20-24 May, 9am – 5pm, Supported by Callaghan Innovation: www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz