Committees
About us
We are a group of practitioners from various sectors including academia, industry, and schools who have come together to initiate this event as a practical approach to encourage those who have innovative ideas and project works that can contribute to building a smarter Aotearoa while prioritising the Sustainability Development Goals.
The following professionals from different sectors of industry have contributed to the organisation of the event.
General Co-Chairs
Prof. Leoni Schmidt, Otago Polytechnic
The first competition event of Smart Aotearoa -- Sustainable Development in 2022 is commended for its active and network-wide collaboration around the most significant challenge we all face today in the world.
It is heartening to see the involvement of colleagues from many tertiary institutions in New Zealand.
Together, we can make change and contribute to a better world.
He waka eke noa.
Jay McLaren Harris, Swivel Careers and Education
As the world and society continues to evolve, we must continue to think bold around sustainability. Having traveled the world, I believe that Aotearoa, New Zealand can become a leader in sustainability.
I look forward to working with the team on what is an exciting and important conversation.
Organising Committee Members
Aniket Mahanti, The University of Auckland
Dani Mao, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Ehsan Yaeghoobi, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Farhad Mehdipour, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus, Future Skills Academy
John Christopher Faitala, Pacific Business Trust
Lee Timutimu, Arataki Systems
Maja Zidov, Unitec Institute of Technology
Mark Caves, Eastern Institute of Technology
Martin Fryer, thinkstep-anz
Masoud Shakiba, Unitec Institute of Technology and TechTALK
Technical Committee Members
Bing Dai, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Bruno Balducci, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Christian Bredenkamp, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Don Samarasinghe, Massey University
Edwin Rajah, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Emre Erturk, Eastern Institute of Technology
Firas Al-Ali, Manukau Institute of Technology
Guozhen (George) Huang, Victorian Institute of Technology (VIT), Australia
Iman Ardekani, Unitec Institute of Technology
Imelda Piri, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Indrapriya Kularatne, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Kathiravelu Ganeshan, Future Skills Academy
Krish, Naidu, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Lehan Stemmet, Auckland Institute of Studies
Pii-Tuulia Nikula, Eastern Institute of Technology
Rajeev Chawla, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Russell Harray, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Sayed M. Shahid, Eastern Institute of Technology
Soheil Pour, Unitec Institute of Technology
Srividya Krishnamoorthy, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus
Teong Boon Tan, Ableton Ltd.
Yury Zhukov, Otago Polytechnic - Auckland International Campus