Our presenters

I'm a mum of one from the Kāpiti Coast. I have been a creative person all my life, I’ve poured my heart and soul in to paint pouring and fluid art in the last 3 years. Art is my therapy; art is very healing! I like to create unique pieces every time, no canvas is ever the same!

Instagram

Facebook

Alex has over 20 years of dance experience, after having lived and trained in Argentina.  He's developed a strong passion for dance and has been one of the pioneers of bringing Latin dance to Wellington, teaching since 1997 around NZ and Australasia. Currently Wellington and Hawkes Bay-based, he teaches regular dance lessons and hosts social dance events.

He regularly teaches and performs at charity functions, as well as corporate performances and in schools.

For more info see www.dancetango.co.nz

Alexis comes from Otaki and regularly holds workshops about food, whether it be cheese making, pasta making, sausage making or preserving, for groups at private functions, through to team building events for corporates.

Passionate about fresh, good quality food (especially from her own garden!), Alexis loves to pass on her knowledge to others. 

http://www.curiouscook.co.nz/

I am currently employed by the Open Polytechnic as the team lead for the principal learning designer team. Before that I was a senior learning designer for 9 years. I am a qualified Learning and Development professional who has worked as a facilitator, training manager and instructional designer in the private and public sector within New Zealand and overseas

I have been practicing calligraphy since I was little. I enjoyed observing the interactions between ink and inkstone and feeling the brush traveling through Xuan paper, a high quality rice paper specifically made for Chinese brush calligraphy and brush painting.

 Practicing calligraphy often fills me with a sense of serenity. I can’t say I am a master but I am confident that my calligraphy skill is sound and solid. My calligraphy has been exhibited at the Odlin Gallery of the Hutt Art Centre and I have sold a few pieces. 

 Five years ago I introduced this practice to my friend Leah, a qualified counsellor. We found it was a useful practice on several levels, but first and foremost as a tool for reducing stress. This is why we call it ‘calligratherapy’.

It is a new field of therapy which is already being used in places like the UK as an alternative to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; another one of the activities that are available to you to help with stress.

Alistair has over 25 years' experience creating jewellery.  Inspired by his natural environment and Pacific forms, his designs are hand-made mostly from silver, gold, fired enamels, unusual gems and diamonds. Not one to be pigeon-holed, Alistair enjoys making one-off designs.

His training included a rare apprenticeship in the badge and metal making branch of a manufacturing jeweller, specialising in vitreous enamelling.  As well as working for several traditional jewellers, he has also studied graphic design, bronze casting and sculpture.

He lives in Wellington with his family and other interests include music, art, cycling, swimming and skiing.

His love of learning new things, particularly at the CEC, led to him offering his skills as a jewellery tutor - something he greatly enjoys.

Alistair can be contacted via his Facebook page, where you can see samples of his work or visit his website.

Amal Samaha studied fine arts at the University of Western Australia, and later politics and history at Victoria University of Wellington. They live in Karori with their partner and a one-eyed cat.

 Amal was an exhibiting artist in small galleries in Australia and New Zealand between 2014 and 2018, working in an unpremeditated style of oil painting, as well as pen-an-ink illustration. They were the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art’s “Young Innovator Online” for 2014-15.

Ana is a professional photographer, based in Lower Hutt. She is one of the rare neuroaesthetics experts in the country, who investigates why we remember some photographs for decades while forgetting others almost instantly. Ana is captivated by the power of images to evoke strong emotions and leave lasting impressions. Her research asks compelling questions: What makes a photograph unforgettable? How can we harness our understanding of the brain to create impactful images that change perceptions? Ana is particularly passionate about the impact of photography on individuals with autism and ADHD.

Ana holds university degrees from both New Zealand and overseas in:

• History of Cultures and Art (BSc, with honours, overseas)
• Advertising (MSc, with honours, overseas)
• Commerce (PostGrad, Victoria University)

 From running workshops for kids at ‘The Art of Seeing’ Academy to leading the 700-member Excio photography community, Ana Lyubich's tutoring journey is vibrant and multifaceted. She publishes Captivating Photography Journal, New Zealand's only bi-monthly photography publication, and offers online courses to help creatives master photography and overcome impostor syndrome. Additionally, Ana consults local businesses to enhance their social media presence and audience engagement with captivating visuals.

 More about Ana and what she does can be found via her LinkedIn and website: https://analyubich.com

Andrew is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and People Development. His expertise spans the design and delivery of impactful training programs, the implementation of corporate learning strategies, and the facilitation of meaningful professional growth for individuals and teams. With a proven track record in both global corporations and dynamic local businesses, Andrew’s approach is grounded in practical application, innovative methodologies, and a deep understanding of human dynamics. 

Andrew’s career is defined by his ability to create transformative learning experiences tailored to the unique needs of organisations and individuals. From designing leadership programs to implementing large-scale competency assessments, his work consistently drives measurable results.

With experience in sales and negotiations in multinationals, Andrew is a recognised authority in negotiation, helping individuals and teams navigate complex discussions with confidence and success.

 Behavioral Insights: Leveraging tools like the DISC model, Andrew teaches you how to identify and adapt to different negotiation styles, fostering better communication and outcomes. 

 Strategic Preparation: He emphasises the importance of thorough preparation, equipping participants with techniques to analyse their position, understand their counterpart, and identify the bargaining zone.

 Practical Application: Andrew’s negotiation training is heavily practice-oriented, enabling you to develop your skills in real-world scenarios. His focus on emotional intelligence, active listening, and relationship-building ensures sustainable success.

Angela is an experienced people development manager, coach, facilitator, speaker and consultant. She has worked in complex and geographically dispersed organisations across all sectors; Government, Higher Education, the private and not-for-profit sectors, and in the community, and recently re-established her own consultancy business. 

Her portfolios have included strategic organisational development initiatives, change leadership, leadership development, team development, employee engagement, career development and talent management and facilitated staff conferences and forums.

Angela inspires and supports individuals and organisations to identify, develop and capitalise on their greatest talents, to maximise individual and collective potential to achieve their goals and aspirations.  She takes a strengths-based approach to her work and, in partnership with clients, explores and applies practical solutions to develop and retain talent, initiating and embedding frameworks to achieve these outcomes. She regularly coaches and mentors’ individuals and teams to make conscious choices to achieve their aspirations and enrich the quality of their lives, work and relationships.

Angela is tertiary qualified (PhD, Masters in Education Hons, Bachelor of Education, Diploma in Tertiary Teaching) and accredited both as Strengthsfinder Coach, and Team Management Profile Facilitator.

Together, Angela and Sandi Shillington have put together a workshop to enable people choosing not to retire, but to rejuvenate.