Our presenters

Matt Brittain is a dynamic facilitator with a diverse background shaped by unique challenges and relentless determination. As a neurodivergent individual who initially struggled in traditional educational settings, he embarked on a remarkable journey to carve his own path to success and fulfilment. Starting from humble beginnings, including long hours packing biscuits in a factory, Matt’s career trajectory evolved into impactful roles spanning corporate, government, and NGO sectors, as well as international development and mental health. He has excelled in various capacities as a manager, analyst, advisor, project manager, innovator, and mental health professional in these sectors for over 20 years.

 Driven by a profound love of learning and personal experiences, Matt discovered a unique system that empowered him to thrive. His educational pursuits led him to earn a BA in psychology, which laid the foundation for further academic achievements. He later pursued and completed a Masters in Health Psychology, enhancing his understanding of human behaviour and mental health. Additionally, Matt embarked on a journey as an intern psychologist, gaining valuable insights into clinical practice and further deepening his passion for empowering individuals.

 Matt’s true calling emerged after his lived experience, which ignited a passion for empowering individuals to overcome challenges and realize their potential. Despite facing unexpected adversity, including a manic episode with psychosis that reshaped his life, Matt’s resilience and deep understanding of psychology enabled him to navigate through the darkness and emerge stronger than ever.

Through his compelling story, deep practical and academic knowledge, passion and sense of humour, Matt inspires others to embrace their unique journeys and harness the power of resilience and self-discovery to create positive change in their lives and communities.

Mei-Fen is a trained teacher. She uses effective language teaching methodologies that enhance learning and adapts her teaching to suit her students’ needs. Mei-Fen provides a supportive and fun environment for her students to learn.

She has over 20 years experience teaching Chinese Mandarin at all levels (from beginner to advanced) and to a wide age group (from children to adults). Mei-Fen is a fluent speaker in 6 languages - English, Mandarin and four other Chinese Dialects. She understands some Japanese.

What students say:

I am a NZ qualified teacher and have taught French as well as other subjects to all ages of students including adults. Because of my teaching background, I tend to be very critical of teachers of courses I attend, especially language courses.

Your teaching of the Chinese Mandarin Intro 1 class was excellent - the best I have experienced for a once a week course. Your mix of oral practice, conversation and grammar provides a good basis for anyone new to Mandarin and is varied enough to keep the class engaged for the full time each week.

Mike Styles is the National Specialist – Literacy and Numeracy for the Primary Industry Training Organisation, and a Dyslexia Practitioner in his private life beyond work.

Under Mike's leadership, the Primary ITO has initiated a major support regime to support staff members in the primary sector who have learning differences like dyslexia.

Mike has led a number of national research projects that explored the best way to support adults with dyslexia in education, training and in the workplace.  He has presented the findings of this research at conferences in the United Kingdom, Italy and Australia.  The results of the latest research project can be found on the Ako Aotearoa website.

Mike is an experienced facilitator and runs workshops for Ako Aotearoa and other organisations on learning differences. He's a member of the British Dyslexia Association and has written articles for international publications about dyslexia.

You can check out Mikes background on his website www.dyslexia-consulting.com

Monique moved to NZ from the Netherlands, 11 years ago with her family. She has a background in psychology, working with adults with ADHD and ASD, and has a passion for creative mindfulness, colouring, zentangle®, crochet and running her own Easy Now mindfulness business.

Making it easy for people to increase their wellbeing in a practical and down-to-earth way is hugely rewarding for her.

In her teaching, Monique aims to make a happy space for all students to thrive and reach their goals. She has a NZ Adult Teaching diploma and has been teaching her own mindfulness, crochet, creative mindfulness course for over 8 years.

She facilitates a monthly colouring session for adults at a local cafe and also volunteers where she can, as "giving back to the community creates happiness!". Her secret hobby is yarnbombing.

Monique loves to spend time with her family and walk her dog, and winds down in the evening with her crochet.

Find her zentangle and crochet on the website, https://www.instagram.com/easynowmindfulness/ and Facebook page

Paddy Plunket has been getting joy from Improv since 2020, and is a regular trainer for the Wellington Improvisation Troupe. She was WIT's creative director for the last two years and has produced and performed in a number of improv shows. 

Paul and Mary-Ellen Gadd have a long history in Financial Advisory Services. 

Mary-Ellen has a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning and Business Studies.  She has run training sessions throughout New Zealand, and currently teaches other financial mentors through FinCap.  She was also a lecturer at Victoria University while working towards her PHD.

Paul was a Global Partner at one of the top global Accounting and Consulting Firms, and has taught and lectured both locally and overseas. Paul has also taught at Victoria University.

 They both now give their time and experience to others through volunteering and teaching.  Mary-Ellen is a volunteer Financial Mentor – helping individuals and families through their financial difficulties.  Paul is a volunteer Business Mentor – helping small to medium sized businesses. 

They continue to run their own businesses and manage their own investment portfolio.

They both managed to retire before they were 45, and enjoy helping others increase their financial literacy, enabling them to also plan for, and enjoy their retirement.

 Disclaimer:  The tutors are not financial advisors.  No investments, products nor specific recommendations will be provided.  A step by step planning process will be taught by working through a case study.   Any product names or websites used in examples and explanations to help participants understand financial concepts and the planning process are used for clarity only. They are not given as any type of recommendation.

Full-time ceramic artist for 9 years, Peter has been teaching pottery courses for the past four years.  His practice tends towards architectural and geometric forms, and his work is represented by Mitchell Studios, Khandallah and Artspace in Petone.

Poppy has a background in recruitment, marketing, and teaching. Being a contractor herself, she is actively involved in the recruiting market and always has her finger on the pulse of the candidate market.

 In her career mentoring, Poppy uses an approach of empowering candidates, and effectively demonstrates how to ‘put yourself in the recruiters’ shoes.’ This technique saw her set up over 300 graduating students for career success.

 Her qualifications include a Masters degree in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Political Science and International Relations. She currently works in the public sector in a project coordination and management role, and identifies her top three skills as relationship management, networking, and match-making candidates to their suitable roles.

Although the son of a beekeeper, Richard only took up beekeeping when he inherited some beehives, started tidying them up and and got hooked. A hobbyist beekeeper now for nearly 20 years, Richard still has beehives in his backyard and still finds bees fascinating.

An adult educator by profession, Richard is Past President of the Wellington Bee Club.  His other interests include maintaining a suburban garden and enjoying walks in the bush.