Tech Hui '06 Speakers

The speakers for the 2006 Wellington College Tech Hui are ...

David Baldwin

David Baldwin was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Contact Energy in May 2006. Prior to joining Contact, he was based in Asia and the US overseeing the energy asset interests of a US-based investment fund. Before that, David held senior roles in Asia and the US with MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, a US-based global energy company, and Shell in New Zealand and the Netherlands. David holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical).


Cherrie Kong

In May this year, Cherrie was invited to speak at the World Congress on Information Technology in Austin, Texas. Along with three other youth in a panel hosted by Don Tapscott, Cherrie discussed the impact of technology on the lifestyles and thought processes of youth today. The main message to the audience (mainly CEOs and decision-makers) was that the net-generation is very different from any preceding generation as consumers, learners and employees, meaning that business, education and management must also adapt to ensure they are catering to their needs.

Prior to this, Cherrie has had many speaking engagements at various events in New Zealand and internationally, from her first presentation at the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) Rocking Ahead with Fast Internet conference in Wellington (2003) to the National Education and Computing Conference in Philadelphia and the Microsoft School of the Future World Summit in Seattle (both 2005). All such engagements have focused on the effective use of technology (in particular information and communications technologies, ICTs) to engage and enable youth, with an enormous focus on access, community and education.

In 2003, Cherrie was heavily involved with the implementation and management of a programme called the Tech Angels at Wellington Girls’ College. Cherrie sought to tap into the knowledge and enthusiasm of students to upskill and inspire college staff in use of ICTs in the classroom. Essentially a mentorship programme where students teach teachers in one-on-one and seminar environments, the Tech Angels fill a gap in the system where teachers have the equipment they need, but not the know-how to use them effectively in their life, workplace or classroom. These students also contribute to the community through volunteer work and also share their acquired knowledge with other students. The Tech Angels are ongoing to this day, boasting approximately 80 students (compared to 15 in 2003!), with the programme being taken on board by many other schools around the country (under various aliases).

Through the Tech Angels, Cherrie has gained experience in organizing conferences, interacting with and representing youth. For this involvement (and others), Cherrie received the Service to the College award and was also Dux/Gold Medallist for that year.

Neil Melhuish

Profile to come.