Google, PepsiCo and Facebook Execs to Speak at New Zealand Conference

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Queenstown University conference will provide attendees with once-in-a-lifetime business learning opportunities

Queenstown, NZ (16 February 2012) – An all-star lineup of speakers, including top brass from Google, Facebook, Pepsico and Saatchi & Saatchi, will inspire 400 top entrepreneurs from around the world at the 2012 Entrepreneurs’ Organization Queenstown University conference from 22-26 February 2012. Organized by local Kiwi entrepreneurs, the hosts of the event have promised a “100% Kiwi Adventure,” with a full slate of top-tier speakers, business learning and once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences.

Reservations for the five-star event – one of only two staged worldwide each year – sold out within only eight hours of going on sale, but this comes as no surprise to Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) Queenstown University chair Mat Wylie: “A speakers list as impressive as ours instantly appealed to EO’s global membership of more than 8,000 leading business owners in 40 countries. With the help of   Kea New Zealand, we’ve tapped into the World Class New Zealand Network and booked high-flying New Zealand businesspeople to share their success secrets and inspire our members to even greater heights.”

Global CEO for Kea, Dr Sue Watson says: “The World Class New Zealand Network is an initiative developed by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and delivered by Kea. We are delighted to be able to assist EO to connect with some of New Zealand’s most elite and influential business people via our Network, which represents a powerful group of talented Kiwis committed to positively influencing New Zealand’s long-term growth.”

Topping the list of star speakers will be director of engineering at Google, New Zealand-born Craig Nevill-Manning, who began his meteoric career with degrees from Canterbury and Waikato Universities. Also on the schedule will be Craig’s wife, Kirsten Nevill-Manning, director of human resources at Facebook. She will present on the future of social media and how it will affect your business.
“It’s an honor to share the views of these special New Zealanders with some of the world’s most influential businesspeople and help showcase New Zealand itself as a place where brilliant ideas and innovation can flourish,” says Wylie.

Other Kiwis who have scaled the heights of international business success will also be speaking, including:

• Sarah Robb O’Hagan, PepsiCo’s Gatorade president North America and global chief marketing officer
• Kevin Roberts, worldwide CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi
• Sir Ray Avery, pharmaceutical scientist, intraocular lens innovator, Kiwi Bank “New Zealander of the Year 2010” and recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit
• Tim Alpe, CEO of tourism company Jucy and the 2010 “New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year”

Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to climb Bob’s Peak with Mark Inglis, the only double amputee to climb Mt. Everest; experience a Martin Jetpack simulator with inventor Glenn Martin; and enjoy a “fireside chat” with Jonah Lomu.

“It all adds up to an amazing package of transformative experiences and potentially game-changing inspiration for our members,” says Wylie. “Of course, none of this would be possible without our generous sponsors, key partner New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and KPMG, 2 Degrees Mobile, Air New Zealand, Jucy, BKA Interactive and Kea New Zealand.”
This first-ever EO University in New Zealand will be the best chance for our country to present our ‘number eight wire’ philosophy in business, while encouraging other Kiwis who are eligible to become a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization to make the most of this global business mentoring and networking group,” commented Wylie.

About the Entrepreneurs’ Organization
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a dynamic global network of more than 8,000 business owners in 40 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, the year 2012 marks EO’s 25th anniversary. With its transformative experiences and unparalleled peer network, EO transforms the lives of the entrepreneurs who transform the world. EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. Membership in one of EO’s 120 chapters is by invitation only; the average member is 41 years old with annual revenues of US$17.3 million. For more information on EO, visit  www.eonetwork.org or call +1.703.519.6700.

About Kea New Zealand
Kea New Zealand is a not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to reach and motivate expatriate Kiwis and ‘friends of New Zealand’ to increase their contribution to New Zealand - thereby turning them into a strategic national asset. Kea New Zealand aims to contribute to the economic growth of New Zealand by helping New Zealand become the most globally connected nation in the world. For more information, visit www.keanewzealand.com or for more information about World Class New Zealand, visit www.keanewzealand.com/wcnz​