Andy Fryar is the National Operations Manager for Better Impact in Australia and New Zealand and the founder of OzVPM (Australasian Volunteer Program Management).

For more than 30 years has contributed significantly to the Australian volunteerism community. His achievements include serving as President of Volunteering Australia and convening the working party that later evolved into AAMoV - the Australasian Association for Managers of Volunteers.

Andy has helped produce three books on volunteer management and is a co-author of Volunteer Program Management: an essential guide (3rd edition) - Australia’s premier guidebook to volunteering. He has served on the editorial committee of the Australian Journal of Volunteering and since 2000, has been a founding member of the editorial team for e-volunteerism, an international electronic journal of volunteerism based in Philadelphia.

Andy travels extensively and has conducted volunteer management training and worked with volunteer involving agencies in many countries including the USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Singapore and the UK, where between 2004 and 2010 he was a faculty member with the prestigious ‘Institute of Advanced Volunteer Management’. He is also a co-founder of the Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management that was held annually between 2005 and 2012.

Since 2008, Andy has volunteered his time as Chairperson of the global committee overseeing the promotion of International Volunteer Manager’s Day, celebrated on November 5 each year.

In 2003, Andy was awarded a Centenary Medal by the Australian government in recognition of his services to the volunteering movement in Australia.

Marianne Elliott is a researcher, strategist and storyteller who has used story-based research, advocacy and campaigning to influence policy in New Zealand and elsewhere over the past two decades. Marianne's work in policy advocacy and public narrative-setting is shaped by her commitment to clarity, creativity and compassion, and her work spans the breadth of social, economic and environmental issues. Marianne's strengths are translating complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives and tellings stories that help shift the dial of public opinion to support pro-social policy. Marianne is co-founder of ActionStation, a vehicle for Kiwis who believe in a fair and flourishing New Zealand and on the Board of Amnesty International New Zealand.

Niki's research and teaching focuses on sustainable communities and schools, positive youth development and political activism. Niki is a founding member of the Pt Chevalier Transition Town, cycles to work, learns the guitar from a musician who lives on her street, and has a large organic garden thanks to her husband. In 2007 Niki edited, with Quentin Atkinson, the book Carbon Neutral by 2020: How New Zealanders Can Tackle Climate Change. She has two books out in 2018, The Infinite Game: How to Live Well Together and Psychology for a Better World: Working with People to Save the Planet.

Janice Lee is the Founder and Project Lead of Koha Kai. A Charitable Trust which is changing the lives of people living with the daily challenges of disability. From being the highest users of social and medical services, disabled people in Koha Kai have become providers of services, through the vocational programmes Janice has developed. Koha Kai contributes more than 350 volunteer hours per week to the community, and people are transforming their lives through their own efforts, and Janice proudly advocates for them on a national platform.

Christine is a passionate volunteer management professional with 12 years’ experience across the not-for-profit sector and local government. Christine is a leading voice in the advancement of the Volunteer Management profession and in recent years, this has been brought to life through Flutterbye, a blog aimed at creating sustainability in the delivery of volunteer services. Christine holds qualifications in Change Management, Communications, Training and Lean Six Sigma and is a Board Member for the Australasian Association for Managers of Volunteers (AAMoV).

Erica Austin is the Founder and Chief Experience Curator of E.A.Curation. She has worked with non-profit organisations, government agencies, education providers, and companies to help curate meaningful experiences. Erica immerses herself in various organisations such as Ministry of Awesome, Te Putahi (Centre for Architecture and Citymaking), TEDxChristchurch, PechaKucha Night Christchurch, Startup Weekend Christchurch, WWGSD and more. She is a Trustee at Watch This Space Charitable Trust and is also a member of Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network. Erica joined the national facilitation team at Ally Skills NZ to help companies and organisations take action on diversity and inclusion. She is passionate about creating a more inclusive Christchurch and how we can celebrate diversity within our workplaces and communities.