SEED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Business Design, Strategy and Innovation Specialist
One of New Zealand's leading business redesign specialists, Melissa uses systems-based design thinking techniques to help purpose-led organisations build NZ Inc regeneratively. Melissa has spent 25+ years leading large-scale business transformation and innovation across sectors including Gillette, British Telecom, Prudential, ANZ, Westpac, The Warehouse, Air NZ, World Vision, The Icehouse. She's most recognised for transforming EcoStore from hippy fringe to massive mainstream cool, winning a suite of awards.
Melissa teaches Masters students in applied innovation at Tech Futures Lab, is a business coach at The Icehouse, an alumni of NZTE's Better By Design program and is an advisory board member on a few NZ growth businesses. She is also an accredited NZ Regional Business Partner Networ k service provider. She's recently founded the Tensegrity Method to help businesses get FutureFit.
Tā Mark Solomon is committed to the betterment of his iwi, kotahitanga for Māori and the wider well-being of people and the environment. He is a strong advocate for the Māori economy and was instrumental in setting up the Iwi Chairs Forum (2005). He was the elected Kaiwhakahaere (Chair) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu from 1998 to December 2016 and represented his local Papatipu Rūnanga, Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura from 1995 to December 2016.
Of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kurī descent, Tā Mark's contribution to his community has been diverse and significant, ranging from roles as a school board trustee, to a past board member of the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa). Tā Mark attributes his wider whānau (family) for early guidance and it is this experience that has driven his passion for encouraging educational opportunities for young Māori.
Tā Mark believes a true rangatira is a servant of the people, a fact underpinned by his core philosophy of ‘strength with humility'. Whilst the commercial success of Ngāi Tahu is acknowledged, Tā Mark is especially proud of the tribe's achievements in education and the development of the Iwi's savings scheme Whai Rawa. Tā Mark is a committed advocate for the sanctity of whānau and takes a strong stance against whānau violence. He is passionate about his people and is determined to facilitate both iwi and wider Māori success by unlocking the potential of the Māori economy for the good of all.