Keynote Speakers Announced for AMINZ Conference 2023
We are thrilled to announce two keynote speakers for Conference 2023.
This August 22-24, we will be welcoming Dr Robert Joseph and Her Excellency Nina Obermaier to the stage to share their insights into the theme of ‘Access to Justice.’
Conference is a collegial event that attracts influential leaders, practitioners, and newcomers alike from across Aotearoa and internationally. We are delighted to have these two highly-experienced individuals as part of the programme.
You can explore the high-level programme here. We will have the pleasure of hearing from Dr Robert Joseph on Wednesday 23 Aug and Nina Obermaier on Thursday 24 Aug. Session topics will be released in the near future. In the meantime, read on to learn more about each speaker.
Dr Robert Joseph
Dr Robert Joseph is Māori from the Ngāti Kahungunu, Tainui, Tūwharetoa, and Ngāi Tahu tribes in Aotearoa New Zealand. He is an Associate Professor of Law at Te Piringa-Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1998.
He is the current director of the Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre at Waikato University, has been a trustee on numerous Māori trusts and organisations, and is a founding member of Te Taumata, the Māori Committee for the New Zealand Government Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
He was a mediator in 2022 for Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) dealing with the return of Crown surplus lands under the Public Works Act 1981 in the Turangi township.
From 2021-2022 Dr Joseph was also appointed an Independent External Commissioner in the Independent Waikeria Prison Riot Inquiry under the Department of Corrections, and he was a member of the independent Arbitration Panel to determine ownership of four Māori land blocks in downtown Rotorua.
In addition, Dr Joseph has lectured internationally on Māori and Indigenous matters including at the United Nations in New York and at Harvard University.
Her Excellency Nina Obermaier
Nina Obermaier has been the Ambassador of the European Union to New Zealand since November 2019.
From October 2016 to November 2019 she served as the adviser to the Deputy Chief Negotiator for the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. She was the European Commission Lead Negotiator for issues related to Ireland/North Ireland.
She worked as the Deputy Head of Division in charge of EU relations and negotiation with Switzerland between 2013 and 2016. She was the Deputy Head of Unit in charge of protection and crisis management from 2009 to 2013. She has covered portfolios relating to Israel and the West Bank/Gaza and information society.
Prior to her positions at the European Union, she was a senior producer and journalist for ARD (German Television) from 1999 to 2000.
Mrs Obermaier attained an M.A. in European Studies at the College of Europe Natolin, Poland. She also has an M.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Hanover in Germany, and the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.
Event details
Dates: Tuesday 22 - Thursday 24 August 2023
Venue: Rydges, Wellington
Tickets: Varies. Select the package that works best for you.
Who should attend?
Conference is ideal for anyone working within or interested in the field of dispute resolution. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a newcomer, an arbitrator, mediator, lawyer, commissioner, HR professional, counsellor or student - there will be something of interest.
Early bird tickets are on sale now. There is a number of Conference package options available. AMINZ has also secured several accomodation discounts for attendees to make your planning for the event as easy as possible. Explore these and secure your ticket below.
We look forward to seeing you there for what will be two fantastic days of discussion, debate, learning and socialising.
