Noel Davies- Why the NZ Metals Engineering Industry Matters
Chairman, Metals New Zealand
Noel Davies is first of all an entrepreneur, a skill which was acknowledged in 2003 with him receiving the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Manufacturing and Distributioncategory. Noel is also a notable business leader with interests in several companies, and is amongst others the Chairman of NZ Fresh Cuts and Managing Director of Hydraulic Fluid Connectors.

He started as a HERA Executive Member in 1992 as representative of the New Zealand Engineering Federation, was HERA Chairman from 2003 to 2006 and now represents the Heavy Engineering Research and Educational Foundation on the HERA Executive and is its current Chairman.

Noel was actively involved in the development of the Metals New Zealand concept and has been elected inaugural Chairman of Metals New Zealand.

Hon Steven Joyce-Government's Role in Facilitating a Competitive Metals Engineering Industry
Minster Economic Development, Science & Innovation, and Tertiary Education, Skills & Employment; Associate Minister Finance
In the National-led Government, Hon Steven Joyce is Minister for Economic Development, Minister of Science and Innovation, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, and Associate Minister of Finance. After completing a zoology degree at Massey University, Steven started his first radio station, Energy FM, in his home town of New Plymouth, at age 21. Along with two business partners, he built up The RadioWorks both organically and by acquisition over 17 years until, as a listed public company, it consisted of 22 local radio stations and four national radio networks with 650 staff in twenty branches around New Zealand. Along the way he launched nationwide music stations The Edge, and Solid Gold FM, and developed The Rock network.

In August 2006, Steven was appointed Chief Executive of NZAX-listed Jasons Travel Media Limited, a tourism marketing company based in Auckland, with interests in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific. He continued in that role for two years before leaving in order to enter politics. He has also been a director and Chairman of Taranaki-based hospital bed manufacturing and export company Howard Wright Limited, and a consultant to National Leader John Key. Steven chaired the National Party's successful 2008 national election campaign and was successfully elected as a list MP at the same election. Subsequently he has been appointed as a Minister in the new Cabinet.

Dennis O'Neill -Australia's Approach to Fostering a Competitive Steel Fabrication Sector
Australian Government Steel Supplier Advocate and Principal of Cadmean Management Services
Dennis O'Neill was appointed by the Australian Government as Steel Supplier Advocate in August 2011 to champion and lead industry initiatives aimed at providing leadership and support to Australia's steel sector. Mr O'Neill's appointment formed part of the first stage of implementing the Government's Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative, targeting opportunities in Australia's resources sector. Previously, Mr O'Neill formed Cadmean Management Services where he worked as Advisory Chairman to a number of private companies in the medical, financial and manufacturing sectors. Mr O'Neill has held senior management and leadership roles at major firms including Decmil, United Group, Evans Deakin Industries and the Comeng Group of Companies.

Sir Graham Henry Better Business - Getting Match Fit
Sir Graham Henry coached the All Blacks to glory in the 2011 Rugby World Cup at home in New Zealand. He was then awarded Coach of the Year at the IRB awards, receiving this award for a record 5th time. Although he has stepped down from his head coaching role, Sir Graham will remain in New Zealand and continue to share his extensive skills and knowledge with local rugby coaches and players.

Sir Graham has an enviable coaching record and struck gold in his first Test as All Blacks coach beating the reigning Rugby World Champions England at Dunedin in June 2004. He went on to win his first six Test matches and keep the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealands trophy cabinet before two defeats against Australia and South Africa away from home. His team then headed to Europe on an end-of-year tour where they beat Italy, Wales, France and the Barbarians.

In 2005 the All Blacks won 11 of their 12 Test matches. In June, they were too strong for the British and Irish Lions winning the series three Tests to none. They were the Philips Tri Nations Champions and completed the Grand Slam tour of the UK and Ireland to finish the year at number one in the IRB World Rankings. Sir Graham picked up the Coach of the Year award at the IRB Awards in Paris and the All Blacks were named Team of the Year.

Sir Graham was in charge of the hugely successful Auckland team, which won four NPC titles in succession (1993 1996), and the Auckland Blues Super 12 team, which was the competition winner in 1996 and 1997 and runner-up in 1998. He made his international coaching debut in 1998 with Wales, where he stayed for four years. His major achievements in that role included wins over England and South Africa. In 2001, he became the first non-British or Irishman to coach the Lions on their tour of Australia.

On his return to New Zealand, Sir Graham joined Auckland as defensive co-ordinator and technical analyst. The effect was immediate with Auckland lifting the 2002 National Provincial Championship, a feat that resulted in the Blues, starved of success since Sir Graham left for Wales, quickly tying him up for the 2003 Super 12 which the Blues went on to win.

In the January 2012 New Years Honours, Sir Graham was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby. Sir Henry's speaking topics include the high performance environment, team culture, motivation, team development and his own experiences. His presentations are readily applicable to the business environment, as well as the sporting arena.

Catherine Beard -Collaborating on-shore to compete off-shore lessons learned from the Danish Technology Institute
CEO, Manufacturing NZ & NZ Export
Catherine Beard is Executive Director of Export NZ and Manufacturing NZ, divisions of Business NZ, New Zealand's largest business advocacy group, representing thousands of businesses of all sizes.The Business NZ group includes four large regional business associations, the Major Companies Group, Export NZ, more than 70 affiliated industry associations and Buy NZ Made. The groups goal is New Zealand's prosperity through successful business. Catherine works with government and other key decision makers on issues of concern to exporters and manufacturers.

Catherine has spent the last 20 years as a lobbyist and advocate for a wide range of industries on a wide range of issues, including on climate change issues for the energy intensive sector, all aspects of the fire and general insurance sector and the agricultural sector (dairy focus). Catherine was also a co-founder of a start-up business designing and manufacturing childrens nursery furniture, for which two products won national design awards.

• Dr Steven R. Schmid - Metals Based Manufacturing: Bringing Manufacturing Back to the US - Lessons for NZ
  The session features Dr. Steven R. Schmid, Associate Professor Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering of the University of Notre Damein Illinois, USAtalks about technological advancements. Dr Schmid holds a prestigious Swanson Fellowship engaging with professionals in the public policy arena to make practical contributions on the most effective use of engineering in US federal decision-making. Through this Fellowship he is part of a White House Taskforce which advises the President how to keep manufacturing in the US and how to repatriate it.

Dr Schmid will explain that the strategy that has been followed successfully has been partnerships, both in workforce development and in university/industry relations, often facilitated by government. The technologies that have had a large impact include additive manufacturing, especially the trends of rapid tooling, functionally graded materials and now-consumer 3D printing.