Experience

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  Global Entrepreneurship Network

  • New Zealand

  • Chair

    • Jan 2020 - Present
    • New Zealand

    GEN NZ's mission is to connect entrepreneurs with the talent and resources they need to thrive nationally & globally. We grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in New Zealand through partnerships with entrepreneurs, government, investors, service providers, and academia

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  MetService

  • New Zealand

  • Director

    • Mar 2020 - Present
    • New Zealand

    MetService is New Zealand's national weather authority, providing comprehensive weather information services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help protect the safety and well-being of New Zealanders and the NZ economy.

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  Starboard Maritime Intelligence

  • New Zealand

  • Director

    • Mar 2023 - Present
    • New Zealand

    Starboard helps nations tackle complex maritime challenges, ranging from risk assessing arriving vessels to detecting illegal fishing and uncovering non-reporting dark vessels.By combining global automatic identification system (AIS) data, multiple layers of satellite data, scientific models, and other information or intelligence, Starboard enables teams to effectively analyse and investigate vessels and areas — all on a secure and intuitive platform.

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  Xerra Earth Observation Institute

  • New Zealand

  • Director

    • Oct 2019 - Present
    • New Zealand

    Xerra is creating powerful new ways to utilise Earth observation (EO) and remote sensing technologies. We build useful and tangible products and services that provide reliable information to empower evidence-informed decision making within New Zealand’s industries, business and government.

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  The Christchurch Call Advisory Network

  • Global

  • Advisor

    • Aug 2019 - Present
    • Global

    The Christchurch Call is a commitment by Governments and tech companies to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. It rests on the conviction that a free, open and secure internet offers extraordinary benefits to society. Respect for freedom of expression is fundamental. However, no one has the right to create and share terrorist and violent extremist content online.I was selected by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as an advisor to this initiative, alongside organisations including the Electronic Frontiers Foundation, the Center for Humane Technology, Article 19, the French National Bar Council, the NZ Council for Civil Liberties, and others.

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  Catalyst Cloud

  • New Zealand
  • IT Services and IT Consulting
  • 200 - 300 Employee

  • Advisor

    • Apr 2023 - Present

  • Director

    • Aug 2020 - Mar 2023

    Catalyst Cloud's mission is to enable New Zealand's digital economy to flourish with state-of-the-art cloud infrastructure and platform services delivered onshore.A local business with a global outlook, we’re always looking to help both the international cloud computing industry, and New Zealand businesses evolve. We’re open source because we believe in freedom, choice and transparency. As New Zealand’s first CNCF Certified Kubernetes provider, we offer open access to Catalyst Cloud’s services so you can customise them to suit your needs. We’re confident you’ll want to stay with us, not because we lock you in, but because of our service.

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  InternetNZ

  • New Zealand
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Member

    • 1995 - Present

  • Councillor

    • 2010 - Jul 2020

    InternetNZ is the non-profit open membership organisation dedicated to protecting and promoting the Internet in New Zealand and fostering a coordinated, cooperative approach to its ongoing development. Our goal: an "Open and Uncapturable" Internet.Councillors are elected by the members, and responsible for overall governance of InternetNZ. In addition to normal council work, I have been involved in the formulation of policy related to grants and investment.

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  Startup Nations Summit

  • Global

  • New Zealand Delegate

    • Sep 2013 - Present
    • Global

    The Startup Nations Summit brings together leaders of national entrepreneurship initiatives and campaigns from across the world to connect, share best practices, exchange knowledge, and develop collaborative approaches to advancing entrepreneurship locally, nationally and globally. I was invited to represent New Zealand at the Kuala Lumpur (2013), Seoul (2014), Monterrey (2015), Cork (2016), and Tallinn (2017) summits. I ran unconferences at several of these summits which were very popular.

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  WebFund Limited

  • Wellington, NZ

  • Chairman

    • Mar 2008 - Present
    • Wellington, NZ

    WebFund invests in web-centric startups, providing strategic and tactical advice as well as IT development services. My role includes investment selection, investment management, building and maintaining relationships with the rest of the early-stage ecosystem in Wellington and NZ, and governance of WebFund and its portfolio companies,

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  Thinktank Consulting Limited

  • Director

    • Oct 2002 - Present

    Thinktank Consulting provides strategic advice, implementation services and mentoring around Governance, IT Infrastructure, Open Source Systems Implementation, and Lexicography. Recent clients include the Online Dictionary of NZ Sign Language (see http://nzsl.vuw.ac.nz/), Victoria University's Legal Māori project, He Kupenga Hao, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Radio New Zealand, The University of Hawai'i at Hilo, the Office of the Retirement Commissioner, Te Māngai Pāho, and a number of smaller companies and their directors.

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  Wellington Abrahamic Council (formerly the Wellington Council of Christians and Jews)

  • Wellington, NZ

  • Co-chair

    • 2009 - Present
    • Wellington, NZ

    The Wellington Abrahamic Council of Jews, Christians, and Muslims aims to foster understanding, friendship and trust between the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam by (a) Enabling Jews, Christians and Muslims in the wider community to understand their common heritage and appreciate one another’s distinctive beliefs and practices.(b) Promoting a more just and tolerant society and combating all forms of discrimination.(c) Working collectively for wider interfaith dialogue, and on projects supporting the Council’s aim.(d) Discussing and where appropriate speaking out on issues of mutual concern.

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  Te Muka Rau / The Thinktank Charitable Trust

  • Trustee

    • Sep 2002 - Present

    Te Muka Rau (The Think Tank Charitable Trust) is a small private trust established in 2003. Our vision is a socially cohesive Aotearoa New Zealand where * Te Ao Māori is strong and vibrant* The central place of Te Ao Māori in Aotearoa is understood and supported by all* We all feel confident and respected in our own cultures and heritage

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  Institute of Directors in New Zealand

  • Member

    • 2002 - Present

    Chartered member since 2014

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  (Freelance)

  • Wellington, NZ

  • Marriage Celebrant

    • 2007 - Present
    • Wellington, NZ

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  My Family

  • Wellington, NZ

  • Parent

    • Oct 1991 - Present
    • Wellington, NZ

    My wife Kate Frykberg and I have three sons, born in 1991, 1995 and 2003. During that time, we've shared care 50-50, and raised them collaboratively and jointly. The 12-year spread has presented its challenges but is very rewarding as each child is at a very different stage at any given point in time. In the early 90s I was a Playcentre parent, and achieved Level 2 certification.You may find it amusing to find parenthood mentioned in a LinkedIn profile, but I often tell people that there is no better training for business or any other aspect of life than parenthood. In order to be an effective parent, you must learn: - Putting the needs of others ahead of your own- Functioning with next to no sleep- Dealing with life-and-death unexpected emergencies- Motivating others- Communicating with people with a wide range of skills- Managing conflicting priorities- Building community- Financial management in uncertain conditions- and the list goes onOf all of my accomplishments, successfully parenting three kids and maintaining a great marriage are the things I'm proudest of.

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  EdTechNZ

  • Member of the Executive Committee

    • May 2020 - Oct 2023

    The Education Technology Association of New Zealand (EdTechNZ) is the voice of EdTech in New Zealand, supporting the growth of the sector. Our key purpose is to drive the creative use of technology, inside and outside the classroom, for better student outcomes.

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  amy.app

  • New Zealand

  • Chair of the Board

    • Oct 2017 - Sep 2023
    • New Zealand

    Amy is an AI-based private tutor for math that makes learning math easy for everyone. She does this by giving students feedback and automatically filling their knowledge gaps as they learn.

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  Chatterize

  • Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand

  • Chair Of The Board

    • Jul 2020 - Aug 2022
    • Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand

    Chatterize is the company behind Speakia, an app that uses AI voice chatbots to help young Chinese learners improve their English pronunciation and grammar in an engaging game world.

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  Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

  • Wellington, NZ

  • Councillor (Director)

    • Nov 2013 - Mar 2020
    • Wellington, NZ

    Open Polytechnic is New Zealand's specialist provider of distance learning, focusing on student success, with annual enrolments of over 34,000 students.

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  Lightning Lab

  • New Zealand

  • Founding Investor

    • Nov 2012 - Mar 2020
    • New Zealand

    Lightning Lab is New Zealand's first digital accelerator, and part of the Global Accelerator (TechStars) Network. We put seed investment and intensive mentoring into elite teams of startup entrepreneurs in a 12-week intensive programme. In addition to investing in the Lab, I'm involved in governance, selection, and mentoring.

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  New Zealand Government

  • Wellington

  • Ministerial Advisory Group - Digital Economy and Digital Inclusion

    • Apr 2018 - Dec 2019
    • Wellington

    The Digital Economy and Digital Inclusion Ministerial Advisory Group established by the Minister of Government Services to provide government with advice and diverse perspectives on the digital economy and digital inclusion.

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  Startup Weekend

  • Global Facilitator

    • Jul 2011 - Dec 2019

    Startup Weekend is a 54-hour marathon challenge, bringing entrepreneurs together with mentors taking businesses from concept through execution over the course of a weekend.I have been very involved in the organisation, facilitation, and mentoring at events in Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North, Dunedin, Hawkes Bay, Christchurch, Perth, Kuala Lumpur, and Silicon Valley. Globally, I am one of the more experienced facilitators on the roster having run more than 15 events, and been involved in over 25 events in some capacity.I co-led the formation of the National Team for Startup Weekend New Zealand, which has been described as the most well-organised Startup Weekend region in the world.

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  Appreciation Engine (MusicHype)

  • Worldwide

  • Chair of the Board

    • Nov 2009 - Dec 2019
    • Worldwide

    The Appreciation Engine is an enterprise level social CRM and analytics platform that makes social network data actionable in real-time, transforming customer data into comprehensive profiles brands can leverage to increase sales.

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  WLG-X

  • Advisory Board Member

    • Jan 2018 - Jun 2019

    WLG-X is a convergence of tech, design, film and music, bringing together the world’s most exciting innovators of creativity in Wellington, New Zealand – the world’s coolest little capital. From tech geeks to film gurus, aspiring musicians to serial entrepreneurs, there is something for everyone at WLG-X: a revolutionary festival of creative collisions.

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  Department of Internal Affairs (NZ)

  • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

  • Public / Private sector innovation consultant - Service Innovation Lab

    • Sep 2017 - Jun 2018
    • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

    The LabPlus team at the Service Innovation Lab built Government-as-a-Platform (GaaP), providing design, development, reference implementations of customer-facing all of government (AoG) digital transformation through tangible experimentation and iteration, and (inter alia) supporting growth of an ecosystem of services built on government components. My (part time) formal role in the Lab was engaging government with the private and community sectors.

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  Domain Name Commission (New Zealand)

  • New Zealand

  • Director

    • Sep 2013 - Mar 2018
    • New Zealand

    The Domain Name Commission manages the .nz domain name space and protects the interests and rights of everyone who uses it. We authorise domain name registrars, provide a dispute resolution service, and develop policies for the management of the .nz space.I was appointed by the InternetNZ Council to be their nominated Director on the DNC Board.

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  Lean Startup Wellington

  • Wellington, NZ

  • Organiser

    • Jan 2010 - Mar 2018
    • Wellington, NZ

    I started the Lean Startup Wellington meetup group in early 2010 after Eric Ries's workshop at Webstock. The group had over 1200 registered members. Meetups alternated between focussed discussions on specific topics related to Lean Startup Methodology, and "Startup Clinics" where participants present their startups to the group and get group feedback on their planning and execution. The Lean Startup Meetup was folded into Startup Garage in early 2018.For more information, see http://www.meetup.com/Lean-Startup-Wellington/ and http://theleanstartup.com/principles

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  Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator powered by Lightning Lab

  • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

  • Entrepreneur In Residence

    • Dec 2016 - May 2017
    • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

    The Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator is a three-month business growth programme powered by New Zealand’s premier startup accelerator brand, Lightning Lab. This programme is designed to help FinTech companies compete on a global scale. My main role in the Accelerator was to curate Founder-Mentor and Founder-Investor relationships, as well as mentoring and doing whatever is necessary to ensure the success of the teams. As at early June 2017, the three teams that pitched for investment on Demo Day all had significant investment commitment, and had entered Due Diligence.

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  Publons

  • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

  • Chairman

    • Aug 2013 - May 2017
    • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

    The mission of Publons is to speed up science by harnessing the power of peer review. Publons provides a platform that gives academics credit for peer review, allows publishers to find the best reviewers for their journals, and lets institutions find and acknowledge the top researchers in their field.I was the AngelHQ nominee and NZVIF Investor Representative on the board. Publons was a graduate of the Lightning Lab 2013 Wellington cohort.As Chairman of the Board, I led the board through several investment rounds, and ultimately a strategic acquisition by Clarivate Analytics. Publons continues on as a division of Clarivate, and Clarivate continues to invest in the business. Investors received a solid return on their investment in a relatively short time period.

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  NZ Startup of the Week

  • New Zealand

  • Curator

    • Sep 2015 - Dec 2016
    • New Zealand

    NZ Startup of the Week was a blog that showcases early stage Kiwi companies going global. Check it out at http://sotw.nz/

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  Startup New Zealand Limited

  • New Zealand

  • Cofounder and Director

    • Feb 2013 - Sep 2016
    • New Zealand

    Startup New Zealand was the national body that coordinated Startup Weekends in New Zealand. I was part of the founding team that grew Startup Weekend from one event in Auckland in 2010 to having run over 40 events attended by over 3,000 people in 11 locations all over New Zealand. I was responsible for sponsorship outreach and much of the day-to-day coordination of the community.

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  Expander Ltd

  • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

  • Director

    • Aug 2013 - Mar 2015
    • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

    Expander provided a platform for verifying product authenticity by providing mass-customised QR codes on unit product packaging. Expander was a graduate of the Lightning Lab 2013 cohort, and was sold in a trade sale in 2015.

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  Pacific Internet Partners

  • Wellington, New Zealand

  • Trustee

    • May 2010 - Mar 2015
    • Wellington, New Zealand

    Established by UNESCO, UNDP and InternetNZ, the Pacific Internet Partners project worked to improve the skill levels of ICT professionals in the Cooks Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau. The Partnership was wound up in March 2015, and functions moved to InternetNZ.

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  Klezmer Rebs

  • Lead Vocals, Trumpet

    • Jan 2001 - Feb 2015

    The Klezmer Rebs is a New Zealand Klezmer band, playing an ecclectic mix with Yiddish, Roma, Folk and Jazz influences.

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  Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation

  • Board Member

    • 2002 - 2012

  • President

    • May 2004 - May 2006

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  AngelHQ Establishment Board

  • Director

    • Jan 2010 - Dec 2010

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  Marketview Limited

  • Director

    • Feb 1999 - Jul 2007

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  The Web Limited

  • Founder, Director

    • 1995 - 2002

    I was the co-founder and Technical Director of The Web Limited, one of Wellington's early Internet startups, providing technical leadership and management through the first seven years of the company's growth. In that process, I worked in many roles including Company Director, Chief Financial Officer, Solutions Architect, and Key Account Relationship Manager. I played a key role in negotiating the company's sale to BearingPoint and ensuring that the acquisition was a success for everyone involved.I also laid the technical foundation for The Web Limited's infrastructure systems, networks, and applications, and architected many of the company's large projects.

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  Dictionary of NZ Sign Language / Victoria University

  • Technical Editor

    • 1990 - 1997

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  Kaha Systems Limited

  • Director, Consultant, Computer Performance Specialist

    • 1987 - 1995

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  Amdahl Corp

  • Capacity Planner and Systems Engineer

    • 1982 - 1987