AOTEAROA
THURSDAY 7 HERETURIKŌKĀ AUGUST 2025
HŌTAKA PROGRAMME
9.30 Arrival and registration for presenters
10.30 Presenters’ briefing
11.00 Jury briefing
11.30 Mihi welcome and introductory remarks
11.45 Pitch presentations (1-10)
12.45 Kai a te rānui lunch
1.45 Pitch presentations (11-21)
2.45 Networking break / kaiwhakawā jury evaluation session
3.45 Award ceremony / group photo and closing remarks
4.15 Networking and connecting reception
6.00 Karakia whakamutunga event closing blessing
KAUPAPA CONCEPT
Falling Walls Lab is a challenging, inspiring, and interdisciplinary pitch competition to showcase the next generation of students and early-career professionals.
Events are held in numerous countries worldwide. The winners of these Lab competitions are automatically admitted to the Falling Walls Lab Global Finale in Germany in November each year to pitch their idea to a jury of distinguished academics and businesspeople.
The Falling Walls Foundation is a non-profit organisation in Berlin, dedicated to the support of science and the humanities. It was established in 2009, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. At its heart is the question ‘Which are the next walls to fall?’ because of scientific, technological, economic, and sociological breakthroughs. The Falling Walls Foundation founded the Falling Walls Lab in 2011 to:
CONNECT aspiring innovators
DISCOVER and develop talents
SUPPORT interdisciplinary dialogue and international cooperation
DEVELOP new ways of scientific communication
BUILD new and strong networks
KAIWHAKAWĀ JURY
Professor Phil Lester Jury Chair
Insect Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Professor Lester works at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, where his research is in population dynamics and ecology of social insects. The pathogens and parasites of honey bees, invasive ants and social wasps in the Pacific region are a particular focus. He is a Specialty Chief Editor for the journal Frontiers in Bee Science. Phil has been the recipient of both a Fulbright Senior Scholar Fellowship and a Royal Society Te Apārangi James Cook Fellowship. He has previously been Head of School for the School of Biological Sciences, and is a prior President of the Entomological Society of New Zealand.
Professor Riz Firestone
Senior Research Officer, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University
Professor Firestone is a Senior Researcher at Centre for Public Health Research. Her research involves investigations on social-cultural and health inequalities, specifically among young Pasifika people with noncommunicable diseases in Aotearoa New Zealand. She also has a wider focus in co-developing community-based interventions with Pasifika and Māori communities to: (i) tailor interventions to ensure community needs are met and; (ii)ensure the interventions are relevant, and adaptable for long-term uptake by people within their communities.
Outside of academic life, Riz has a passion for empowering others into healthier lifestyles through her prohobby group fitness career at one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest gyms, teaching Group Power classes (she is the Head Teacher for this programme), where she enjoys seeing people from all walks of life improve their lives through exercise.
Veronika Meduna
New Zealand Editor, The Conversation
Veronika Meduna is the New Zealand editor for The Conversation, a not-forprofit media organisation working with academics to provide evidence-based news and current affairs analysis. She is an award-winning science/environment writer and broadcaster, with experience across all media publishing platforms. Before joining The Conversation, she produced and hosted a weekly science programme for New Zealand’s public broadcaster RNZ, for which she won several journalism awards, including the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union’s prize for best documentary.
She has written several books on science, most recently Towards a Warming World, published by Bridget Williams Books, and Science on Ice: Discovering the Secrets of Antarctica, published by Auckland University Press and, in an international edition, by Yale University Press. Veronika contributes to other broadcasters and publications in New Zealand and internationally, including Science, The Guardian, Eos, NZ Geographic and the NZ Listener.
Professor
Volker Nock
2019 Rutherford Discovery Fellow, University of Canterbury
Professor Nock is a Professor and Rutherford Discovery Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury.
He is a Principal Investigator with the Biomolecular Interactions Centre and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. From 2017 to 2020, he co-directed the Biomolecular Interaction Centre. In 2019 he was awarded a 5-year Rutherford Discovery Fellowship to work on the "Electrotaxis and protrusive force generation in fungal and oomycete pathogens – Pathways to new biocontrol strategies". From July 2023 to February 2024, he led the Reconfigurable Systems (RS) Programme of the MacDiarmid Institute.
His research interests include microand nanofabrication, surface patterning, microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip devices.
Winnie Switakowski
Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Wellington
Winnie Switakowski began her duties as Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand in July 2023. Originally a trained conference interpreter, she joined the Federal Foreign Office in 2013 and has since served in the department for cultural diplomacy and society, in the German Embassy in Warsaw, as an exchange officer at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Warsaw and as part of the staff of former Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and current Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Winnie is married and has two daughters.
SCORING SYSTEM
Each presentation is evaluated on a scale from 0 – 5 based on three weighted criteria.
50% | Breakthrough factor
• Is the project original and does it have potential for innovation?
• Does it represent a groundbreaking idea, initiative or discovery?
• Could it trigger other innovation processes?
10% | Structure and performance
• Is the presentation well structured? Does it clearly explain breakthrough and impact?
• Does the candidate present a proof of concept / the feasibility of the project?
• Is the candidate able to explain the idea well?
40% | Relevance and impact
• Who is the target group?
• Does the idea affect a broad group or does it have a deep impact on a small group?
• Does the idea have shortterm or long-term effects?
KAIWHAKATAETAE PARTICIPANTS
Order of presentations
1. Priyanshi Negi
University of Waikato
2. Xinya Wang Riddet Institute, Massey University
3. Lizhao Zhu University of Waikato
4 Manochitra Loganathan Unitec Institute of Technology
5. Cervantée Wild University of Auckland
6. Upulanka Premasiri
Human Interface Technology Lab, University of Canterbury
7. Sam Collins University of Waikato
8. Sachini Weerasinghe Massey University
9. Jacqueline Theis University of Otago
10. Kavishan Ranatunga University of Auckland
11. Matthew Howes
The New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science
12. Indira Venkatraman
University of Canterbury
13. Ankit Parikh
Auckland University of Technology/ Exsurgo Ltd
14. Ellie Johnson
He Kāinga Oranga, University of Otago, Wellington
15. Catherine Mahima Singh
The University of the South Pacific
16. Asma Khan
Lincoln University
17. Zarar Rasheed
Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington
18. Mindula Irugalbandara
Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland
19. William Allouche
University of Waikato
20. Erica Sue-Tang
Lincoln Argitech Ltd
21. Patrick Mazzocco
University of Otago
1.
Priyanshi Negi
University University of Waikato
Breaking the Wall of Unsustainable Dairy
Dairy and many milk alternatives strain land, water and lower emissions targets. I aim to break this wall by creating a zero-land, climate-positive milk from upcycled food waste and air-derived proteins. This solution cuts food waste, reduces greenhouse gases, and offers a sustainable, nutritious alternative—bridging food security and planetary health without relying on traditional farming.
2.
Xinya Wang
Riddet Institute, Massey University
Breaking the Wall of Calcium Deficiency
Calcium deficiency is widespread across countries and genders. While fortified foods aim to increase intake through added calcium salts, the role of food structure in calcium release remains unclear. We developed a dynamic in vitro digestion model (oral, gastric, intestinal) to investigate calcium release from various food matrices and identify structure-dependent pathways for efficient calcium delivery and absorption.
Priyanshi Negi is a research scholar in the Division of Management, pursuing her master's at the University of Waikato. Her research focuses on the sustainability of plant-based milk in NewZealand and its environmental impact, aiming to inform climate-resilient food systems. With a background in agriculture and agribusiness, she brings experience in stakeholder engagement, rural outreach, and agri-marketing. Priyanshi is passionate about driving sustainable innovation that bridges academic insight with real-world outcomes. She holds a bachelor's degree in Agriculture from India.
linkedin.com/in/priyaanshinegi
Xinya Wang joined the Riddet Institute in 2023 as a postdoctoral fellow. Her research focuses on the digestive fate of foods and explores the role of food structure in the release and absorption of micronutrients and bioactive compounds in the gastrointestinal tract. She completed both her Master’s and PhD degrees at the University of Guelph, Canada, and earned her Bachelor of Engineering from Jiangnan University, China.
linkedin.com/in/xinya-wang
orcid: 0000-0001-9875-8749
3.
Lizhao Zhu
University of Waikato
4.
Manochitra
Loganathan
Unitec Institute of Technology
Breaking the Wall of Disability Isolation
In New Zealand, disabled individuals face accessibility barriers in daily tasks like dining, cleaning or shopping, limiting their independence. Meanwhile, young people in the community are willing to help but lack a platform to receive nearby requests promptly. This disconnect hinders efficient support, leaving disabled individuals underserved, volunteers underutilised, and impacting community cohesion and quality of life for those with disabilities.
Before relocating to New Zealand, Lizhao honed over a decade of project management expertise at Fortune 500 multinationals in Shanghai, including Ford Motor, Porsche AG, Marriott International, and Group Lotus. He led complex, large-scale ICT innovation and business operation projects, aligning global strategies with local execution. His work has been pivotal in shaping how international companies localise project management, launch transformative initiatives and strengthen vendor partnerships in China’s fast-evolving market, ensuring sustainable success.
linkedin.com/in/lizhao-zhu
Breaking the Wall of Bias in AI
We aim to make AI systems fair and inclusive for historically-disadvantaged communities. Currently, many AI models reflect and reinforce historical discrimination, leading to biased outcomes in areas like healthcare, employment and justice. These patterns are often embedded in data and algorithms. We are developing an automated tool to detect and reduce such bias in real-world AI decision-making.
Manochitra Loganathan is a Master’s researcher in Artificial Intelligence at Unitec, Auckland. After witnessing how biased AI harms people, she set out to fix it, especially for Māori and historicallydisadvantaged groups across Aotearoa and beyond. Backed by 12 years of experience in data and cloud platforms, she built a practical tool to help reduce bias in real-world AI decisionmaking. Her work turns research into impact, proving that AI can be made more fair, inclusive and accountable.
linkedIn.com/in/manochitraloganathan
orchid.org/0009-0005-7190-0107
github.com/manochitra-loganathan
5.
Cervantée Wild
University of Auckland
Breaking the Wall of Land-bound Health Systems
I seek to break the wall of land-bound healthcare in Aotearoa. When severe weather cuts off communities, health services often disappear. Our systems are built for land, not for water. I propose a fleet of mobile health boats delivering essential child health services to coastal and island communities, ensuring no child is left without care.
Cervantée is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, specialising in child health systems and policy research. She holds a PhD in Health Sciences from the Liggins Institute and undergraduate degrees in Health Sciences and Political Studies (Auckland). Her research focuses on improving equitable access to child health services and strengthening health system resilience in Aotearoa and the Pacific. Cervantée is passionate about evidence-informed policy and exploring new models of healthcare delivery.
linkedIn.com/in/cervantée-wild-10072189
@CervanteeWild
@cervanteewild.bsky.social
orcid.org/0000-0001-5377-6222
6.
Upulanka Premasiri
Human Interface Technology Lab, University of Canterbury
Breaking the Wall of Discomfort in VR
We investigate how combining voice commands, touch, gaze, controllers, and hand gestures can reduce physical and mental fatigue in extended VR use. These input methods enable multimodal interaction techniques, offering greater flexibility. By facilitating more comfortable interactions, we aim to unlock the full potential of VR across various domains, such as training, rehabilitation, education and many more.
Upulanka is a PhD candidate at the HIT Lab NZ, University of Canterbury, researching Virtual Reality, Multimodal Interactions, and Comfortable VR. He is an experienced game developer and academic with a strong industry background, specialising in game and XR development across multiple platforms. He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Software Engineering, specialising in Digital Game Development from the University of Kelaniya and a Graduate Diploma in Computer and Telecommunication Engineering from the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka.
linkedin.com/in/upulanka-premasiri-64a031108/
7.
Sam Collins
University of Waikato
Breaking the Wall of Profit-Driven Gambling
Gambling ought to be a sustainable hobby. I argue that the industry’s for-profit business model incentivises predatory business practices that exacerbate wealth inequality. With global gambling company Entain entering the New Zealand market, I argue this unequal distribution of wealth is now being extracted off-shore –eroding the ecosystem and our economy; and guaranteeing neglect of the socioeconomic issues that unsustainable gambling practices spawn.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Geography and is currently pursuing a Master's in Information Technology, specialising in Geographical Information Systems. Driven by a passion for philosophy, Sam seeks to understand his human experience and the societal structures that shape it. A firm believer that wealth inequality is the leading cause of many socioeconomic issues, Sam willingly grapples with reformist and revolutionary approaches, striving to find the most effective paths to equitably and sustainably redistribute wealth.
linkedin.com/in/sam-ritan/
8.
Sachini Weerasinghe
Massey University
Breaking the Wall of Setting Carbon Budgets
Carbon budgets are established to measure progress toward achieving climate targets outlined in international policies. However, current budget allocation methods overlook temporal dynamics affecting emissions. Our approach integrates prospective dynamics to estimate future emissions at national or sectoral levels and allocates carbon budgets dynamically. It supports more flexible and timely formulation of policy measures for effective national and sectoral decarbonisation strategies.
Sachini is a doctoral scholar at Massey University specialising in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with a focus on the built environment and climate change mitigation. Her PhD work investigates the applicability of dynamic and prospective LCA approaches to better inform policy and sustainability decisions in both national and building sectoral scales. She is an engineer by profession, having completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Sri Lanka. She is also a member in International Energy Agency EBC Annex 89.
linkedin.com/in/sachini-weerasinghe-8543a1b4/ orchid.org/0009-0002-2309-9093
@upulanka
orchid.org/0009-0006-5562-2407
9.
Jacqueline Theis
University of Otago
Breaking the Wall of Nature for All
I’m breaking the wall between cities and nature with the New Zealand Biodiversity Factor (NZBF), a tool that helps urban professionals design more biodiverse spaces. It provides scores and tailored recommendations for residential, commercial, and transport projects. The NZBF translates ecological knowledge into action by embedding biodiversity into urban planning for the benefit of both people and native wildlife.
Jacqueline Theis, a doctoral ecology candidate at the University of Otago, is embedded in the People, Cities and Nature research programme, funded by MBIE. Jacqueline’s background in ecology, wildlife management and mental health care uniquely positions her to understand the connections between biodiversity, human wellbeing and urban design. Her work translates ecological data into tools for urban professionals, exploring how cities can be transformed into viable habitats for native wildlife and a healthier place to live.
linkedin.com/theis-jacqueline/ orcid.org/0009-0000-8270-8720
10.
Kavishan Ranatunga
University of Auckland
Breaking the Wall of Carbon-Intensive Concrete
We seek to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete, which contributes about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, by replacing cement with volcanic materials. Unlike other countries, New Zealand lacks industrial by-products for cement replacement. Our research focuses on using volcanic materials to make low-carbon and durable concrete for more sustainable infrastructure.
Kavishan is a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Auckland. His research focuses on developing low-carbon and durable concrete using alternative materials. He previously worked as a civil engineer on a World Bank-funded project. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Sri Lanka and a Master’s degree from Kingston University, London.
linkedin.com/in/kavishan-ranatunga-768671337/
11.
Matthew Howes
The New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science
12.
Indira Venkatraman
University of Canterbury
13.
Ankit Parikh
Auckland University of Technology / Exsurgo Ltd
Breaking the Wall of Safer Cannabinoid Drugs
Wairuakohu (Radula marginata), a taonga species from Aotearoa, produces unique cannabinoid-like compounds that may be safer alternatives to those derived from the cannabis plant. Wairuakohu-derived cannabinoids have potential as add-on therapies to treat conditions like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Using cutting-edge liver-on-a-chip models, we are investigating their toxicity and interactions with other drugs.
Matthew is a post-doctoral fellow at PHF Science using cutting-edge organ-on-a-chip technology to answer toxicological questions relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand. His PhD investigated the role of sugars in metabolic disease using a liver-on-a-chip approach. As a recipient of Callaghan Innovation’s Early Career R&D Grant and a KiwiNet Emerging Innovator, Matthew is now developing a toxicology platform to advance Māori-led taonga therapeutic discovery and innovation.
linkedin.com/in/matthew-howes-833131181/
Breaking the Wall of Coastal Climate Risks
This study seeks to create wellbeing portfolios for rural coastal lowland adaptation options. For this purpose, social, economic, environmental, and cultural wellbeing in coastal systems are looked at from a community perspective. These wellbeing portfolios are also studied under the lenses of accounting and accountability.
Indie is a doctoral student at the University of Canterbury, reading in Accounting and Information Systems. Her doctoral work is funded by NIWA, under a MBIE grant: "Future Coasts Aotearoa. Her current research interests are in climate adaptation options, ocean accounting, green bonds, carbon budgets and pragmatic constructivist view of management accounting.
canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/contact-us/ postgrad-directory/indira-venkatraman
Breaking the Wall of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain affects around 30% of the global population. It impacts health, mood and quality of life. It costs billions in healthcare and loss of productivity. Current treatments, like surgeries and medications, offer limited relief. Opioids pose major risks. We are developing muchneeded non-drug-based alternatives. We have tested our prototype system in a clinical feasibility trial with promising results.
Ankit is a PhD candidate at the Auckland University of Technology and a Research & Development Engineer at Exsurgo Ltd, where he has worked on the development of their innovative and portable electroencephalography (EEG) device-based neurofeedback system to treat chronic pain. He is skilled in software and hardware development and has a passion for developing solutions for medical applications. He has an M.Eng (Bioengineering) from the University of Auckland and a B.Eng (Honours, Electronics and Computer Engineering) from the Manukau Institute of Technology.
linkedin.com/apparikh/ orcid.org/0009-0001-8014-5781
14.
Ellie Johnson
He Kāinga Oranga, University of Otago, Wellington
Breaking the of Wall of Housing-Related Illness
Every year in New Zealand, an estimated 229 people die because of poor-quality housing. Cold, mouldy, and damp homes—widespread across the country—contribute to a significant burden of disease. Disease that is preventable. In response, the Healthy Homes Initiative was developed: a housing intervention programme aimed at improving housing conditions to improve the health of children at risk.
15.
Catherine
Mahima Singh
The University of the South Pacific
Breaking the Wall of Legal Inaccessibility
I aim to break the wall of legal inaccessibility by proposing an AI-powered legal aid system for marginalised communities. This innovation would simplify legal processes, offer multilingual and disability-friendly support, and connect users to real legal help. While still conceptual, it highlights how technology can transform justice into a right accessible to all - not just the privileged.
Asma
Khan
Lincoln University
Breaking the Wall of Symbolic Green Financing
I am breaking the wall of green finance failure by exposing how self-interests and greenwashing raise monitoring costs and weaken true environmental outcomes. My research demonstrates how various ecological regulations and governance structures can mitigate these inefficiencies, helping policymakers create credible green finance systems that support genuine sustainability rather than allowing firms to exploit green funding for false claims.
Ellie is a PhD student at He Kāinga Oranga, the housing and health research group at the University of Otago, Wellington. She holds a Masters of Applied Statistics and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Statistics. In 2019, Ellie took a position at the University of Otago and quickly found her passion for Public Health. This inspired her to start a PhD, where she could use her data skills to inform public policy and drive change.
I am an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws student at the University of the South Pacific, set to complete my degree in 2026. I plan to pursue my Professional Diploma in Legal Practice thereafter. I work at the University’s Disability Resource Centre, assisting students with diverse needs as a peer mentor, and intern at Social Innovation Fiji. Deeply passionate about justice and accessibility, I aim to bridge legal gaps through innovative solutions that empower vulnerable communities and make justice truly inclusive.
Asma is a doctoral researcher in Finance from Lincoln University with over 10 years of academic experience. Her research focuses on green bonds, governance systems, and sustainable finance, with a strong interest in how financial mechanisms can drive real-world environmental impact. She is deeply committed to advancing the role of finance in addressing climate change and accelerating the global transition to a sustainable economy. Asma has applied rigorous empirical methods to produce policy-relevant insights.
linkedin.com/in/asma-khan-3647b250/ linkedin.com/in/ellejohnson123
orcid.org/0009-0000-3382-8101
linkedin.com/in/catherine-mahima-singh-312b3a34b @_mahima_catherine_/?__pwa=1#
@catherine.mahima.singh.2025
orcid.org/0009-0006-8417-755X
17.
Zarar Rasheed
Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington
Breaking the Wall of Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen fuel stations store gas at extremely high pressures, posing serious safety concerns. TiFe alloys offer a safer, solid-state hydrogen storage alternative but are expensive to produce. We are breaking this wall by creating TiFe alloys sustainably from ilmenite mineral sands, making hydrogen refuelling safer, more affordable, and accessible for the green energy transition.
18.
Mindula Irugalbandara
Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland
Breaking the Wall of Gut Contractions
I seek to break the wall of gut motility disorders by improving our understanding of how gut contractions relate to the underlying electrical activity that drives them. While the gut bioelectrical signals are well-studied, contraction patterns remain poorly characterised. I’m developing a framework to quantify these patterns and link them with electrical activity, enabling targeted approaches to improve gut health.
Zarar is a PhD candidate at Robinson Research Institute, working on low-cost hydrogen storage materials from New Zealand’s mineral resources. His project is part of He Honoka Hauwai, the GermanNZ Green Hydrogen Centre. He is passionate about energy, sustainability, and critical materials. Zarar has contributed to the ISO Technical Committee on critical raw materials, addressing global resource challenges. He holds a Master’s in industrial technology from UST, South Korea, and a Bachelor’s in Materials Engineering from GIK Institute, Pakistan.
linkedin.com/in/mohammad-zarar-rasheed-0b237799/ @m.zarar.r
scholar.google.com/citations?user=OPYeyMkAAAAJ&hl=en
Mindula is currently a Master of Engineering student specialising in Bioengineering at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland. She previously received a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering from Sri Lanka. Her passion lies in advancing scientific understanding through research and education.
linkedin.com/in/mindula-irugalbandara8b9038299/
19.
William Allouche
University of Waikato
Breaking the Wall of Circular (De)Construction
We research a novel construction method that enables repair and end-of-life reuse and recycling of a building’s structural components. To address a building's significant construction and demolition waste, recyclable composite materials are introduced as novel building materials. Combined with design optimisation algorithms and 3D printing, a design workflow is explored to streamline building design for (de)construction and waste minimisation.
William is a PhD candidate at the University of Waikato, investigating how short-fibre thermoplastic composites can be used for structural building applications while following circular economy design principles. His industry experience involves working as technical lead for a Belgian startup specialised in design for disassembly of multi-material textile products, and as an innovation engineer in acoustics and thermal comfort for the automotive sector. He holds a Master’s in mechanical engineering from the Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France.
linkedin.com/in/williamallouche
orcid.org/0009-0008-1688-6535
20.
Erica Sue-Tang
Lincoln Argitech Ltd
Breaking the Wall of Biodegradable Bioplastics
Common petroleum-based plastics aren’t renewably sourced or biodegradable, and millions of tons end up in the environment, creating cancer-causing microplastics. Bioplastics are made from renewable resources but very few are biodegradable. For example, PLA is a common bioplastic, but it contributes to microplastic pollution. My idea is a cellulose bioplastic made using renewable resources that biodegrades into sugars in natural environments.
Erica has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Canterbury. Working in the New Materials team at Lincoln Agritech, her work focuses on the use of cellulose in the creation of fibres and plastics. Erica has experience working with nylon, acrylic, collagen and keratin. Erica is a skilled dancer and choreographer, participating in jazz, musical theatre and contemporary classes and has performed in national events.
linkedin.com/in/erica-sue-tang-aa39a6181/
21.
Patrick Mazzocco
University of Otago
Breaking the Wall of Career Centrality
Career development practices and modern societal norms encourage existential tethering to one’s career. That is, the more meaning and purpose one has in their career, the more fulfilled and successful they will be. This study challenges that ideology, proposing that career breaks, instead of being perceived as undesirable interruptions, might be integral to 21st-century career development and lifelong learning.
Patrick has a diverse professional background as a photographer, horse wrangler, tour guide, and educator among other professions. These wideranging experiences have proven valuable in his current role as a career counsellor. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Otago, where his research focuses on the impact of voluntary career breaks in career narrative and identity construction.
linkedin.com/in/patrick-mazzocco/ orcid.org/0009-0001-2995-3521
