The Speakers

Kenny is the Founder and CEO of The Bridge Leaders, a results-focused leadership company born in New Zealand. He works with businesses large and small to get the best from their people and teams, helping them grow, scale, transform, and thrive. After 18 years of service in the New Zealand Defence Force, Kenny and his team are on a clear mission: better leaders, stronger teams, proven results, all with the purpose of strengthening NZ Inc.

Theresa graduated from Auckland University in 1992 and has a wealth of experience in Elder Law and Trust-related matters. Theresa was formerly from Public Trust (Senior Solicitor and Team Leader) and the Ministry of Social Development where she was lead Senior in the Public Law Team, working with Parliamentary Counsel, Older People’s Policy and the Office of Senior Citizens. Theresa worked on the 2017 changes to the EPA forms. She is a regular presenter to professional groups such as TLANZ, NZLS, CCH, STEP, and Legalwise, and is known for her practical approach.

Gavin qualified as a lawyer in New Zealand in 2006. He taught commercial law at AUT for ten years and then worked for The Law Association of New Zealand in its CPD team, where he organised CPD events on the AML/CFT regime and was privileged to work closely with specialists in that area of law. In 2019 he joined Vicki Ammundsen Trust Law as a senior solicitor focusing on trust and family law litigation. Gavin is a member of TLANZ’s AML/CFT Committee.

Mark is the Founder and CEO of Ten Past Tomorrow, a New Zealand AI consultancy and education business that helps senior leadership teams move from AI curiosity to genuine AI capability. A trained futurist through the Institute for the Future (Silicon Valley), Mark also holds certifications in AI. He works with organisations across New Zealand, delivering practical AI strategy, literacy, and responsible adoption programmes for senior leadership teams and their operational staffing layers. Mark is known for his grounded, no-hype approach to AI, always focused on what actually changes how people work day-to-day.

Philip has a broad interest in tackling all manner of disputes. Known for his practical approach, he takes the time to understand clients and their goals to deliver tailored and effective legal solutions. He has experience in trust law, corporate advisory and structuring, private wealth management, cryptocurrency regulation and commercial transactions. Philip is a qualified member of STEP and serves as a committee member of TLANZ’s Law and Technology Committee. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Law, focusing on the ethical and legal implications of emerging technologies. Philip has a young family and is an avid reader and music listener, always eager to explore new ideas and perspectives.

Bethan leads Morris’ private client team and is a trusted advisor to clients. Bethan has extensive experience in creating bespoke estate planning and asset protection solutions including trust structures, wills, enduring powers of attorney, relationship agreements and all other private client services. Bethan is qualified in both New Zealand and England and Wales. She began her career at top tier firms in the Channel Islands and London, where she gained high-level international experience in private client matters. More recently, she was director and head of the trust legal team of an international trust company based in New Zealand and joined Morris five years ago to lead their newly formed private client team. Bethan regularly presents at industry conferences in New Zealand on asset protection and estate planning topics.

Claudia is regarded as a specialist in both private client/trust law and regulatory matters (including AML, CRS, privacy and data protection laws, economic substance, beneficial ownership etc). Claudia also serves as the Deputy Convenor of TLANZ’s AML/CFT Committee, having previously served two terms as committee member of the Trust Law Committee. She navigates the intricate legal and non-legal challenges of personal and family business succession, wealth management including advising on appropriate structures, cross-border planning, regulatory and reporting implications of domestic and foreign structures. Claudia works closely with local and international family businesses, family offices and their advisors on matters that include local and cross-border legal and tax planning and transactions, as well as pre-migration planning and residency-by-investment matters. She also guides clients by providing professional trustee, director and other fiduciary services. Claudia is a contributing author to international publications such as the Oxford Journal, Trusts & Trustees and the STEP Journal.

A specialist in trust and estate planning law, Mary Joy regularly reviews and provides advice on trust arrangements and assists clients when current structures have flaws or require update. Mary Joy is often asked to speak at seminars for The Law Association of New Zealand, NZLS and Legalwise. Mary Joy is ranked in Band 1 for Chambers: High Net Worth.

Carole is a barrister at FortyEight Shortland Barristers in Auckland. She specialises in estate and trust matters, relationship property, property and equity, and is a TEP (a full member of STEP). Carole has a background in alternative dispute resolution and most of her cases settle. For more information and client testimonials, visit www.fortyeightshortland.co.nz

Ben has been practising family law since 2002. His expertise covers all practice areas including both children and property cases. Teaching and improving advocacy remain an important focus for Ben. He is on the faculty of the NZLS Litigation Skills programme.

Rebecca leads Holland Beckett’s Succession and Estate Administration Team.

Rebecca advises on Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Trust formation, administration and applications for variations, estate administration (including contentious estates), independent trusteeship/executorship and occupation right agreements. With a background in contentious trusts and estates, Rebecca brings a unique and practical perspective for her clients. Prior to joining Holland Beckett, Rebecca had 8 years of experience in estate, trust and general litigation, including four years at an Offshore firm in Jersey, in the Channel Islands.

Don commenced practice in 1971. He became a principal in 1975, and was variously in sole practice and partnership, before selling his practice in 2022. Don is now a locum, legal consultant and Notary Public. His reputation is as a leader/early adopter and promoter of technology and systems in legal practices. He was originator of NZ Document Exchange (DX), facsimile settlements, and scheduled forms. He is the first e-capable Notary in New Zealand. Don’s other interests are rugby referee (50 years), Scout Sailing Master (20 years) and blood donor (65 years). He was awarded the QSM (Services to the Legal Profession and Community) in 2022.

Joy is a senior lawyer in Duncan Cotterill’s commercial team, with a particular focus on technology and privacy. She recently joined Duncan Cotterill’s team from MinterEllisonRuddWatts, where she supported complex multi-year disputes regarding technology projects and contracts. Prior to her legal career in New Zealand, Joy worked with management consultancy Bain and Company in Sydney – an experience that provided opportunities to work with large, multinational companies spanning a broad range of industries including technology, banking and financial services, insurance, telecommunications/ utilities, logistics, health, and retail/ grocery. Joy is passionate about legal innovation and strategic innovation initiatives, including in respect of AI.

Vicki is the director of Vicki Ammundsen Trust Law. In addition to providing trustee services Vicki advises on all areas of trust and estate law and practice including contentious trusts and estates. Vicki is the author of a number of texts including Taxation of Trusts, Trustee Liability, the Trustee’s Handbook, The Residential Care Subsidies Handbook and A Practical Guide to Legal Issues for Older People. As well as being a highly regarded conference and webinar presenter, Vicki also maintains the blog Matters of Trust.