Industry practitioners - Leading with AI: The Strategy Roadmap
Industry practitioners
The programme draws on experienced contributors from industry and academia, selected for their realâworld experience of AI adoption, governance, and organisational transformation. Contributors may vary by module to ensure perspectives remain current and grounded in practice.
Matt Browning - CoâCEO, Incredible AI
Matt Browning is an entrepreneur and recognised leader in applied AI implementation. He is CoâCEO and CoâFounder of Incredible AI, a globally distributed agency helping organisations navigate and implement AI and custom software solutions across Aotearoa New Zealand, the UK, the US, and Canada.
Described by the New Zealand Herald as a âtrailblazerâ in AI, Matt brings a strong execution focus shaped by building, scaling, and exiting technology businesses. He previously founded and sold the software agency Salt + Tonic and currently serves on the board of DOTDOT, a New Zealandâfounded technology company delivering solutions for Fortune 500 brands.
Matt contributes practical insight into turning AI ambition into operational outcomes.
Stephen Johnson - CoâCEO, Incredible AI
Stephen Johnson has spent his career helping organisations solve complex technology and operational challenges, from Fortuneâscale enterprises to scaling organisations.
As CoâCEO of Incredible AI, Stephen works closely with operations leaders across New Zealand to implement AI in practical, businessâfirst ways. His experience includes working with organisations such as Red Stag, PGG Wrightson, the Ministry of Education, and Eves Real Estate, as well as delivering the Governmentâs MBIE AI Pilot programme nationwide.
Stephen brings a pragmatic, operational perspective on what it takes to adopt AI at scale.
Professor Albert Bifet - Director, Artificial Intelligence Institute, The University of Waikato
Professor Albert Bifet is one of New Zealandâs leading voices on strategic, responsible, and realâworld AI adoption.
As Director of the Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Waikato, Albert works with senior leaders and policymakers to translate AI potential into credible strategy, governed implementation, and measurable impact. He leads national initiatives applying AI across productivity, environmental sustainability, healthcare, and infrastructure.
A contributor to international AI standards and New Zealandâs national AI strategy, Albert brings a grounded perspective on governance, regulation, and longâterm value creation, informed by systems operating in realâworld environments.
Nyssa Waters - CEO & CoâFounder, Possibl AI
Nyssa Waters is Chief Executive Officer and CoâFounder of Possibl AI, a global AI consulting and professional services company, and Ritual AI, an AIânative platformâasâaâservice for enterprise application development.
Nyssa works with senior leaders and boards to drive AIâenabled transformation that is commercially grounded, responsible, and executionâfocused. She brings deep experience helping organisations move from AI ambition to boardâready decisions, improving productivity, customer outcomes, and longâterm value while actively managing risk.
Prior to founding Possibl AI, Nyssa held senior leadership roles at Google, as well as earlier roles at Telstra and Spark New Zealand, giving her strong grounding in largeâscale enterprise transformation.
Mark Laurence - Founder, Ten Past Tomorrow
Mark Laurence founded Ten Past Tomorrow, a boutique consultancy supporting senior leaders to conceive and execute AIâfirst transformation and leadership strategy.
Mark works with leadership teams to build organisationâwide AI fluency, governance, and strategic alignment, with a strong emphasis on fluencyâled change rather than tools alone. His work focuses on helping organisations embed AI into operating models, culture, and decisionâmaking structures.
He is a recognised speaker and writer on AI ethics, humanâcentred AI strategy, agentic AI implementation, and the future of work.
Andrew McPherson - AI Consultant | Former CIO & CTO
Andrew McPherson is an accomplished technology executive and AI consultant with extensive experience leading largeâscale digital and AIâdriven transformation.
He previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Stuff and Chief Information Officer at SkyCity Entertainment Group, where he led complex digital and AI initiatives across large organisations.
Andrew specialises in AI strategy, governance, and implementation, helping organisations unlock sustainable value while navigating complexity, risk, and change.