Meet Our 2025 Keynote Speakers!
Hon. Tangi Utikere
Tangi is currently the opposition spokesperson for Local Government, Transport, Small Business, and Racing, alongside being a member of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee. He has also recently served as a member of the Privileges Committee and Parliamentary Services Commission.
Tangi’s professional background combines Local Government and Education. Tangi’s connection to the community is wide and his understanding of the issues that affect the lives and livelihoods of New Zealanders is vast.
Prior to his election as the Member of Parliament for the Palmerston North Electorate in 2020, Tangi served 10 years on the City Council, and was the city’s first elected member of Pasifika heritage. Tangi was appointed Deputy Mayor in 2016, a position he held until his election to Parliament.
Tangi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Triple Major in History, Political Science and Social Policy, along with a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) from Massey University.
Cate Quinn
Cate Quinn is the National Manager Portfolio and Standards at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, where she leads the strategic development of infrastructure standards, asset management frameworks, and performance systems that support the delivery of a safe, efficient, and sustainable transport network.
Cate plays a key leadership role in the Asset Management Excellence programme, which is driving a transformation in how transport assets are planned, managed, and maintained across New Zealand. Her work focuses on embedding technical rigour, consistency, and long-term value into investment and operational decision-making.
With a career spanning multiple sectors, Cate brings a systems-thinking approach and a pragmatic leadership style that enables cross-disciplinary collaboration. She is known for connecting engineers, planners, and policy teams to co-design solutions that are technically robust and strategically aligned.
Cate’s insights continue to shape the evolution of infrastructure governance and asset performance, making her a respected voice in the advancement of transport asset management in Aotearoa.
David Wood
Deputy Chief Executive, Investment and Monitoring Group - Ministry of Transport
David is an experienced public sector leader and has been at the Ministry of Transport since June 2023.
Prior to joining the Ministry he held senior executive roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Treasury, and in the health sector. David has also held leadership roles at Auckland Council, United Kingdom local government, and the Ministry of Education.
David has a strong background in strategy, policy and commercial operations.
The Investment and Monitoring Group’s functions include Crown entity monitoring, investment, rail, programme monitoring and investment management, and transport financing.
Rob Gaimster
Change for the Better: Rethinking Roads with Concrete
Rob Gaimster, Concrete NZ Chief Executive and Chartered Engineer, will address the RIMS Forum with a compelling case for concrete as a strategic solution in delivering “Change for the Better” across New Zealand’s road network. As infrastructure teams seek to reduce costs, cut carbon, and extend asset life, Rob will outline why concrete roads deserve serious consideration. Referencing a 2024 Infometrics’ report, he’ll highlight how concrete can deliver whole-of-life cost advantages, lower embodied carbon - especially when factoring in natural carbon uptake - and reduced procurement risk due to less price volatility. This is a must-attend presentation for those wanting resilient, cost-effective, and lower-risk approaches to roading that better serve communities and future-proof investment. Don’t miss this opportunity to challenge assumptions and rethink what lies beneath New Zealand’s wheels.
Dr Lucy Hone
Dr Lucy Hone is a world-leading authority on resilience, a best-selling author, and a respected voice in global conversations about what helps humans cope with loss, change, and uncertainty.
Trained in resilience psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and holding a PhD in wellbeing science, Lucy is an Adjunct Fellow at the Universities of Canterbury and Pittsburgh.
Read more
Her TED talk, Three Secrets of Resilient People, has been viewed over 9 million times and translated into 23 languages. She has collaborated with the UN and the BBC, and delivered keynotes and workshops to Fortune 100 companies, global tech giants, health services, schools, government agencies, and first responders — all seeking practical ways to strengthen resilience in the face of challenge.
Lucy’s perspective is both research-informed and deeply personal. After the sudden death of her 12-year-old daughter, she turned to the science she knew inside out to navigate unimaginable grief. That journey became the foundation for her bestselling book Resilient Grieving, and a catalyst for reshaping how individuals and organisations understand what it really means to cope with unwanted change.
Her mission is to make resilience science practical, accessible, and honest — never sugar-coated or simplistic. A regular contributor to Psychology Today, Lucy’s work has also been featured in The Guardian, The Washington Post, and the BBC.
Whether working with senior leaders, frontline professionals or communities under pressure, Lucy is known for her clarity, compassion, and ability to translate evidence into everyday strategies — kindling realistic optimism and adaptive mindsets that support people to keep going, even when life is hard.