Across the Ocean:
New Zealand and International Science Collaboration

Speaker: Professor Sir Peter Gluckman
Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

Date: Thursday 14 June 2018
Time: 5.30 – 6.30pm

Location: Resolution Institute
Level 4, Gleneagles Building
69-71 The Terrace
Wellington, 6011

Professor Sir Peter Gluckman is the Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, a role he has held since the position was established in 2009. He is also Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA).

Sir Peter is internationally respected for his work promoting the use of evidence in policy making and the translation of scientific knowledge into better social, economic and environmental outcomes. He was the founding Director of the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland and developed LENScience, a programme enabling schools to connect with scientific research communities. He is a recipient of New Zealand’s top science award, the Rutherford Medal. His research has won him numerous awards and international recognition including Fellowship of the Commonwealth’s most prestigious scientific organisation, The Royal Society (London). He is the only New Zealander elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science (USA) and the Academy of Medical Sciences of Great Britain. He has authored over 700 scientific papers, reviews and books.

In his presentation, Sir Peter will talk about international science collaboration and the INGSA Caribbean workshop he recently attended in Kingston, Jamaica.

New Zealand and the Caribbean:
Heads of Mission Update

Speakers: Her Excellency Mrs Jan Henderson
High Commissioner of New Zealand to Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dominica, Guyana, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada

His Excellency Mr Daniel Mellsop
High Commissioner of New Zealand to Canada and Jamaica

Date: Monday 21 May 2018
Time: 12.30 – 1.30pm

Location: Resolution Institute
Level 4, Gleneagles Building
69-71 The Terrace
Wellington, 6011

Mrs Jan Henderson is a career diplomat who is currently serving as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Eastern Caribbean. Jan is also New Zealand Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Before her Caribbean assignment, Jan was New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India, with accreditations to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

From 2003 – 2006, Jan was New Zealand’s Ambassador to Turkey, Israel and Jordan. Previous postings include Washington DC, Solomon Islands and Thailand. In New Zealand, management assignments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have included Director of the Chief Executive’s Office and Director of the Environment Division. Jan has also served in Pacific, Development and HR roles.

Daniel Mellsop was appointed New Zealand High Commissioner to Canada in February 2016. He is concurrently High Commissioner to Jamaica. Daniel is a career diplomat. Previous appointments included postings to the New Zealand embassies in The Hague and Seoul. He also undertook a secondment to the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully. Prior to taking up his appointment in Ottawa, Daniel was the Head of the International Branch at the Ministry of Defence. Daniel attended the University of Waikato in New Zealand where he studied Korean and Economics graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Management Studies with honours.

In a joint presentation Jan and Daniel will speak about their respective accreditations and provide an overview of New Zealand’s engagement with the Caribbean, including political and economic links.

Mexico and Beyond:
New Zealand in the Spanish-Speaking Caribbean

Speaker: Ms Clare Kelly
Former Ambassador of New Zealand to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela

Date: Tuesday 26 September 2017
Time: 5.30 – 6.30pm

Location: Resolution Institute
Level 4, Gleneagles Building
69-71 The Terrace
Wellington, 6011

Ms Clare Kelly served as New Zealand’s Ambassador to Mexico, with concurrent accreditations to Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela, from April 2013 to April 2017. She has previously served as a Unit Manager in the Trade Negotiations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was also part of New Zealand’s Mission to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva in the mid-2000s. In her presentation, Ms Kelly will provide an overview of New Zealand’s engagement with Mexico and countries of the wider Caribbean. She will also give an update on the reform process in Cuba and the current situation in Venezuela.

New Zealand, Our Oceans and Small Island Developing States

Speakers: Ms Carolyn Schwalger and Mr Phillip Taula
Former Ambassadors/Deputy Permanent Representatives of New Zealand to the United Nations

Date: Wednesday 30 August 2017
Time: 5.30 – 6.30pm

Location: Resolution Institute
Level 4, Gleneagles Building
69-71 The Terrace
Wellington, 6011

Ms Carolyn Schwalger and Mr Phillip Taula both served as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations. In a joint presentation, Ms Schwalger and Mr Taula will provide an overview of the state of our oceans, New Zealand’s involvement in the 2017 Oceans Conference and interactions with Caribbean countries at the UN. In addition, they will also discuss the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on security challenges facing Small Island Developing States which was convened by New Zealand in 2015.

Puerto Rico: Past, Present and Future

Speaker: Dr Joel Colón-Ríos
Associate Professor – Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington

Date: Thursday 9 March 2017
Time: 5.30 – 6.30pm

Location: Resolution Institute
Level 4, Gleneagles Building
69-71 The Terrace
Wellington, 6011

Dr Joel Colón-Ríos specialises in constitutional and international law. He is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington, where he teaches Introduction to Case Law, Advanced Public Law and Comparative Law. Before becoming an academic, Dr Colón-Ríos practiced law in Puerto Rico, mainly in the area of family law. He was also a law clerk at the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals. In his presentation, Dr Colón-Ríos will provide an overview of Puerto Rico, including the recent change of government administration and the possible implications of the Trump presidency.

One Kingdom – Four Countries:
The Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean

Speaker: His Excellency Mr Robert Zaagman
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu

Date: Tuesday 27 September 2016
Time: 5.30 – 6.30pm

Location: Resolution Institute
Level 4, Gleneagles Building
69-71 The Terrace
Wellington, 6011

Between 1988 and 1996, Ambassador Zaagman held various positions at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Previously, he was a lecturer for International Law at the University of Utrecht (1986-1988) and a professional officer with the Royal Dutch Army (1974-1978).

As Deputy Director of the Queen’s Office (2004-2008), Ambassador Zaagman was responsible for briefing Her Majesty Queen Beatrix on all matters regarding the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. He has served as First Secretary to the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands at the United Nations in New York (1996-2001), Counsellor for Political Affairs at the Embassy of the Netherlands in London (2001-2004), Ambassador for International Organizations at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2008-2010) and Consul-General in Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany (2010-2014). He presented his credentials to the Governor-General of New Zealand on September 17, 2014.

Ambassador Zaagman and his wife Monique have two adult children, who are living in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In his spare time he likes reading history books, looking at the stars through his telescope and playing golf.

Observing Elections in Trinidad and Tobago

Speaker: Mr Aaron Hape
Executive Director, Commonwealth Youth New Zealand

Date: Thursday 30 June 2016
Time: 5.30 – 6.30pm

Location: Resolution Institute
Level 4, Gleneagles Building
69-71 The Terrace
Wellington, 6011

Since 2009 Aaron has directed the operations for Commonwealth Youth New Zealand. He has worked in the civil service as advisor to the New Zealand Government and to Members of Parliament. He currently works at the Ministry of Justice.

Aaron was selected to attend 33Fifty, the Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme, in Scotland in 2014. He was named as a New Zealander of the Year Local Hero medallist and was appointed to sit on the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme advisory panel and board. He is also a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Leadership Network.

In 2015, Aaron was selected by the Commonwealth Secretary-General to join a Commonwealth Observer Group that monitored the Trinidad and Tobago Parliamentary elections.

Cuba Today

Speaker: Ms Yexenia Calzado
Representative, Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP)

Date: Tuesday 26 April 2016
Time: 5.30 – 6.15pm

Location: Terrace Conference Centre House, 114 The Terrace, Wellington

Yexenia Calzado is an official of the Asia and Pacific Division of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos or ICAP). Founded in 1960, ICAP is an organisation focussed on building people-to-people ties between Cuba and the international community.

An International Relations specialist, Ms Calzado has written a paper on the political and military presence of the United States in Asia and the Pacific region during the Obama administration (2008-2012). She is currently speaking in Australia, including on Cuba’s contribution to an Aboriginal adult literacy campaign. During her visit to Australia she will also deliver a presentation to the Australian Institute of International Affairs.