A national of Aotearoa and UK, Paul Hunt studied law at Cambridge University and Waikato University. He has lived, and undertaken human rights work, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Aotearoa. For more than a decade, Paul served as an independent human rights expert for the United Nations, reporting to the UN General Assembly and UN Human Rights Council. Between 2011 and 2013, he was senior human rights adviser to WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Flavia Bustreo.

Paul has published extensively on human rights and has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates in recognition of his scholarship. He was appointed New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner in 2019, and just last year, he was awarded the Ann Dysart Distinguished Service Award by the civil society organisation, Multicultural New Zealand. Paul’s focus on the human rights to healthcare and health protection is clear in the trail blazed by his work, and we are so excited to have the privilege of his attendance as a Keynote Speaker at GROW 2023!

Margie graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in management and employment relations, and also has a Master of Public Administration (Executive) from Victoria University of Wellington.

Margie Apa has more than two decades of health-sector leadership experience, previously serving as CEO of Counties Manukau District Health Board. Margie was also the Director of Population Health and Strategy at the district health board. She is the first Samoan to lead a district health board in New Zealand and has also served as Deputy Director-General Sector Capability and Implementation at the Ministry of Health. She has been on the Board of World Vision New Zealand since 2011 and was appointed Chair of the Board in 2019. Margie is an active member of the Pacific Island Presbyterian community and carries the honorific title Fepulea’i from her family village of Sale’aula, Savai’I in Samoa.

To be the CEO of Aotearoa's new centralised national health organisation, Te Whatu Ora, you have to have proven experience with astounding leadership. With her character and experience, we are extremely excited for Margie to share her lessons with us at GROW 2023.

Peter is Professor of Public Health in the Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori at the University of Otago. He started his professional life as a general practitioner and later specialised in public health medicine. His academic career has spanned a variety of roles including serving as University of Otago Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Health Sciences and Dean of the Otago Medical School. His research is focused on social indicators and social epidemiology, health care policy, health care organisation and funding, and Māori health. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses related to public health, health systems, health services management and Māori health. Peter has served on numerous government advisory panels in a variety of policy areas related to public health, health services, and health workforce, including the Government’s 2018-2020 Review of the Health and Disability System. He is a board member of Te Tāhū Hauora (Health Quality and Safety Commission) and is a member of the statutory Public Health Advisory Committee.

Whether you want to relax in bed after a busy day of conference or if you want to explore the city, the Crowne Plaza is the perfect accommodation for this year's conference!

Located in the heart of the city, the Crowne Plaza is a luxurious hotel specialised in giving their guests the utmost treatment, including amazing food, a fitness centre, free WiFi, and many more!

Being in the Crowne Plaza will be an extremely comfortable stay as a delegate, allowing you to have the energy and rest you need to get the most out of GROW 2023!