PANZ 2024 conference first guests announced; Meredith appointed association director
The first guests for the Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ) International Conference, to be held in Auckland on 1 and 2 August, have been announced.
Guests will include Sara Lloyd, group communications director & global AI lead at Pan Macmillan UK, who will present on AI and developing AI policies; Madeline McIntosh, former Penguin Random House US CEO and co-founder of Authors Equity; Karaitiana Taiuru, a technology ethicist specialising in Māori rights with AI, Māori data sovereignty and governance; and Sarah Runcie, former CEO of the Brisbane Writers Festival.
Three networking breakfast sessions will be held on 2 August, including an Indigenous publishing event with Natalie Lulia, associate director of North American engagement at Education New Zealand.
Further information about the conference is available on the PANZ website.
In related news, PANZ has announced Courtney Sina Meredith as its new association director. Meredith was previously executive director of RainbowYOUTH and the director of Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust, and she is also the author of several books, including collections of poetry and short stories, as well as two children’s books.
PANZ said Meredith is ‘a globally recognised cultural leader whose work across the arts, education, culture and media draws on her Sāmoan and Mangaian roots through a proudly queer lens’, adding that she was cited by Creative New Zealand as ‘the top sixth spokesperson for the arts in national media, [and that] she is a trusted advocate for the creative sector and a voice for change’.
PANZ president Claire Murdoch said, ‘Courtney needs no introduction to Aotearoa’s literary community as a writer… Courtney’s skills are a perfect match for the challenges and opportunities facing PANZ and its partners in 2024 and beyond. Speaking on behalf of PANZ Council, I can’t wait to work with her and look forward to welcoming her and introducing her to all our members and stakeholders this May, when she will formally take up the role.’
Category: Local news
