BUSINESS SPEAKERS | AI & INNOVATION SPEAKERS

Melissa Crawford

Futurist, "Tech with Heart" founder and future-of-work keynote speaker

Overview

Melissa Crawford is one of New Zealand's most distinctive voices at the intersection of future technology, human psychology and strategic foresight. As founder and Director of Tech with Heart, she helps boards and leadership teams get future-ready – combining AI, generative and agentic technology trends with the psychology of how people actually adopt change.

Who is Melissa Crawford? Melissa grew up as one of six children, moving through 13 schools and more than 40 houses – early lived experience that shaped a career built around adaptability and change. She holds two technology degrees, is completing a Master of Science in Psychology, and has formal foresight training from the Institute for the Future and the University of Houston. She is a certified futurist, member of the Association of Professional Futurists, and a chartered member of both the Institute of Directors and HRNZ.

Career Highlights

  • Founder and Director of Tech with Heart

  • Independent Director on the HRNZ Board

  • HRNZ HR Person of the Year (2022); HRNZ Leadership Award winner

  • HRD Hotlist 2023, 2024 and 2025

  • Certified futurist with foresight training from the Institute for the Future and University of Houston

  • Two technology degrees and a Master of Science in Psychology in progress

  • Trusted advisor to Air New Zealand, BNZ, Fonterra, The Warehouse Group, Woolworths, Suntory, Te Whatu Ora, Southern Cross Healthcare and AUT

Key Speaking Themes

  • Future-ready leadership and the changing role of the leader

  • From generative AI to agentic and physical AI: what's coming next

  • The future of work and the evolving shape of the workforce

  • The psychology of digital communication and human–technology interaction

  • HR tech, people strategy and ethical adoption of AI

What Your Audience Will Gain Melissa challenges audiences to think beyond the current state and prepare for what's coming next. They leave with a clearer view of how technology will reshape their work and a practical framework for leading their people through it.

Ideal For

  • Executive and senior leadership conferences

  • HR, people and culture summits

  • Innovation, AI and future-of-work forums

  • Board and director events

  • Executive coaching and leadership development programmes

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Melissa Crawford speak about? The future of work, AI and emerging technologies, future-ready leadership and the psychology of human–technology interaction.

What is Tech with Heart? Tech with Heart is the consultancy Melissa founded that helps organisations design and implement future-ready people and technology strategies.

What awards has Melissa Crawford won? She was HRNZ HR Person of the Year in 2022, an HRNZ Leadership Award winner, and has been listed on the HRD Hotlist in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Who has Melissa Crawford worked with? Air New Zealand, BNZ, Fonterra, The Warehouse Group, Woolworths, Suntory, Te Whatu Ora, Southern Cross Healthcare and AUT, among others.

Is Melissa Crawford a certified futurist? Yes. She has formal foresight training from the Institute for the Future and the University of Houston and is a member of the Association of Professional Futurists.

How long is a typical keynote? 45 minutes is standard with Q&A optional. Workshop and executive simulation formats are also available.

Testimonials

"Melissa's 90-minute session was both engaging and thought-provoking, striking the perfect balance between being informative and a call to action. We could have easily spent far longer on this topic alone. Melissa’s passion, expertise, and talent as a speaker were evident throughout, making her presentation the highlight of our hui."

- Fonterra

"Your session yesterday was spectacular. You speak with an energy and passion that is contagious and uplifting. "I could have listened for hours" is feedback we received. You had a huge impact on everyone and your insights and pointers are featured very clearly in the feedback from the attendees. Thank you again so much, we are honoured and privileged to have had you and thank you for bringing smiles, laughs and practical wisdom to our conference."

- Healthcare Sympopsium

"Melissa’s session on "The Psychology of Digital Communication" at our Future of Marketing Summit New Zealand was both insightful and transformative. Beyond her expertise, she was an absolute pleasure to work with—always responsive, collaborative, and genuinely kind. Her warmth and professionalism made the entire process seamless, and it was clear she truly cared about delivering value to our audience."

- Marketing Summit

“We highly recommend Melissa for your conference or event. Her session was not only thought provoking but also encouraged the audience to think about the future, their role in it and how they can navigate changes. Melissa was exceptionally well-prepared with her presentation and during it, successfully got everyone involved and catered to the different learning and information processing styles of the audience. The feedback we received on and after the event was overwhelmingly positive.”

- Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply NZ/AUS