Elevate - April 2020

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Elevate, an event series presented by the Taupō Busines Chamber is back this year with more kick-ass speakers.

Elevate will be held on Tuesday, 7 April 2020, and we’re excited to announce our awesome speakers for the latest Elevate event!

Harry Mowbray - Founder Zuru Toys and Entrepreneur
From Waikato to the world. Hear Harry tell his amazing story about how one family took a school project and built one of the largest toy companies in the world.

Senga Allen - Managing Director, Everest Group
“Using Emotions Intelligently”
Human beings are emotional beings, we have emotions all the time whether we like it or not. Emotional intelligence is not about being emotional; it is about the intelligent use of emotions. Let’s find out about the science behind our emotions and what we can do use them intelligently – and more importantly, why it’s so important in business!.

Elevate is free for Taupo Chamber members and employees, $59 for non-members.

Light refreshments supplied prior to event.

About Harry Mowbray - Founder Zuru Toys and Entreprenur
Harry Mowbray was born and educated in Hamilton and completed a Bachelor of Science at Waikato University. While he was there he distracted himself buying and working on cars and motorcycles. He graduated debt-free and the owner of a late model, Mark 2 Jaguar and multiple motorcycles. Not long after, while working at Kinleith Pulp and Paper mill, he co-built a house, established a pine plantation and purchased a run-down farm. An engineering and consulting company in the Pulp and Paper industry followed. This entrepreneurial spirit led him years later to buy and develop the derelict Matangi Dairy Factory, which now houses 28 businesses.
It also rubbed off on Harry’s children. After helping his 10-year old son Mathew develop a model hot air balloon which won a number of competitions and science fairs, Guru Toys (Later changed to Zuru) was born. Balloons were shipped around the world while Mathew was at St Peters. Now two of Harry’s sons and daughter run one of the world’s largest toy companies, Zuru Toys, which is based in China, employs 5,500 people and 13,500 permanent contractors.
In 2004 Harry and his son Andrew developed pay wave system for festivals and called the company AWOP, another success story.
Meanwhile, Harry now runs one of NZ's largest organic dairy farms in Tokoroa and is one of the founding farmers in the new organic dairy farming co-operative, The Organic Dairy Hub.

About Senga Allen - Managing Director, Everest Group.
Senga is the Founder and Managing Director of Everest – all about people, which was formed in 2006. She has worked in the people and culture industry for over 25 years. Having worked both in many private and public sector organisations in New Zealand she enjoys using her expertise to lift capability in businesses. Everest has offices in Hamilton and Tauranga and currently employs 13 awesome people!
Her career pathway has included training, consultancy, management and senior executive roles in human resources. She is the Chair of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce, professional member of HRINZ, trustee of the Graeme Dingle Foundation, and a member of the Institute of Directors and RSCA and holds qualifications in psychometric profiling, emotional intelligence and business management.