Melissa Crawford
Melissa Crawford is recognised internationally as an expert on the future of work, with a distinctive interdisciplinary background that integrates technology, psychology, and organisational practice. Her career spans senior leadership roles in some of New Zealand’s largest organisations across technology, aviation, banking, FMCG, retail, education, and energy.
She holds two technology degrees and is currently studying a Master of Science in Applied Positive Psychology, where her focus is on the intersection of human flourishing and technological change. Melissa is also a graduate of the Institute for the Future (California) and the University of Houston’s Strategic Foresight programme, and a member of the Association of Professional Futurists.
In her role as Director of Tech with Heart, she works with organisations to apply foresight and future-readiness strategies, helping leaders navigate the ethical, psychological, and societal dimensions of emerging technologies. She serves on several governance and advisory boards and is a sought-after keynote speaker globally. Melissa’s passion lies in working on strategic projects to help shape a better future.
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
