Keynote Speakers

Dr Judith Locke is a clinical psychologist, and former teacher, who delivers child wellbeing sessions to parents, teachers and students in schools, workplaces and day-care centres around Australia and New Zealand. She focuses on teaching practical and proven strategies for parents and teachers to ensure children have the best chances of becoming genuinely confident and capable, and realise their potential.

Judith is the author of The Bonsai Child and The Bonsai Student. In her books, she explains the problematic patterns of the current generation of parenting, why parents are encouraged to parent this way, and what often happens to their children. Most importantly, she offers practical strategies for parents and teachers to enable students to become more resilient as they navigate learning and life.

Judith will present a Keynote at COLAB as well as two breakout workshops and a ticketed parent evening at Wesltake Boys on Thursday June 3rd 2021 from 6pm - 8pm.

Dr. Tony Fernando trained in medicine in the Philippines, before completing his psychiatry training in New York and the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently a consultant psychiatrist in Auckland, a senior lecturer in psychological medicine at the University of Auckland, and also runs a private practice in insomnia medicine. His research interests include sleep medicine and medical education and he teaches practical medication techniques to medical students and others to help manage stress, anxiety and depression.

His work on the science of happiness and the importance of mindfulness has also brought him a considerable public following.

"All of us want to be happy but rarely do we look at what really causes us to suffer. Often we blame our parents, our partners, kids, the government and the "other". Rarely do we look at ourselves and the tricks our brain engages in to survive, which results in suffering and discontent. In knowing the various tricks our mind plays that lead to dissatisfaction, hopefully we can be more resilient and experience peace and happiness."