Speakers

Chris Claridge has an extensive business and academic background and is passionate about how the primary sector can embrace the digital world. Chris is the Chair of the Trust Alliance New Zealand Inc(TANZ) a non-profit trusted data agricultural consortium . TANZ is an advocate and enabler for decentralised data management aiming to create a future where farmers are in control of their own data through decentralised digital identities, verifiable credentials, and digital wallets. He was the Chief Executive of Potatoes New Zealand Inc representing an industry valued at over a Billion NZ Dollars. Its members included; seed merchants, growers, processors and exporters, encompassing the entire value chain. He has established primary sector businesses including Claridge’s Organics in the 1980’s one of New Zealand’s first organic food exporting businesses. Chris has the academic background to supplement his practical experience having graduated with a Masters in Biotechnology he became a Dean of Business Studies and a Senior Lecturer in Management.