Meet the Director

Melissa Crawford

Melissa Crawford is a highly regarded thought leader in the future of work, with a unique blend of expertise that spans both people and technology.

With a career spanning senior roles across some of New Zealand’s largest organisations, Melissa brings a wealth of experience from diverse industries including tech, airline, banking, FMCG, retail, education, and energy.

With two technology degrees alongside her People & Strategy experience, Melissa brings a unique perspective to the impact of technology on the future of work.
She is deeply passionate about people and organisational psychology, understanding human impacts of future technologies and the evolving shape of the future of work. As the Director of Tech with Heart, she consults with companies on their transformation and future ready strategies, speaks at global conferences and facilitates sessions to up-skill Lead teams on evolving psychology and technology trends.

Melissa is a CMInstD and CMHRNZ, serves on multiple boards across NZ/US, is a certified Metaverse Expert on the global metaverse council, a steering committee advisor for the AI forum, a certified futurist/Strategic Foresight practitioner with qualifications from The Institute for the Future and Houston University and a certified member of the Association of Professional Futurists.

Melissa’s contributions to the field have earned her several recent accolades, including her listing on the 2025, 2024 & 2023 HRD Hotlist, HRNZ Leadership Award winner, and overall winner of the HRNZ HR Person of the Year. With her wealth of expertise and commitment to shaping a better future, Melissa is a highly sought-after thought leadership partner and conference speaker.

+64 21 764 576
melissa@techwithheart.co.nz

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Organisations we’ve worked with

ASB Bank
Coca Cola
Skills Consulting Group
HRNZ
EMA
Master Plumbers
KPMG
Cooperative Bank
Baker Tilly Staples Roadway

Skycity
Turners and Growers
Toitu
IAG Insurance
Employers & Manufacturers Association
Foodstuffs
Air New Zealand
Fonterra
Auckland City Council
Academy Ex
2 Degrees

BNZ Bank
Woolworths
The Warehouse Group
AUT
Vector
Suntory
Te Whatu Ora Health NZ
Southern Cross Healthcare
Auckland University of Technology

Testimonials

“We have utilised Melissa’s expertise as a presenter and a panellist at our last three HR Tech and Innovation conferences across New Zealand and Australia due to both her engaging content and style. A crowd favourite, Melissa’s content is always relevant, current and thought provoking with a future focus that pushes people to think ahead.

Her brand of Tech with Heart is exactly why we like working with her as she manages to weave the intersection of future technology and people psychology to help her audience understand why both will play such a critical role in our future.”

Ian CollierProduction Director, Hannover Fairs

“When looking for a speaker for an HR focused breakfast, Melissa at Tech with Heart was a fabulous choice. Much of the feedback we received focused not only on her extensive knowledge, but also her ability to convey often technical concepts into language that clarified and motivated our audience. You can see her passion for the blending of technology and HR practices, and the profession will be the better because of it.

Rachael O’SullivanPrincipal Consultant

“Thank you, Melissa, for delivering a thought-provoking, insightful session for our Herrmann NZ client community of OD, HR and L&D leaders.

It was truly eye-opening stuff delivered in such an engaging and down-to-earth manner.

We have had nothing but excellent feedback from all that attended. Kai pai.”

Andrea MatthewsNZ Business Manager, Herrmann

“Melissa wowed the crowd with a taste of the future – the metaverse of workplaces was a fascinating topic. She demonstrated her metaverse experiences on the conference screen which made it real. I look forward to working with her again”

Rod McLauchlanProducer, REwork Summit

On behalf of the NZPSHA executive, I take this opportunity to thank you for presenting to our recent NZPSHA conference. Your excellent presentation on emerging technology and digital psychology behaviour’s shaping the future of work was insightful, engaging and very though provoking.

Attendees commented that “Excellent speaker really made us think. Would love to hear more from her. Very interesting to know what technology is available to make us work more efficiently. Excellent content and presenter. Great to have this perspective on AI & hear about innovations coming into our environments”.

Richard WhitneyPresident – NZPSHA

‘Melissa presented to our recent membership seminar for the New Zealand Private Surgical Hospitals Association. Melissa’s presentation style and engagement was excellent. It was very insightful to find out what technology is available to allow us to work more efficiently. Melissa is highly recommended as a presenter. Change is upon us and Melissa led us through this.’

Rose GedenExecutive Director | New Zealand Private Surgical Hospitals Association Inc.

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. “

Katie Quinney Healthcare Leadership Symposium

Meet the Director

Melissa Crawford

Organisations we’ve worked with

Testimonials

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