Graduating into a World of AI
What it means to start your career when AI is rewriting the rules.
30-45 min talk
Blake Harkness · AI Speaker · Christchurch, New Zealand
AI talks that land with any room
Blake Harkness is an AI engineer and speaker based in Christchurch, New Zealand. He has delivered 34 talks across the country, from a 340-person summit stage to hands-on Claude and MCP workshops. He runs Harkness AI and founded Young Kiwis in AI.
34
Speaking events delivered
900+
People in the room
1M+
Social media views
150+
AI educational videos
Public Speaking
Recent engagements
Practical AI for conferences, corporates and communities across New Zealand - from technical teams to a room of business owners.
| Date | Event | Talk | Location | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep 2026 | Whale Watch Kaikoura, Wananga AI Day | AI for Beginners (opening speaker) | Kaikoura | ~50 |
| 21 Aug 2026 | Young Kiwis in AI x Zuru | Pathways for young Kiwis in AI, and the China AI trip (host and speaker) | Zuru NZ HQ, Auckland | ~150 |
| 21 Aug 2026 | AUT CSEA, Graduating into AI | Panellist and organiser | AUT, Auckland | ~50 |
| 12 Aug 2026 | Careers & AI with TronSoc | MC and speaker | University of Canterbury | ~80 |
| 10 Aug 2026 | GCC Canterbury, China Talks | The NZ AI and robotics delegation to China | University of Canterbury | ~20 |
| 9 Aug 2026 | NZ IT & AI Job Forum | Graduating into a World of AI: From Student to Founder in 18 Months | University of Auckland | 35 |
| 31 Jul 2026 | AI Forum NZ, AEC Working Group | Seven days inside China's AI build | Online | 24 |
| 15 Jul 2026 | Engineering New Zealand, AI 2026 Series | From Quick Wins to Bigger Projects: AI Inside a NZ Surveying & Engineering Firm | Online | 80 |
| 19 Jun 2026 | Bed & Breakfast Association NZ Conference | Elevating Your Online Presence with AI | Christchurch | 60 |
| 18 Jun 2026 | M2 AI SummitLargest room | Using AI to Make Your Team Great | Christchurch | 340 |
| 10 Jun 2026 | Summer of Tech | Social Media as Your Secret Weapon to Jobs | Online | 60 |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Survey and Spatial New Zealand | AI Beyond the Field | Auckland | 80 |
| 4 Mar 2026 | Graduating into a World of AI | From mechatronics student to AI engineer | University of Canterbury | 65 |
| 15 Jan 2026 | Beyond Chatbots | Connecting AI to Your Apps with MCP | Christchurch | 40 |
Speaking next
- 9 Sep 2026Young Kiwis in AI Meetup (host)Wellington
- 16 Sep 2026AI Forum NZ AEC webinar: AI in China, Firsthand Insights from the NZ DelegationOnline, with Ming Cheuk (ElementX)
- 17 Sep 2026UC Business School, Graduating into a World of AIChristchurch
- 25 Sep 2026IFAA Conference 2026Christchurch
- 12 Feb 2027Young Kiwis in AI National Conference 2027 (organiser and host)Novotel Auckland Airport
Blake's AI presentation was among the most frequently cited as the most valuable session of the conference - consistently described as practical, relevant and immediately useful for delegates' businesses.
Signature talks
Hands-On with AI Agents, Claude & MCP
A practical, build-alongside session on modern AI tooling.
45-90 min workshop or technical talk
Tailored to Your Conference or Audience
Have a theme in mind? Blake builds the talk around your event.
Keynote, workshop, panel or fireside
Media
Podcasts, coverage and recognition
Where Blake has been interviewed, covered or named by someone else. Each link goes to the outlet, not to this site.
| Date | Outlet | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 2026 | The Global Seat podcast | Episode 2: AI, Jobs, and The Future: What Young People Need to Know | Podcast |
| 17 Jun 2026 | The Business of Tech, with Peter Griffin | China's AI and robot revolution, with Ming Cheuk | Podcast |
| 8 Jun 2026 | Tech New Zealand | Agentic AI, robotics and real-world deployment: the NZ AI and robotics delegation to China | Article |
| 10 Sep 2025 | AI Forum New Zealand | Aotearoa AI Awards 2025 finalists announced: Rising AI Star | Announcement |
| 13 Aug 2025 | The Tech'o'Space Podcast | Episode 37: Powering Innovation: Engineering AI for Real-World Impact | Podcast |
Profile
AI engineer and speaker based in Christchurch, New Zealand
I'm Blake Harkness, an AI engineer and founder of Harkness AI, an AI consultancy helping businesses across New Zealand adopt AI and automation. I've worked with 30+ NZ businesses across industries from financial services and energy to education and property.
I also founded Young Kiwis in AI, a community of 300+ young New Zealanders getting into AI and tech careers, with in-person meetups held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton and Palmerston North, and a national conference in Auckland in February 2027.
I work with New Zealand organisations that want to move beyond the AI buzzwords and start seeing results. Whether it's automating reporting, building internal chatbots, or streamlining workflows, I focus on solutions that are practical, measurable, and built to last, helping your team work smarter, not harder. That work is described in full on Harkness AI, from discovery workshops and team training through to hands-on delivery.
30+NZ businesses advised
300+Young Kiwis in AI members
6Cities with meetups
My Journey
The story behind the work
How I'm helping businesses leverage AI to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.
Career
Work history
Professional experience in engineering and AI across New Zealand organisations.
Jan 2025 - Present1 yr 7 mos
Founder and AI Engineer
Harkness AI · Self-employed
Running an AI consultancy helping 30+ New Zealand businesses adopt AI and automation. Services include AI discovery workshops, custom AI application development, workflow automation, and fractional AI engineering. Clients span industries from financial services and energy to education and property.
- AI Consulting
- Workshops
- Custom Development
- Automation
Jan 2026 - Present
Fractional AI Engineer
Patersons · Contract
Three days a week on-site with Patersons, a New Zealand surveying and engineering firm: custom automations, internal tools, AI strategy and staff education.
- AI Engineering
- Automation
- Internal Tools
- AI Training
Nov 2024 - Nov 20251 yr
Graduate Engineer
MainPower New Zealand Limited · Full-time
Joined the Future Networks team, leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation and enhance business strategy for a smarter, more efficient future. Integrated AI solutions to optimise operations, improve decision-making, and allow smart people to focus on smart things.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Machine Learning
Nov 2023 - Feb 20244 mos
Embedded Software Engineer Intern
Levno · Internship
Gained further experience working in the Hardware Team who are responsible for R&D of Levno's range of products.
- Debugging
- .NET Framework
Nov 2022 - Feb 20234 mos
Embedded Software Engineer Intern
Levno · Internship
Gained experience working in the Hardware Team who are responsible for R&D of Levno's range of products.
- Debugging
- .NET Framework
Credentials
Qualifications and certifications
| Institution | Qualification | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Massey UniversityDegree | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), majoring in Mechatronics | 2024 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Managing AI Projects: From Strategy to Delivery | May 2025 |
| University of Pennsylvania | AI Strategy and Governance | March 2025 |
| IBM | AI Engineering Professional Certificate | January 2025 |
Expertise
Skills and technologies
AI & Data Engineering
Building the systems underneath - models, retrieval, and the pipelines that feed them.
- Large Language Models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini)
- Vector Databases (Supabase, Pinecone)
- RAG & Agent Workflows
- Python, TypeScript, Node.js
- Data Cleaning & Automation Pipelines
Integration & Product Development
Getting AI into the tools a team already uses, rather than adding another tab.
- ChatGPT Apps & Connectors (Gmail, Notion, GitHub, etc.)
- API Design & Orchestration
- Supabase Auth & Edge Functions
- Real-Time Voice Agents (ElevenLabs, VAPI)
- Web Apps (Vite + React, Vercel Hosting)
Consulting & Strategy
Deciding what is worth building, what it costs, and how a team adopts it.
- AI Strategy & Roadmapping
- Workflow Automation Consulting
- Technical Documentation & Compliance (Privacy, AML/KYC)
- Staff Training & Upskilling in AI Tools
- Fractional AI Engineering for NZ Businesses
Community Involvement
Professional commitments
Active contributor to the AI and engineering community in New Zealand.
Jan 2026 - Present
Founder
Young Kiwis in AI
Founded a community for young New Zealanders getting into AI and tech careers. 300+ members, with in-person meetups held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton and Palmerston North, and the YKIA National Conference 2027 in Auckland on 12 February 2027. Partnered with Summer of Tech for national webinars.
Jul 2025 - Present
AI Advisory Committee Member
Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau
Jul 2025 - Present
AEC Working Group workstream lead and webinar series organiser
AI Forum NZ
Workstream lead on the Living Whitepaper for the AI Forum NZ Architecture, Engineering and Construction working group, and since August 2026 the organiser of the working group's webinar series.
Jan 2025 - Present
Young Engineers Canterbury Committee Member
Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau
Helping organise local events for young engineers in the Canterbury region.
Feb 2023 - Jan 2025
Club President
Techensoc
Organised and ran over 10 events a year for the 80 student members. Helped manage club financials including grant rounds. Organised and moderated quarterly student staff liaison meetings.
Feb 2024 - Jan 2025
Club President
Massey Volleyball Club
Led the Massey Volleyball Club's 90 members, fostering a positive and inclusive team environment. Organised and coordinated club events, tournaments, and training sessions. Represented the club at the University Tertiary Championships.
Get in touch
Ready to put AI to work in your organisation?
Whether it's a keynote for your conference or a fractional AI engineer for your team, let's talk about what would actually move the needle.