Rev. Amilie Paynter is a huntress of treasure and adventure, a gatherer of people and stories, mum of four, wife, and ordained Anglican Priest.

She considers herself so incredibly fortunate to be living and serving their community alongside her best mate Rev. Luke Paynter in Ohakune at the base of Mount Ruapehu.

Amilie is fascinated with patterns and words; the way they weave and guide us toward our Creator and each other and how sometimes it’s the song between the lines that can change the world both inside of us and all around us. She feels most alive exploring new places and spaces.

Keynote speakers

Rev. Mel McKenzie leads the team of amazing Chaplains at Victoria University, the student residential Community of Transfiguration based there, and is Priest in Charge at St Anne's Northland-Wilton. She's married to Rev Dr Tim McKenzie, Vicar of St Michael's Kelburn. Her journey at the moment is shaped by seeing an incredible openness and hunger for connection among young adults; where the Chaplaincy's experiment in Cafe-based mission at Victoria University is seeing all sorts of beautiful Kingdom fruit as young adults are curious to taste and see what animates a community of gospel-centred welcome.

Rev, Kevin Denholm and his wife Nikki co-founded Exposure International, a film production company known for award-winning commercials and campaigns. Kevin’s work includes the iconic Mitre 10 “Sandpit” commercial, Toyota’s “Everyday People,” Air New Zealand’s “Bear Essentials of Safety” with Bear Grylls, and long-running mental-health work with Sir John Kirwan. For more than 30 years he has also created people-centred humanitarian documentaries, filming in prisons, conflict zones, and some of the world’s most confronting environments. During COVID-19 he recognised the emotional strain faced by film crews and began offering informal support, revealing a deep need for care within the industry. Now formally trained with a Master’s in Chaplaincy, ordained in the Wellington Diocese, and completing a PhD, he leads the pioneering FilmChaplain initiative, providing grounded, holistic support to those working behind and in front of the camera. www.filmchaplain.com

Rev. Dara Choo finds it hard to write about herself so she used Ai and then unable to bear the Ai spiel reduced it to: Dara is a fun-loving (and maybe a little quirky) gal from Singapore, where she served in developing Children, Youth and Discipleship ministries. With a background in teaching, she is passionate about helping to nurture faith across all ages. She serves at St John’s Parish in Johnsonville as Priest Assistant and is married to Rev John Loong. Professionally, she is an administrator in the Business School at Victoria University of Wellington and Operations Coordinator for a tech hub there.

MCs

Jesse Sherlock is young adult based in Brooklyn, Wellington. Ever since moving to Wellington three years ago from Nelson he has been a part of Brooklyn Anglicans and Two Todman. Jesse is deeply passionate about people from all different walks of life. A waiter by trade, and a writer by compulsion, observation is something Jesse knows well. It's Jesse’s first MLFC and he is looking forward to hearing and sharing stories of what Christ is up to across the diocese.

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