We’re New Zealand’s most innovative, transformative learning environment where people come to find their edge in a rapidly changing world.
Our postgraduate programmes, short courses and innovation workshops are designed specifically for the new world of work. We don’t rely on outdated textbooks or traditional academia models. We teach context, not content and are focused on enhancing the skills and capabilities of all our learners to then take into the ‘real world’ and embed into their workplaces, organisations and communities.
Tech Futures Lab was the brainchild of education disruptor and innovator Frances Valintine who, back in 2016, could see New Zealand businesses and professionals lacked the learning pathways and opportunities to develop the critical skills needed in the ‘future of work’. She gathered a team of industry experts, academic rebels and big thinkers around her to develop the first innovation-focused Master’s programme for Aotearoa – Master of Technological Futures. The ethos was (and still is) to teach context, not content. Our learning approach strives to embed critical thinking skills and innovation mindsets, to create novel solutions that are led by purpose and values yet answer real-world challenges.
Since that first cohort started in 2017, we’ve seen the most incredible innovative, transformative ideas born. Some have become start ups, some have shifted the direction of an organisation, some are reaching leaders on the global stage.
Today, our suite of postgraduate programmes have evolved to work in with busy lives and the rapid pace of technological change. We offer micro-credentials and postgraduate certificates that are all perfect on their own to support professionals supercharge their knowledge, but also can stack together towards a Master’s degree.
Tech Futures Lab is the catalyst that makes it possible for New Zealanders to lead positive change, for themselves and the wider world.
Tech Futures Lab is part of The Mind Lab, a NZQA-registered Tertiary Education Organisation under the provisions of the Education Act 1989. Tech Futures Lab postgraduate candidates are enrolled with The Mind Lab which is approved by NZQA to award the Master of Technological Futures, the Postgraduate Certificate in Human Potential, the Postgraduate Certificate in Connected Environments and the Organisational Agility Micro-credential. Click here to access our 2022 Academic Calendar for all programmes across The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab.
Frances Valintine (CNZM) is dedicated to pushing Aotearoa ahead as a global leader in innovation to build a stronger, more resilient future for all New Zealanders. A leader in her own right as an innovator, futurist and disruptor of traditional education Frances has 25 years’ experience across business, technology and education.
As the CEO and Founder of The Mind Lab (2013) and Tech Futures Lab (2016) and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2018), Frances has dedicated most of her working life to supporting people to grow their skills and knowledge to make the most of technology convergence in the world around us.
Over the past 8 years across Tech Futures Lab and The Mind Lab, Frances has been instrumental in reskilling and educating 20,000 adult students in formal programmes, many thousands in short tech courses in software development and over 250,000 school aged students.
With an eye always on future horizons, Frances has worked with and advised over 250 organisations across every sector in New Zealand – from agriculture to finance, retail to law and has gained a reputation as an expert in leading digital transformation initiatives that bring positive impact.
Frances has received numerous awards recognising her passion and commitment to supporting the young and more mature to seek opportunities and reach their potential. In 2020 Frances received the Outstanding Contribution to Technology and Business at the CIO Awards. Her past accolades also include:
2017: the NZ Flying Kiwi Award, inducted into the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame and named one of the top 3 NZ Innovators of the Year the NZer of the Year awards.
2016: named one of the top 50 EdTech Educators in the World by EdTech International; awarded a Sir Peter Blake Leader Award.
2015: awarded the Westpac New Zealand Woman of Influence (Innovation) and the Next New Zealand Woman of the Year (Education)
Driven by a strong sense of purpose to support positive growth for Aotearoa, Frances also sits on the boards of Watercare and is a selection adviser to EHF (Edmund Hillary Foundation), a judge on the Hi Tech Awards, a mentor to a number of female technology leaders (in NZ and India), and a Director to On Being Bold, a platform to support and encourage emerging female leaders and year 13 students to dream big. Frances is also on the Board of Trustees for the University of Silicon Valley.
She holds a Master of Education Management from the University of Melbourne
The Tech Futures Lab team is genuinely passionate about learning, teaching and the future. We are a network of approachable, humble, supportive and open-minded people who look at the world from a different angle.
Our friendly team is here to help.