11/07/2025
Proud Lisa 🤩🩷
Lisa Lightband Shares local innovation on the world stage
Whanganui-based tech educator and AI facilitator, Lisa Lightband, was recently invited to share AI BizHub on the world stage, representing Whanganui at the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Annual Conference in Paris. Her presentation highlighted how our local community is learning to adapt, grow, and thrive — placing people first in an increasingly AI focused world.
“AI Bizhub received an invitation to go to Paris after TechWeek 2025, so I accepted the invitation, and then personal circumstances meant I couldn’t go. So I sent them an email withdrawing from the conference,” Lisa explains.
I was blown away that they made the accommodation for me to provide a digital presentation, speaking about Human Centred AI as one of three in our panel. The fact that they selected AI BizHub kind of blew me away. I wonder how we got discovered?”
“I guess having TechWeek this year and last year helped us stand out.”
Here are a few of the ways Lisa and the team are helping Whanganui use AI to improve lives:
● AI BizHub – helping individuals explore AI for personal and business growth, with a focus on building sustainable income and confidence in a rapidly changing world.
● WriteFund Collective – helping community initiatives and projects use AI to tell their stories powerfully and connect with the right funding, so non-profits can continue delivering meaningful mahi in the communities they serve.
● Lisa’s AI Café – a hands-on, community-based learning experience that changes how AI education is delivered — meeting the community where they are.
“We have been invited back next year in Morocco. It’s opened doors and conversations. In terms of Creative Cities, there are 350 globally, and they’re across all kinds of categories. We’re a city of Design and Wellington is a City of Film, for example; they’re national and global.”
Lisa’s model is already gaining traction — with organisations, educators, creatives and professionals drawn to her unique approach: hands-on, practical, and people focused.
If you want to know more, contact Lisa at LISA@LISALIGHTBAND.COM
