Media

Media and press kit

Podcasts, articles and recognition where someone else has interviewed, covered or named me, plus bios and photos for anyone writing about me or introducing me on stage.

All 11 items, newest first in each group. Every link goes to the outlet, not to this site. Talks are in the speaking log. For an interview or podcast, email blake@harknessai.nz.

Podcasts6

DateOutletTitle
3 Sep 2026Marketing 4 Business (M4B) podcast, Digital InfluenceHow to Actually Use AI in Your Business, with an AI Engineer
23 Aug 2026The Global Seat podcastEpisode 2: AI, Jobs, and The Future: What Young People Need to Know960+ views
15 Jul 2026New Zealand China Council PodcastA window into China's AI and robotics
23 Jun 2026M2 Magazine PodcastUsing AI To Make Your Team Great
17 Jun 2026The Business of Tech, with Peter GriffinChina's AI and robot revolution, with Ming Cheuk
13 Aug 2025The Tech'o'Space PodcastEpisode 37: Powering Innovation: Engineering AI for Real-World Impact11,800+ views

Articles2

DateOutletTitle
8 Jul 2026Engineering New ZealandAI in China (by Blake Harkness)
8 Jun 2026Tech New ZealandAgentic AI, robotics and real-world deployment: the NZ AI and robotics delegation to China

Video1

DateOutletTitle
12 Sep 2025The AI CornerEp 20: Blake Harkness reveals how he's transforming MainPower with AI

Recognition2

DateOutletTitle
9 Sep 2026Aotearoa AI Awards2026 finalists: Rising AI Star Vote in the People’s Choice (closes 4 Nov 2026)
10 Sep 2025AI Forum New ZealandAotearoa AI Awards 2025 finalists announced: Rising AI Star

Press kit

Bios, photos and logos

Free to use when writing about me or introducing a talk. No need to ask, but a link back to this site is appreciated.

Short bio (50 words)

Blake Harkness is an AI engineer and speaker based in Christchurch, New Zealand. He founded Harkness AI, an AI consultancy that has worked with 50+ New Zealand businesses, and Young Kiwis in AI, a community of 350+ young New Zealanders getting into AI and tech careers.

Long bio

Blake Harkness is an AI engineer and speaker based in Christchurch, New Zealand. He founded Harkness AI, an AI consultancy that has helped 50+ New Zealand businesses adopt AI and automation, and works as a fractional AI engineer with surveying and engineering firm Patersons.

He has delivered 35+ talks, workshops and webinars across the country, from a 340-person stage at the M2 AI Summit to hands-on Claude and MCP sessions. He founded Young Kiwis in AI, a community of 350+ young New Zealanders with meetups in five cities, sits on Engineering New Zealand's AI Advisory Committee, and contributes to the AI Forum NZ AEC working group.

Blake was named a Rising AI Star finalist in the Aotearoa AI Awards in 2025 and 2026, and travelled with the New Zealand AI and robotics delegation to China in 2026. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechatronics from Massey University.

Stage introduction

Our next speaker is Blake Harkness, an AI engineer from Christchurch who has helped 50+ New Zealand businesses put AI to work. He runs Harkness AI, founded Young Kiwis in AI, and is known for talks that skip the hype and show what AI can actually do today. Please welcome Blake.

Photos

Logos

My own channels

Where I publish

  • YouTube - 150+ AI educational videos, mostly practical walkthroughs for NZ businesses.
  • Articles on harknessai.nz - longer write-ups from client work across 50+ NZ businesses.
  • Blake’s AI Briefing - a short monthly email for NZ business owners on what’s worth knowing in AI.
  • Speaking log - the public talks behind the 35+ speaking events.
  • LinkedIn - where most of my writing lands first.

Booking a talk rather than an interview? Speaking enquiries go through Harkness AI.

Get in touch

Booking Blake to speak

Speaking enquiries go through Harkness AI, which also keeps the full talk list. Want an AI engineer embedded in your team? That’s Harkness AI.

Speaking enquiriesblake@harknessai.nz