Keynote Speakers 2026
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Keynote Speakers 2026 〰️
Zara Maslin
Belinda & Matt Stott
Matt and Belinda have almost three decades of experience in youth and young adult ministry, both here in Aotearoa and internationally. Their Soul Tour initiative (www.soultour.co.nz) has helped thousands of young people build faith, resilience, and improve their mental/emotional health.
In her counselling practice, Belinda specialises in working with young adults and supervising youth workers. She has helped literally thousands of individuals resolve trust and forgiveness issues, resolve past trauma, find life-long partners, and move on from depression, anxiety and addiction.
Over 300,000 teenagers and young adults have been encouraged and equipped by Matt’s inspirational speaking. His style is entertaining, educational, and personable. Matt has recently graduated from Laidlaw College with a Master's degree in Theology.
Matt and Belinda offer a wealth of knowledge and very practical tools for how to find rest in a busy world. They have been married for 29 years and have two children, Jasper and Scarlett.
(Sunday Morning)
Zara (she/her) is the self-appointed Queen of the Vicarage and a distracted parishioner at St Aidan's Church in Ōtautahi. Alongside her husband, Rev'd Matt, she is living the dream of integrated ministry life and raising two small tornadoes disguised as daughters.
She loves coffee and her geriatric ginger cat, is an expert in recovery from social faux pas, and is very good at pushing children on swings at the same time as being an enthusiastic group-chat participant.
Professionally, Zara lectures in Youth Work and Theology at Laidlaw College. Drawing on experience in youth work, social services and sector leadership, she is passionate about helping others discover how faith shapes ordinary life and how God's story is part of our own.
She is delighted to back at The Abbey and surprised to have been invited to keynote.
(Saturday Morning & Evening)
Rev Matt Maslin
(Friday Evening)
Rev'd Matt Maslin is an Anglican priest based in Christchurch. He currently serves as the Vicar of Bryndwr at St Aidan's Anglican Church and Community Centre, having served at the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral for the last few years. Alongside Parish ministry, Matt is also an Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Laidlaw College and occasional Christian radio guest on Rhema- so ask your grandma about him!
Whether he's preaching, teaching, or pastoring, Matt is passionate about making theology accessible, learning from the breadth of the Christian tradition, and ensuring the good news is heard and experienced by those who are too often overlooked.
Matt's favourite role, however, is being husband to Zara and dad to Piper and Paige, who fill his life with Joy. He loves a good book session, a good gym session, a good Xbox session and the occasional cheeky beer with friends.