Murray Thom, was the keynote speaker for the evening. A serial entrepreneur, Murray’s boutique music company, Thom Music, has enjoyed great success and two of his productions: ‘Together’ and ‘Miracle’ have both featured on the Oprah Winfrey show. The 'Together' 10 CD Collection was named as Oprah’s 'Favourite Thing of the Year” and another show featured ‘Miracle’, a collaboration with Celine Dion and photographer Anne Geddes. Murray was named one of New Zealand’s Top 10 Entrepreneurs of the decade by NZ Business magazine. Murray is also a past Trustee of the “Play it Strange’ trust and was a presenter to the recent RYLA course.
 

 
 
'Opportunities don't shout, they whisper” seems to be Murray’s mantra, “The Great New Zealand Songbook” being a classic example of this statement, Murrays next project replicated this across the “ditch” where he produced 'The Great Australian Songbook', released in November 2011, made up of two CDs of the best Australian music and a 90-page hardcover journal featuring handwritten lyrics, photos and memorabilia from the artists. The concept has now extended to “The Great New Zealand Cook Book”, “The Great New Zealand Baking Book and the soon to be released, “Great New Zealand Birthday Cake Book”. Sales of “The Great New Zealand Baking Book” have to date contributed $125,000 to KidsCan and Murray was kind enough to gift a copy of the “The Great New Zealand Songbook” to Marie Lebreton as a keep safe reminder for the future of her time in New Zealand.