The Māori Economy: key insights on how and why to engage with the $68.7 billion Māori economy as it continues to grow and develop as an integral part of the economic ecosystem of Aotearoa.

• Understanding the Māori economy and why is it an integral part of Aotearoa’s economy across a wide range of industries and sectors.

• Current challenges for the Māori economy.

• Opportunities for businesses and investors from engaging well with Māori business.

• Real life examples of successful Māori enterprises and current investment and partnership opportunities.

• Unravelling the mysteries of meaningful engagement: Practical tips to understand key principles that underpin Māori businesses, and how these principles drive strategic outcomes different from the traditional Western business models.

Te Pūoho Katene

Executive Director, Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust

Te Pūoho traces his heritage to the Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Tama tribes. A graduate of Stanford Business School and Fulbright Scholar, he is steadfast in his pursuit of holistic prosperity for Māori.

His comprehensive background includes marine science, commercial and investment strategy, governance, relationship management across iwi and government, impact investment and social enterprise. His role as an Obama Foundation Leader: Asia-Pacific has given him a global outlook on leveraging global best practice within an indigenous, values-based lens.

As Executive Director of Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust, Te Pūoho pursues targeted social change within a tikanga-based impact framework. The Trust’s philanthropic and investment activity targets outcomes in three priority areas: education & training, traditional and scientific knowledge systems, and leadership development.

He serves his tribe, Ngāti Toa, as a Trustee and a member of the Audit, Risk and Investment Committee. He is an Independent Director of Wakatū Inc’s Manaaki board and Waikato-Tainui’s Distributions Committee and is a Trustee of Ākina Foundation and Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) Foundation.

He is a founding member of Future Food Aotearoa (FFA) – a founder’s movement formed in 2020 to accelerate the growth and impact of future food and foodtech businesses from New Zealand.

Formerly a member of NZTE’s Māori Investment and KPMG’s Corporate Finance teams, TP also spent 10 years working for New Zealand’s government, including within Parliament advising on prominent policy issues, such as regional economic development, Treaty settlements, and fisheries & aquaculture.

Michael Stiassny

Director, Stiassny + Co

Michael has over 40 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant, specialising in strategic advice, insolvency, and turnaround activities.

He is currently Chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Limited and Tower Limited, and a director of a number of other companies.

He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (retired), a life member of RITANZ, a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a past President of the Institute.

Kate Searancke

Partner, Tompkins Wake

Kate is a Partner in our Property team specialising in leasing and commercial property transactions. Kate works with developers and investors across their commercial property portfolio's to facilitate the sale and acquisition of property including due diligence and financing. Kate also specialises in local government property law working with local authorities throughout the central North Island.

Of Ngati Maniapoto descent, Kate has a strong focus on her own iwi interests and the wider Maori community and is a representative for her hapu Ngawaero on Waipa District Council's consultative committee Nga Iwi o Topu o Waipa. Kate leads our Maori Business practice and works with local government and private entities, advising on complex Maori land law issues and on working effectively with Maori and iwi engagement ensuring seamless advice for whanau, hapu and iwi clients.

Kate has been practicing law since 2004 and joined Tompkins Wake in 2014 having previously worked for Bell Gully in Auckland and Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) in Sydney. Kate was promoted to Partner in 2018.

Schedule

7:00am - 7:30am - Registration Opens

7:30am - 7.50am - Breakfast

7:50am - 7:55am - Welcome: Chairperson

7:55am - 8:10am - Introduction: Chairperson

Speaker 1

8:10am - 8:25am - Introduction: Chairperson

Speaker 2

8:25am - 8:40am - Networking break, coffee, refreshments

8:40am - 8:55am - Introduction: Chairperson

Speaker 3

8:55am - 9:25am - Panel Discussion

9:25am - Closing by Chairman

9:30am - Event over / networking

Venue (Hilton Auckland):

• When is a family office necessary and where to start?

• Constructing a coherent investment philosophy

• Accessing best of class fund managers, and when to invest directly

• Family succession and the role of independent directors and advisors

• Balancing beneficiary needs with long-term goals

• Disciplines of reporting to beneficiaries

• The role of a family foundation

Speakers

Henri Eliot
Founder and CEO, Board Dynamics

Henri Eliot is the Founder and CEO of Board Dynamics and author of the best selling governance book ‘Board Shorts’. 

For over twelve years, Henri’s consultancy Board Dynamics has provided customised strategic advice to directors and boards throughout New Zealand. Henri is a regular contributor to a number of publications including Stuff, The New Zealand Herald, National Business Review and the Sunday Star-Times. 

Henri is currently Chairman Balle Bros Group, Dodson Motorsport and Trustee Plunket Foundation.  He also Chairs several advisory boards. 

Henri received his LLB (Hons) from the University of London, his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from McGill University, his Master’s degree in Commercial and Corporate Law from the University of Auckland, his MBA from Richmond University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship from the University of Cambridge.

Henri is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand and Associate Member of Arbitrators & Mediators Institute of New Zealand.  He trained as a mediator at Harvard Law School.

Raphael Yan
Director, Artemis Capital Limited

Raphael was born in Wellington, attending boarding school in Cambridge and Auckland. After graduating with a B.Com/LLB from Canterbury University he was admitted to the Bar in Auckland. Not long after which he joined Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong. During his time in Asia he worked in the debt capital markets advising Asia-Pacific Sovereigns, Banks and large Corporates who accessed the international bond markets. Raphael was a member of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and attained his Series 7 US Securities Dealers Association designation. He has both fond and trying memories of his time in Asia before and after the Hong Kong handover, the Asian Financial Crisis and the Long-Term Capital Management and Russian crises.

In his spare time there he enjoyed dragon boat racing and played rugby for the HK Football Club and played a few games for the Hong Kong Dragons. He left HK in 2002 as a Vice President at Salomon Smith Barney returning to NZ to marry and start a family. At that time he established Artemis Capital with his brother and father-in law. Artemis is a single family office with responsibility for fixed income, public and private equity investments. This includes investments for the family charitable trust initiative.
Raphael and his wife Eugénie are both involved in public charities (Plunket Foundation and Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, respectively) and the 2 eldest of their 3 teenage children established a volunteer tutoring initiative to a decile 1 Intermediate school, amongst other community focused initiatives that are encouraged at their school. Raphael and his family enjoy snow skiing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and travelling together.

Stephen Fisher
Managing Director, Fisher International Limited

Stephen has been running the Family office (Fisher International Ltd) for the past 45 years which manages and administers 14 Trusts covering as many investment portfolios and approximately 40 Beneficiaries. The investment portfolios and beneficiary assets are based in NZ, Mexico, UK, Australia, and Singapore.

Stephen also chairs the family charitable trust and the Spirit of Adventure Trust of which he is the surviving founder Trustee of 48 years. A life's passion.

A keen yachtsman of a bygone era, a poor golfer who enjoys the challenge, a Coast to Coaster and a skier, Stephen has been closely involved with the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Arts and attended Harvard Business School.

Stephen was awarded the QSO in 1994 and became a Chevalier of the Belgian Ord re de la Couronne in 2001. He is married to the celebrated interior designer Virginia Fisher and they have a son, Benjamin.

Tom Arieli (Chair)
Partner, Tompkins Wake

Tom is a corporate and commercial law specialist with almost 20 years’ experience practicing law. Tom joined Tompkins Wake in 2012 and acts as a trusted advisor to businesses and high net worth families, using his extensive experience to deliver pragmatic and client-centric advice.  Tom advises across a range of industries and specialises in M&A, corporate governance, restructuring, joint ventures, succession and shareholder disputes.

A recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 for Asia Pacific, Tom leads our Auckland office and is also a member of Tompkins Wake's Board of Partners.

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• Assessing your business stage, when you should hunt for money, and your capital options – ‘Smart’ money? Debt finance?

• What motivates investors to choose any particular investment opportunity: What are investors in green investment, and early stage start-up investments, looking for? What about investors in established businesses hunting for capital for next stage growth?

• What factors are contributing to NZ’s high performing export economy and growth in this space?

• Does NZ have advantages for international investors looking for investments as a result of our Covid response and (comparative) “business as usual” position?

• What happens when the cheap money ends?

• What’s the outlook for investment and M&A activity in New Zealand?

Speakers

Raynor McMahon
Executive Director, Cube Credit

Raynor has over 20 years banking experience across all forms of corporate and institutional lending. Prior to setting up Cube Credit, Raynor’s role was Executive Director, Head of Loans for Westpac Institutional Bank based in Auckland. Raynor’s team had responsibility for originating, structuring, executing and portfolio management for all forms of debt product including leveraged & acquisition finance, project finance, and corporate & institutional lending, including bilateral, club and syndicated loans. Prior to Westpac, Raynor was Head of Specialised Finance at Bank of New Zealand. During his banking career Raynor has worked in Auckland, Wellington, Sydney and London for various banks and has always had a focus on creative bespoke structuring of debt to meet desired client outcomes.

Cube Credit is a specialist debt advisory firm that works with public and private companies to raise debt capital from banks and other private credit providers. Recently Raynor and his partners have established a NZ private credit fund, Aotea Asset Management, focused on providing debt capital to mid market NZ companies.

Randal Barrett
Managing Director, Pioneer Capital

Randal co-founded Pioneer Capital in 2005 and leads the firm’s external relationships and investment sourcing and management activities.  Pioneer Capital partners with owners and managers of private exporting businesses by providing support and capital in the form of private equity or private debt that primarily funds growth, which may include acquisitions, and may also be a bridge to public markets, a refinancing or a change of ownership.  Pioneer Capital has raised $870 million to date and invested in 23 New Zealand businesses in the export economy, that have gone on to make 18 bolt-on acquisitions and achieve 5 IPOs and 11 ownership transitions. 

Prior to Pioneer Capital, Randal was an Investment Manager in the office of a private US investor in London, CEO of a Morgan Stanley-backed telecoms company operating in Scandinavia and Europe, and an Associate at Baker McKenzie’s London office, after starting his career with Simpson Grierson in Auckland.

Rob Vickery
Founder and Managing Partner, Hillfarrance Venture Capital

Rob is the Founder and Managing Partner at Hillfarrance Venture Capital and an entrepreneur-turned-VC who has been investing at the frontiers of enterprise technology since 2012.
Hillfarrance invests in Kiwi entrepreneurs who are solving the hardest global problems that matter. Hillfarrance is focused on becoming the most recommended source of early stage capital by founders, for founders. 

Prior to creating Hillfarrance, Rob was the Founding Partner of one of Los Angeles’ most active enterprise software venture funds, Stage Venture Partners.

He is married to Diana and they have two sons, Arthur and James, and a Siberian Husky named Luna.

Cecilia Tarrant
Chair of the Board of Directors, New Zealand Green Investment Finance

Cecilia is passionate about making New Zealand a better place and empowering future leaders.  With a background in international capital markets, banking and law, she has established herself as a professional company director since returning from overseas in 2010.  Cecilia is the Chair of New Zealand Green Investment Finance, a company established by the New Zealand Government to accelerate low emissions investment in New Zealand.  She is also a Director of Seeka and Payments NZ, a Member of The University of Auckland Council and a Trustee of The University of Auckland Foundation.

Outside of governance, Cecilia focuses on investing in start-ups and on mentoring.  She chairs ArcAngels, an early-stage investor network that invests in, and supports, women-led businesses.  Cecilia also leads Women’s Mentoring Programmes at the University of Auckland Business School and Law School.

Kerri Dewe (Chair)
Partner, Tompkins Wake

Kerri is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer who joined Tompkins Wake in 2020 as a partner. Kerri is a proactive and effective professional who is often commended by clients for her responsiveness and project contributions. Her skills have been recognised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 as 'Next Generation Partner' and 'Recommended Lawyer' for 2021.

Kerri has a successful practice focused on transactional M&A matters and other corporate and commercial work, including negotiating significant commercial contracts, business structuring and advisory work, securities legislation and regulatory compliance matters.

Kerri works with clients across a range of industries, from start-ups to SMEs to leading corporates, private companies, listed companies, private equity funds, financial institutions and professional services firms. Her broad corporate and commercial experience, including valuable perspective she gained working within various commercial organisations as an in-house counsel, means she is an effective advisor to businesses.

• Is mentoring the key to differentiating Angel investors?

• Is Angel investing a hits business driven by a faith in the low probability of massive returns?

• Why do Angel investors tend to gravitate to the high tech sector?

• How much does Angel investing depend on incubator environments?

• How is crowd funding impacting on Angel investment?

• Angels, super Angels and VCs - where and how are the lines being drawn today?

• Why has Angel investing been embraced in the United States more than anywhere else?

• Is Angel investing still a key to innovation, productivity gains and growth in an economy?

• Is Angel investment too dependent on white males?

Speakers

Paul Dravis
Partner, Future Perfect Machine USA

Paul Dravis, Partner at Future Perfect Machine, focuses on the changing dynamics of finance, technology and the global economy.

He has worked with organizations such as the World Bank, JP Morgan, Microsoft Corp., SAP AG, Silicon Valley Bank, Government of Jordan, RCM Global Investors, Banc of America Securities, Robertson Stevens and Co. and others as a software developer, business strategist, investor and more.

His notable publications include “Design Thinking and Beyond: Strategies for Innovation”, “Artificial Intelligence in Finance: The Road Ahead”, “Bitcoin, Digital Currency and the Internet of Money: Innovations in Global Commerce”, “Open Source Software: Perspectives for Development” for the World Bank and “The World Wide Web: Globally Connected Plain and Simple” for JP Morgan.

Rob Vickery
Co-Founder and General Partner, Stage Venture Partners USA

Rob is a Co-Founder and General Partner of Stage Venture Partners, which is a seed venture capital fund that invests in emerging technology for B2B markets.

Stage invests in founders from diverse backgrounds who are building cutting-edge software technology for enterprise clients. Founders, especially those solving hard problems that matter, seek us out for our unique expertise, and our alignment with their daring vision. Rob built Stage to have the conviction to be first; often the first institutional investor on the cap table and the first to identify new technological trends. Now on its third fund, Stage has invested in 23 seed stage companies from across the globe, with a particular focus on four sectors:

• Defense & aerospace

• Software-enabled hardware

• E-commerce software tools

• Vertical artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions

Before co-founding Stage, Rob hailed from a rural community in the West Country region of the UK, held a number of executive roles within large financial institutions, pioneering new distribution channels and making and managing large-scale technology investments. He moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and then began his journey as an angel investor and then founding Stage in 2014.

Rob has also served on the boards and committees of the British Academy of Film Television Arts (BAFTA) LA Games, British American Business Council, International Trade Education Programs, South Central Scholars and the Chairman of the School of Business & Entrepreneurship at Dorsey High School. In his downtime, Rob is an avid global traveler, a fan of the exploring outdoors with his family, movie and video game fanatic, and an amateur paleontologist.

Angela Jackson
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Portland Seed Fund Oregon USA

Angela Jackson is co-founder and managing director of the Portland Seed Fund, a top-performing private/public seed fund with 4 funds/$24 Million under management. The Fund has invested in ~100 high growth, capital-efficient companies in sectors including technology, energy, health and consumer product, primarily in the Northwest. Since 2011, the portfolio has realized numerous accretive exits while achieving stellar metrics for place-based investing/economic impact and backing diverse teams. Ms. Jackson has also shaped Portland State University's innovation and entrepreneurship presence in Oregon for the past nine years, most visibly through its award-winning Business Accelerator and signature student invention competitions.

Ms. Jackson recently became a venture partner in Portfolia, a new women-led investing model based in San Francisco and investing nationally. Earlier in her career, she was a founding investor in Oregon Angel Fund and advised/invested in companies in multiple sectors, leading to several of the largest liquidity events in the region. She was a president of the Portland chapter of Keiretsu Forum, a Principal at Emergent Fund, and served as Chair of Angel Oregon, a premier angel investment competition. She was named 2018 Tech Champion of the Year by Technology Association of Oregon, and a Woman of Influence in 2015 by Portland Business Journal, and was a delegate to the US State Department's Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, India. She serves on the boards of Lumen Learning, the Oregon Film Board and the Angel Capital Association, and is a frequent judge/mentor for entrepreneur pitch competitions locally and globally. Ms. Jackson credits her serial entrepreneur family history with her comfort in the trenches of early stage entrepreneurship and investment. She holds a B.A. in English and history from Boston University and a M.A. in environmental studies from University of Oregon.

As our economies become more modern and sophisticated, electronic technology continues to drive change. An ever increasing proportion of payment transactions are now completed electronically and the trend is set to continue.

Our speakers will explore:

• The future of cash in the changing payments landscape

• The changing nature in the changing payments landscape

• The changing nature of currency and the emergence of digital and cryptographic currencies such as Bitcoin

• The likely evolution of retail banks to meet the modern needs of business and society

• The rise of payment powerhouses such as Alipay and WeChat Pay

• The implications of modern money for business, society, and maintaining integrity in financial systems

Speakers

Liz Maguire
Head of Digital and Transformation, ANZ

Liz Maguire is a passionate transformational leader who leads large programmes of change to fundamentally improve customer experience in a business. Liz currently leads the digital transformation of ANZ New Zealand, the largest bank in New Zealand.

ANZ has the largest digital customer base, the 12th biggest website in New Zealand and the most popular mobile banking app (ANZ goMoney) on iTunes and Google Play.

Liz has a particular interest in how digital capability can work with traditional channels to improve customer and staff experience, and this interest is central to the digitisation and payments programmes she has underway within the Bank.

Prior to this she led the Branch Optimisation Programme, a $100m+ investment in updating, reconfiguring and relocating the ANZ branch network.

With more than 20 years’ experience in financial services, Liz has held a wide range of leadership roles in products, marketing, business support and channel management.

She has worked for a number of leading financial services providers in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

Liz has a Bachelor of Commerce in Management Studies & Labour Relations from the University of Auckland and lives in Auckland.

Mark Pascall
Executive Director, Blockchain NZ

Mark is passionate about all things decentralised and blockchain. He is currently Executive Director of BlockchainNZ and co-founder of TheDAO.agency (specialising in helping others to create Decentralised Autonomous Organisations). He co-founded Blockchainlabs.nz, has presented at over 30 conferences on blockchain related topics, has been a Blockchain trainer at Tech Futures Lab and was part of the SingularityU New Zealand local faculty training.

Over the last four years he has been on a mission to educate/inspire business people and put New Zealand at the centre of the blockchain disruption. He has been featured in the Listener, Radio NZ and TV3 Newshub and he co-authored the report "New Zealand: Unlocking Blockchain’s Potential". He was recently featured in The Here and Now of DAOs.

Steve Gordon
Head of Banking, Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea Matua

Steve Gordon currently heads the Reserve Bank’s Banking department which is responsible for currency and electronic payment systems. The department is leading the Bank’s work looking at the Future of Cash – Te Moni Anamata. Prior to his current assignment, Steve led an extensive modernisation of the Bank’s Risk Assessment and Assurance function, positioning it as a best practice enterprise risk, audit and legal team. His leadership of the Bank’s Enterprise Risk Management model won an international Central Banking award in 2016.

Developing productive, sustainable, and socially-inclusive work models in the face of rapid technological change and value shifts.

The world of work is changing. Widespread connectivity, increased automation, and emerging technologies, together with shifting demographics and changing values, and disrupting individual roles, moving work practice boundaries, blurring the nature of work and traditional models of employment and rewards, and challenging established business strategy.

Our speakers will discuss:

• How rapid technological change and disruption is changing the workforce and impacting strategic planning and risk management.

• Embracing and adopting technology and the digital culture, building capability, and promoting employee voice - opportunities and benefits for businesses of all sizes

• The evolution of workforces and workplaces, organising for the future, and navigating the transition

• Enhancing productivity and engaging and empowering your workforce across flexible work arrangements and distributed workplaces

Speakers

Christine Brotherton
Head of People and Capability, Perpetual Guardian

Christine’s role is to develop innovative and inclusive people strategies in all aspects that relate to the company’s recruitment programme, organisational culture, employee relations and talent management.  For over 135 years Perpetual Guardian has been providing New Zealanders with estate plans and providing certainty for their legacies – with Wills, Trusts, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Investment Advisory or Philanthropic ventures.  The company’s 4 Day Working Week is an example of Perpetual Guardian’s wish to push the boundaries, and to challenge how we work. 

Christine previously worked in senior HR roles for global professional services and financial services companies in New Zealand, UK and Japan. 

Vincent Vuillard
Co-Founder & Director, FutureWork Studio

Vincent is the co-founder of FutureWork Studio, a company he started with fellow business leader Joanne Fair in response to the rapidly changing nature of work. Their aim is to create sustainable freelancing options for professionals while helping businesses upskill their workforce for the future. Vincent started his career as an Officer in the Armed Forces where he spent a decade leading teams in challenging situations. Vincent then transitioned to work for McKinsey & Company in New Zealand and Australia where his experience was applied in a number of large scale organisational transformations, with a particular focus on capability building and business execution. Vincent holds a Master of Science (MSc) from the Ecole Navale, an MBA from Melbourne University and is a graduate of the Executive programme at Singularity University in California.

Intangible assets such as data, brands, software code, client lists, regulatory approvals and confidential information (including trade secrets) account for an estimated 87% of company value. Despite this, many companies diligently track low-value items in their fixed asset register and fail to identify valuable intangible assets which are typically absent from, or under-valued on, balance sheets. As a result, significant intangible value remains untapped.

However, the mood is changing. Smart boards and management teams are now proactively identifying what intangible assets they hold and are taking steps to extract value from those assets. At the same time, boards are learning to manage the ever-increasing risks associated with protecting intangible assets. Whether it be the increasing vulnerability of confidential information in today’s digital age, the risk of infringing third party intellectual property rights or directors’ liability for failure to adequately protect intangible assets, these risks need to be taken seriously.

Our speakers will discuss:

• What are intangible assets and why are they so valuable?

• How can companies identify and leverage their intangible assets to build and maintain a competitive edge?

• What questions should directors and management teams be asking in relation to their intangible asset positions?

• What is the relevance of directors’ duties to the need for directors to understand, identify, optimise and protect intangible assets?

• What are the key risks associated with intangible assets (including the increasing vulnerability of data in today’s digital age) and how can those risks be mitigated?

• What are some examples of intangible asset success stories?

Speakers

Paul Adams
Chief Executive Officer, EverEdge Global

Paul Adams is the CEO of EverEdge, a global advisory and transaction firm specialising in intangible assets. EverEdge helps companies and capital providers convert intangible assets (such as data, design, inventions, brands, software and content) into business impact: increased margins, market share and enterprise value.

Paul has been ranked as one of the top intellectual property strategists in the world for the last five years consecutively and was the recipient of the Global IP Leader Award in 2012.

Prior to EverEdge, Paul served as Intellectual Property Manager for the New York Stock Exchange listed Brunswick New Technologies. He was the founding incubator manager of The Icehouse Incubator, named one of the top 10 technology incubators in the world by Forbes magazine. He has served on the advisory board of the New Zealand government’s commercialisation vehicle Callaghan Innovation and on the Board of Lewis Holdings, a $350M private investment vehicle.

• Is there a shortage of capital for good investment opportunities, or are those opportunities in short supply?

• Distinguishing the product from the business and its people in assessing opportunities for growth

• Is Angel and VC transactional activity underweighted relative to PE?

• Update on Angel, Venture Capital and PE investments

• Has the liberalising of the legal framework for capital raising opportunities been over-hyped?

• Is technology going to remain the dominant investment sector?

• How do investors access the expertise to properly assess the technology, IT, health, biosecurity and manufacturing sectors?

• What part do bigger picture issues play such as climate change, state moves to reallocate capital, developed versus developing economies, measures of growth other than GDP?

Speakers

Wendee Wolfson
Leadership Coach and Consultant, Angel Investor

Wendee Wolfson has been working with entrepreneurs and investing in entrepreneurial high growth companies for over twenty years. After beginning her career and spending several years in the financial services industry, she was a founding partner of Women’s Growth Capital Fund, a venture fund focused on women entrepreneurs, and of WomenAngels.Net, funding Washington, DC area startups.

Currently she remains actively involved with organised angel investing groups as a lead advisor to the Next Wave Impact Fund, a new fund formed for the purpose of investing in for-profit social enterprises, and its predecessor pilot fund, Rising Tide, both created to educate and engage more women in early stage investing. She also co-chairs the annual International Exchange for the Angel Capital Association yearly summit in which early stage investors from over twenty-five countries participate in an exchange of ideas and developments in their regions.

In addition to her work with Next Wave, Wendee is a Leadership Coach to emerging and experienced leaders through her individual practice at Brickworks Advisors and through an affiliation with Mobius Executive Leadership. She is also a coach for executives in the Georgetown University Executive Masters in Leadership program and for Fellows in the Halcyon Incubator Program for social entrepreneurs.

In previous activities, she has consulted to families in business together, creating and facilitating programs on family systems, communications, leadership development, and leadership transitions between generations. She has worked with non-profit boards to develop strategic initiatives and implement leadership transitions as a consultant and as a board member.

Wendee has a BA from Brandeis University in French Literature, an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. She holds the International Coaching Federation certification as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC).

Jeffrey Paine
Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures

Jeffrey Paine is a Co-founder and Managing Partner of Golden Gate Ventures, an early stage technology venture capital fund based in Singapore investing in Southeast Asia with over US$175 million under management investing in over 35 companies since 2012.

Jeff started and manages the Founder Institute in Singapore where he is currently overseeing its expansion in Southeast Asia and Japan. Since 2010 the Founder Institute in Singapore has graduated over 100 companies. He is a recipient of the Founder Institute Director Award 2012 for “Greatest Ecosystem Impact” Worldwide (Singapore).

He is a Singapore native and graduated with a Bachelors of Business Administration (Information Systems) from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Adhijit Banerjee
Managing Director, Decacorn Capital

Tech entrepreneur, venture capitalist, business leader with three decades of international experience, Abhijit has a deep understanding of cross vertical business processes, human capital and software applications which propel great businesses.

Abhijit is a Partner and Managing Director in Decacorn Capital, a Singapore domiciled cross border venture capital initiative, curating startups from across the world, mostly pioneering game changing models from US, Europe, deep tech from Israel, and scalable platforms in Asia. Prior to formalizing his journey as a VC, Abhijit has been an angel investor in early stage startups alongside mentoring passionate young founders.

Since moving to Singapore in the nineties, Abhijit had set up and grown three early stage tech companies, including a funded fintech in the Asia Pacific region establishing footprints across SE Asia, North Asia and Australia. At each of these companies, Abhijit has used a combination of smart branding, aggressive sales models and customer retention efforts as the fundamental growth drivers providing him a broad view of their unique as well as common business issues which impact revenue and bottomline.

In a world which is at its disruptive best Abhijit considers himself a “digital migrant” and believes “what brought him here will not take him there” which keeps him firmly on a track of continuous learning.

• What are the big opportunities for business and the economy arising out of climate action?

• What can businesses do now to prepare for and face challenges brought about by climate change?

• How important is legislative reform and what is the likely impact of such reform?

• How can a business’ contribution to climate action and carbon neutrality be calculated?

Speakers

Brett Tomkins
Partner - Deloitte

Brett has been involved in sustainability for over a decade, and is passionate about helping organisations to think beyond the financials. Brett believes in "Integrated Thinking" which means taking a holistic view on value creation provides better outcomes for all stakeholders over the long term and as such means that our collective futures are assured. The road is not easy, but this is what makes it exhilarating. Brett's personal objective is "Pioneering to make life better" and this is what drives him to make a difference.

Ann Smith
CEO - Enviro-Mark Solutions

Ann is a recognised thought leader and representative on a number of national and international sustainable business and carbon management forums. She leads Enviro-Mark Solutions with expertise on latest developments in international best practice and standards on carbon inventories, footprinting and reporting, carbon reduction and offsetting, and Science Based Targets.

Enviro-Mark Solutions Limited is the home of the CEMARS, carboNZero, Enviro-Mark and Energy-Mark certification programmes which assist organisations to improve their carbon, environmental, and energy management. As a subsidiary of Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Enviro-Mark Solutions’ programmes are science-based and programme certification is highly regarded for its credibility and integrity.

Ann is passionate about supporting businesses to improve their environmental performance and contribute to New Zealand's transition to a sustainable low carbon economy.

Helen Jenkins
Sustainability and Environment Manager - Auckland Airport

Helen is a sustainability professional specialising in carbon reduction, climate change adaption and sustainability in the infrastructure sector. She is an advocate for recognising impacts of climate change within business risk management processes and embedding climate related initiatives within existing business strategies. For the past ten years Helen has worked in the road, rail and utilities sectors to implement climate change reduction and adaption initiatives on major infrastructure projects. Helen has worked with climate leading organisations such as Network Rail and Anglian Water in the UK and currently works for Auckland Airport. As head of sustainability for the airport, a major focus is carbon reduction and implementing the climate change adaption plan for the airport.

• Identifying key business objectives and evaluating options for growth

• Addressing hurdles faced by medium size businesses seeking capital

• Considering and planning a capital realisation strategy – why, when, how?

• Where does the balance lie between listing and private equity – competitors or complementary? What does private equity bring?

• What are the benefits of NZX listings?

• Effecting a successful transition

Speakers

Nigel Bingham
Managing Partner of Pencarrow Private Equity

Nigel is Managing Partner of Pencarrow Private Equity, New Zealand’s longest established private equity firm. Nigel currently represents Pencarrow on the boards of portfolio companies MMC, Netlogix and Seequent, and has previously served on the boards of BrewGroup, Rishworth Aviation, NZ Crane Group, Phil & Teds and BJ Ball.

Nigel is part of an investment team of six that is currently investing Pencarrow’s most recent fund, Pencarrow V, raised in March 2018 with $250 million committed capital, targeting small to mid-market buyouts and succession and expansion capital opportunities in the New Zealand market.

Nigel has over 30 years’ experience in private equity and investment banking in New Zealand and is a council member of the New Zealand Private Equity & Venture Capital Association. Prior to joining Pencarrow in 2005, Nigel was a partner with investment bank, Cameron Partners, and prior to that was an executive at investment bank, Fay Richwhite.

Joanna Lawn
Head of Issuer Relationships at NZX Limited

Joanna joined NZX in September 2017. Joanna is responsible for developing commercial relationships with existing and prospective equity, debt and fund clients, creating increased awareness of NZX’s products and services, and supporting the broader growth of New Zealand’s capital markets.

Joanna has extensive banking and corporate finance experience, previously working at ANZ in the Institutional Banking Division, with responsibilities in New Zealand and overseas. In her roles as Head of Client Insights & Solutions and Head of Business Management, she gained extensive experience in the areas of strategy, building strong client relationships, business process and performance, and transactional experience. Prior to ANZ, Joanna worked for Deutsche Bank Australia, with experience advising on buy and sell side mandates, capital raisings and project infrastructure transactions cross a wide range of sectors, and worked for nine years in London at Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust and Lazard Brothers & Co in their M&A division markets divisions.

Mark Henderson
Operating Manager of Snowberry New Zealand Ltd

Mark is an experienced businessman and has been integral to the development of Snowberry over the past 10 years. Prior to Snowberry, Mark founded and subsequently sold two successful businesses - Fleximak and Seal Jet.

Seal Jet (a New Zealand based company) has manufactured and distributed custom-made industrial polymer and elastomer products for industry since 1993. When sold in 2006, Seal Jet employed thirteen technical and sales staff and generated revenue of approximately NZ$2 million per annum.

ENZED Fleximak (a UAE based company) specialised in supplying fluid transfer products to the oil, gas, marine and construction industries throughout the Middle East from 1985. ENZED Fleximak employed more than 90 technical staff and generated revenue of approximately US$45 million per annum. Mark sold ENZED Fleximak to the US Gates Corporation in 2006.

Mark oversaw the sale of Snowberry to the P&G Company in January this year. He remains as Operating Manager with responsibilities including finance, operations, production and bio-discovery management.

• What does sustainability entail? Is it just about being environmentally friendly or is it more than that?

• Is sustainability a factor in attracting investment? Do investee companies with a sustainability focus or awareness perform better than those without such a focus?

• How does sustainability impact recruitment and talent management?

• Can businesses afford not to be observing sustainability principles? What is the reputational risk of being a laggard with sustainability?

• What are the benefits to shareholders, staff, customers and the wider public when a business observes good sustainability practices?

• Are New Zealand company directors sufficiently up to speed with sustainability?

• Is sustainability only for big corporates or should it be a focus for SMEs too?

• What is the difference between sustainability and corporate social responsibility?

• How can businesses maximise returns from observing good sustainability practices?

Speakers

Rob Campbell
Chair of SkyCity Entertainment Group, Summerset, Tourism Holdings and WEL Networks and director of Precinct Properties

Rob has over 30 years’ experience in capital markets and is a director of or advisor to a range of investment fund and private equity groups in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and the United States of America. Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Economic History and Political Science and a Masters of Philosophy in Economics.

Abbie Reynolds
Executive Director of the Sustainabe Business Council

The Sustainable Business Council is a division of BusinessNZ that represents 94 member businesses, including some of New Zealand's largest companies. Its membership accounts for almost a third of private sector GDP.

Abbie brings with her a depth of expertise in social, financial and environmental sustainability within business. Before joining SBC, Abbie led the Vodafone Foundation and was Head of Sustainability at Vodafone. She has worked on a wide range of sustainability initiatives including rolling out an eco-rating for mobile phones. Abbie was also the driving force behind a mobile phone recycling programme that delivered $2.5 million to Starship.

Abbie champions the interests of businesses that want to be the best for New Zealand and the world. This includes driving action on climate change, governance, social impact and ecosystem health. She is also continuing to grow the organisation's focus on mainstreaming sustainable business practices throughout New Zealand.

Previously she has led sustainability and regulatory work at Spark, the UK's Cable & Wireless and as a resource management/environment solicitor for Bell Gully.

Robbie Tindall
Analyst at K1W1 and alternate director of The Warehouse Group Limited

Robbie graduated from Auckland University with Arts and Science degrees in Economics and Geography and then went to work for The Warehouse Group. He spent 8 years with the company in various buying and merchandising roles. In 2010 he left the group to join his father, Stephen, in the family investment company, K1W1, where he helps manage a portfolio of over 100 New Zealand Technology and Innovation companies. The companies in the portfolio are export-focused, are predominantly early-stage, and are from a range of industries including IT Technology and Software, Clean Tech, Med Tech & Health Sciences, Agri-Tech, and Innovative Hardware and Design. In 2017, K1W1 had a record year which saw it invest in 20 new deals, from a total of approximately 150 deals reviewed. Since 2011 Robbie has been an Alternate Director on The Warehouse Group Board.

• Selecting industries and investee companies

• Alignment of the stakeholders

• Investor involvement – how much and how?

• Messages to investee companies seeking capital

• Ensuring growth companies deliver on their promise

• Current thinking in investment structure

• Exiting best for all involved

Speakers

Randy Komisar
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
USA

Randy Komisar joined the storied venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in 2005 as a partner. For several years prior, Randy worked as ³virtual CEO² with entrepreneurs creating businesses using innovative technologies.

He is the author of the best-selling book The Monk and the Riddle, as well as the HBR article ³Goodbye Career, Hello Success² and several articles on leadership, entrepreneurship, passion and creativity. He is also the co-author of Getting to Plan B presenting a lean, empirical method for driving innovation and developing winning business models, and I F**cking Love that Company, about creating cherished artisanal brands in the era of Amazon online ubiquity. Randy frequently lectures at Stanford, where he was a Consulting Professor for many years, and speaks at home and abroad on innovation and leadership.

Before joining Kleiner Perkins Randy was a co-founder of Claris Corporation, served as CEO for LucasArts Entertainment and Crystal Dynamics, and acted as a "virtual CEO" for such companies as WebTV and GlobalGiving. He was a founding director of TiVo and Nest and has served on the global advisory boards for the UCSB Institute for Energy Efficiency and the National Entrepreneurship Network of India. Earlier, Randy served as CFO of GO Corporation and Senior Counsel for Apple Computer, following a private practice in technology law.

Randy holds a BA in Economics from Brown University and a JD from Harvard Law School.

Dr. Ronald Weissman
Band of Angels
USA

Dr. Ronald Weissman is Chairman of the Software Industry Group of the Band of Angels, Silicon Valley’s oldest angel organization and manages the Band’s mentoring programs.

A partner at Performance Works, he advises technology companies on market entry strategies in such areas as Financial Services, Energy, Health Care and Media. He has also advised corporate venture funds and innovation initiatives at G2000 companies. He was a Partner for seventeen years at Apax Partners, a global venture firm, focusing on software and cross-border technology investments and managed its venture software portfolio after Apax became a private equity firm.

Prior to Apax, he was CMO and head of Investor Relations at Verity (the leader in enterprise knowledge retrieval). Verity’s management team won Large Cap Turnaround of the Year (Turnaround Management Association) after the company increased its market cap, profitably, from $50M to nearly $2B. Prior to Verity, he directed Strategic Marketing and European Marketing for NeXT, reporting to Steve Jobs.

Ron invests in enterprise SaaS, IoT, Fintech, analytics and AI, vertical market B2B software and Health IT. He has advised or invested in 60+ companies and has served on 30+ boards worldwide.

Ron advises companies on SaaS strategies, capital strategies and venture finance, SaaS business models and private company Board governance. He is a guest lecturer at Stanford, UC Berkeley and at the University of Santa Clara’s schools of Law and Business and universities in Europe. He has recently advised organizations in Chile, New Zealand, Australia and Armenia and has lectured on creating innovation hubs to many US and global organizations, including the US White House on the links between venture investing, next generation networks and economic development.

Ron has been profiled in the Silicon Valley Business Journal (“Angel of the Apocalypse”), Price Waterhouse Cooper’s Technology Forecast and other business publications. He is a Fulbright Scholar, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, with BA, M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from UC Berkeley.

Arama Kukutai
Finistere Ventures
USA

Arama Kukutai is a co-founder and Partner at Finistere Ventures a pioneer in the Agriculture and Food technology sectors founded in 2005 and actively investing from its second fund. Mr. Kukutai has been a company founder and entrepreneur in the Agribusiness sector with over 20 years’ experience. He served as Executive Chairman of PKW Farms, a successful agribusiness and diversified investment entity involved in dairy farming and aquaculture activities in New Zealand, Asia and Australia. Arama also led the New Zealand government’s Trade & Investment agency in North America, following which he emigrated to the USA. He has led the creation of Finistere’s global network in Agtech which includes offices in Tel Aviv, San Diego and Silicon Valley, and Dublin, Ireland . Mr. Kukutai serves on the boards as a Director or Observer of current portfolio companies Crop Pro Insurance, CropX, Plenty, Taranis and Zeakal. Mr. Kukutai is an active member of the Agtech investing community and regular presenter at leading industry events. Finistere is one of the leading Agtech focused venture funds and partnered with industry leaders including Agrium, Bayer, Pepsico and International Farming Corporation.

Justin Milano
Good Startups
USA

Justin Milano helps exceptional leaders build thriving companies. As a serial entrepreneur and executive coach from Silicon Valley, Justin uses a unique blend of business coaching and psychology to help leaders and team members create breakthroughs and fulfill their maximum potential. He currently coaches and advises leaders at rapid growth enterprises and venture capital funds including JP Morgan, Northwestern University’s Kellogg Innovation Network, Webgility, Paragon One, 500 Startups, the Global Accelerator Network, and others. Justin is a regular speaker throughout the world on the topic of well being and performance in the workplace.

In the week after the election, our speakers will be discussing the very topical issue of what business needs from government.

• What does business need and want from the government in 2017-2020?

• What can business realistically expect from the government?

• What opportunities are there for business in the current political climate?

• What challenges do business face in relation to government policies?

• Can businesses expect uncertainty ahead?

Speakers

Fran O’Sullivan
Editorial Director, NZME - Business

Fran is a prominent columnist for the New Zealand Herald writing on business, politics and international affairs and manages the annual high-profile Mood of the Boardroom Project.

Fran is also a regular participant in New Zealand’s partnership forums with the United States, Australia and China. As managing director of her private company, NZ INC, Fran presents the China Business Summit and is a member of the NZ China Council’s Advisory Board. Fran was a founder-director of the New Zealand United States Council in 2001, having led the private sector task force which originated the council, and continues to contribute as a member of the advisory board.

She has had a lengthy career in business newsmedia and is a former editor of the National Business Review.

Fran convenes the judging panel for the Deloitte Top 200 Awards.

Michele J Embling
Chair, PwC

Michele has led PwC's National Assurance practice, and on 1 October 2016, was appointed Chair of the New Zealand firm for a four-year term.

As the Chair of PwC, Michele approaches corporate governance with a long-term vision of sustainability. Her goal is not just to continue to promote sustainable corporate governance in terms of financial management, but to deliver a positive impact on society. She believes that companies should be embracing technology, innovation and diversity of thought at the very top – starting in the boardroom.

Michele's clients span all sectors and industries, but her specialist areas include financial services and the public sector. She is a specialist in international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and has extensive experience advising organisations on complex financial reporting matters.

She is Deputy Chair of the External Reporting Board, was the inaugural Chair of the New Zealand Accounting Standards Board, as well as former member of the Australian Accounting Standards Board.

Kirk Hope
Chief Executive, Business NZ

Kirk Hope is Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s largest business advocacy body, advocating for New Zealand’s success through sustainable market-led growth.

Kirk previously led the New Zealand Bankers’ Association and Financial Services Federation after holding a range of senior positions at Westpac, including Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs.

A barrister and solicitor with a master’s degree in law focused on regulation of financial services, Kirk also holds a post graduate honours degree in political science. For five years he was a member of the Commercial and Business Law Committee of the New Zealand Law Society.

• Higher interest rates: are they here to stay?

• How many interest rate rises are on the horizon and how high will they go?

• What does this mean for the business community and the economy generally?

• Will the Reserve Bank bring in loan to income ratios for housing?

• Will increased interest rates lead to more distressed loans in the business community and have flow on insolvency effects?

• What affect would a change of government have on interest rates?

• How will increased interest rates affect fund management decisions?

Speakers

Simon Power
General Manager, Consumer Banking & Wealth - Westpac

Simon Power was appointed General Manager, Consumer Banking & Wealth in May 2015. The business unit incorporates Westpac’s Retail network, together with small business and the Private Wealth Management division.

Prior to his current appointment he held the roles of General Manager, Business Bank, Private Bank, Wealth & Insurance; Managing Director, Private, Wealth & Insurance; and before that, Head of Private Bank for Westpac New Zealand Limited.

Simon joined Westpac in 2012 following a 12 year career as a Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Between 2008–2011 he served as Minister of Justice, Minister of Commerce and Minister of State Owned Enterprises, among other designations.

During that period he led significant reform and change in financial market oversight and regulation in NZ.

A graduate of Victoria University in Wellington, Simon has degrees in both Law and Politics. As well as having completed courses at the Australian Graduate School of Management and Melbourne Business School, he is a chartered member of the NZ Institute of Directors and a member of the NZ Institute of Management.

In 2010 he was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader, and in that capacity attended Harvard University in Boston in 2011. In 2015 Simon returned to Harvard Business School, to complete the Advanced Management Programme.

Simon sat on the Board of the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) between 2012-2015, is Chair of the NZUS Council, is a Trustee of the Asia NZ Foundation and is a Fellow of the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand (INFINZ).

Grant Graham
Partner, KordaMentha NZ

Grant brings an abundance of both to every project he works on and is one of New Zealand’s most respected corporate finance and restructuring experts.

Leveraging his financial consulting background, Grant is widely respected for his corporate finance and advisory nous, notably in valuation, restructuring and as an expert witness. 

Grant’s sharp analysis coupled with keen commercial acumen has resulted in him regularly being called upon for expert witness testimony in mediation or Court.

Over 20 years, Grant has written numerous Independent Advisors’ reports for listed company activity subject to NZX listing rules and the New Zealand Takeovers’ Code.  In the process, he has gained an enviable reputation for the quality of these reports, his clear and concise communication style, and pragmatic advice.

Matt Goodson
Managing Director, Salt Funds Management

Matthew has 24 years’ experience in the finance sector and is the Managing Director of Salt Funds Management and Salt Investment Funds Limited, which currently manages approximately $1.8bn of listed equities on behalf of its clients. Matthew is the Portfolio Manager for the Salt NZ Dividend Appreciation Fund, the Salt Listed Property Fund and the Salt Long Short Fund.

Matthew started his career as an Economist with Garlick & Co from 1993-1995 before becoming Head of Research from 1995-1997. He then spent seven years in New York working for BZW and Goldman Sachs JB Were as Director, Wholesale Equities before returning to New Zealand in 2004 to work for First NZ Capital also as Director, Wholesale Equities until 2009. Immediately prior to founding Salt Funds Management Limited with Paul Harrison in 2013, Matthew was employed for over four years as Portfolio Manager at BT Funds Management (NZ) Limited. Matthew also served as Chairman of NZ Thoroughbred Racing Inc from 2011 to 2015.

Matthew has a Bachelor of Arts degree and Masters in Commerce and Administration (First Class Honours) from Victoria University of Wellington and is a holder of the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

In the face of global geopolitical and economic volatility, New Zealand continues to have a steady appetite for M&A activity. With fund-raising activity reaching a new milestone in 2016, New Zealand and Australian private equity is cashed up, and interest from Chinese investors continues to grow. Are you positioned to realise the opportunities?

• What factors are fuelling investment and market activity?

• To what extent is global uncertainty likely to impact NZ’s M&A landscape?

• Assessing current market activity, pricing of deals and influencing factors

• Current approach to debt placement and debt pricing

• When should your business hunt for capital? And what motivates investors, what are they looking for?

• Accessing high quality asset opportunities in a competitive market

• What challenges and risks continue to be seen in the NZ M&A market?

Speakers

Matt Riley
Director, Waterman Capital

Matt Riley founded Waterman Capital with fellow director Chris Marshall in 2004. He has worked in the New Zealand private equity industry for almost 20 years. Matt is a former director of various Waterman portfolio companies including Academic Colleges Group, Guthrie Bowron, David Reid Homes and Express Logistics Group. He is also Chairman of the NZ Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.

Grant Houghton
Director, Leveraged & Acquisition Finance

Grant is a Director in ANZ’s Leverage & Acquisition Finance (LAF) team based in Auckland. Grant is responsible for deal origination and execution within LAF with a primary focus on offshore Sponsors. He has worked on and led numerous transactions in the structured/sub investment grade space including LBOs, acquisitions, restructurings, divestments and recapitalisation across the various Institutional Banking segments.

Grant has over 12 years of banking experience, two of which have been structured/sub-investment grade space and, is currently a New Zealand Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (NZVCA) council member. Prior to joining ANZ, Grant held numerous analytical and relationship based roles at Westpac Institutional Bank.

Murray Schnuriger
Partner, PwC Auckland

Murray is a PwC Partner and leads the PwC NZ Deals team. He has advised on M&A transactions for the past 20 years.

Murray has a primary focus on M&A lead advisory, in particular private company sell-sides as well as corporate and private equity buy-sides. He also has extensive experience in valuations, M&A growth strategy advice, distressed M&A and corporate refinancing structuring advice.

Murray has been lead M&A Advisor on deals over a wide variety of industries. Some recent examples include:

• Advising E-Co Products Ltd (known as HRV) in its sale to Vector.

• Advisor to Japan Pulp & Paper on its acquisition of 50% of the merged business of BJ Ball and Doggetts Australia.

• Advisor to the shareholders of Red Seal Natural Health Ltd in its $80m sale to EBOS Group.

• Advisor to Shanghai Maling in its 50% investment into meat processor, Silver Fern Farms.

• Advisor to IAG NZ Limited on its divestment of Runacres & Associates Ltd to AUB Group NZ Ltd.

• Advisor to the shareholders of NW Group Australasia Pty Ltd in its divestment to The Growth Fund.

• Will marketing and advertising still be relevant?

• Managing client relationships in the rapidly evolving digital environment

• Who will control the communication with your prospects, customers and clients?

• Who will control your brand?

• The impact of big data, new technologies, social media, click bait and fake news

• Where will your customers be found, how will you know if your messages are being heard? What will be measurable?

• Has distraction overtaken disruption? How to attract and hold attention

Speakers

Ryf Quail
CEO, Avalon Group

Ryf Quail’s career spans more than 20 years across publishing, media, marketing, data, tech and digital. He has started digital media agencies and successfully sold them, run local branches of global media agencies, headed digital marketing and CRM for Deloitte across Asia Pacific and most recently founded his own global ventures group – The Avalon Group.

Ryf enjoys a strong network across the Asia Pacific region which he has cultivated across his career. He holds an MBA from the University of Otago Business School and is passionate about change and the continual learning required to keep ahead of the curve.

Tim Pointer
Co-founder and Managing Director, Uprise

Tim is the co-founder and Managing Director of Uprise, a digital performance agency that offers a unique approach to marketing and advertising for its clients. In just over 7 years, Tim has helped grow Uprise from a two man band in his parents' spare bedroom, to a team of 19 and one of New Zealand's largest and most well-regarded digital performance agencies, with offices in Wellington and Auckland.

With over a decade's experience in digital marketing, Tim understands what works in the digital space. This hard-won knowledge provides New Zealand organisations with valuable insights to maximise their marketing spend in the most efficient ways possible. With 100% year-on-year growth since its inception, Uprise has been recognised as a Deloitte Fast 500 Asia Pacific company for the last three years. Last year Tim was also honoured to be one of two Kiwis that made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Asia Pacific.

Richard Boyd
Digital Marketing Manager, Two Degrees Mobile Limited

Struggling to get your organisation to adapt to the ever changing digital world we live in? Rich will understand. Having worked with underfunded NGO’s, government departments, and most recently OfficeMax he’s fought for change in some of the most change resistant organisations in New Zealand. Rich is passionate about the digital customer experience, and taking geeky acronyms like CRO, SEO, UX, PPC and turning them into initiatives that delight customers while having a positive impact on the bottom line.