After several senior roles in the New Zealand public service, Paul has extensive experience in strategic policy development, leading change, and working collaboratively and effectively across government and communities. In 2018, he was appointed Secretary for Internal Affairs, Secretary for Local Government and Chief Executive for Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs. Paul also holds the role of Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) with responsibility for digital leadership across government agencies.
The GCDO leads work to uplift the public service’s digital skills, and as the lead for the public service’s use of AI, he has issued guidance to support agencies to make more informed decisions about its benefits and risks. The GCDO supports agencies and Ministers to align with an All-of-Government investment direction and manages a portfolio of digital products and commercial services that is currently used by more than 330 public sector agencies and organisations. The GCDO is mandated to set expectations and the strategic vision for privacy across government. The GCDO is currently leading work to establish an innovative and secure digital identity ecosystem and supporting an increase in the use of data and modern digital platforms to make real-time, evidence-based decisions.
James uses his significant experience in enterprise architecture, software engineering, technical strategy, innovation management and leading high-performing teams to help small businesses thrive. Combining his deep industry and technical expertise with the ability to motivate the team around him James has a strong track record of transforming business models for a digital future.
Lajos is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of expertise in digital technology. Before relocating to New Zealand in 2013, Lajos helped numerous businesses in multiple countries navigating through the complexities of an ever-evolving technological landscape to ensure a seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies with ongoing business-as-usual operations, striking a delicate balance between innovation and continuity.
Throughout his career, he has refined his skills in leading and managing cross-functional technical teams, driving business transformation through the strategic application of technology.
Currently, Lajos leads multiple teams with over 35 IT professionals at Port of Auckland, focused on delivering business critical corporate and operation technology systems and harnessing data-driven insights from the company’s information assets to support the Port operations, strategy, and innovation.
Fiona Hewitt is an enterprise leader with over 25 years of experience in transformation, strategy, and operational excellence across various industries, including insurance, retail, and consulting. She has specialise in building “future-ready” organizations, where customer, culture, and commercial outcomes align to create high-performing environments.
Throughout her career she has has led out large-scale transformation programs, leveraging digital technologies and begun to use AI to drive business outcomes, streamline operations, and enhance customer and employee experiences. Her expertise spans across organizational design, customer and people strategies, and navigating complex digital transitions, making sure businesses are equipped to meet the challenges of a fast-moving and changing world.
Alex is an innovative and driven leader, characterized by a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit, global marketing acumen, and extensive experience in the APAC market. He demonstrated exceptional sales achievements, strategic proficiency in navigating emerging technologies such as AI, and a proven track record in leading diverse, cross-cultural teams to success. Prior to Coveo, Alex has over 10 years of experience in the digital marketing ecosystem, including 10 years at IBM’s Watson Customer Engagement business unit and it’s spin-off Acoustic. Alex has been recognized as a thought leader in integrating AI & ML into marketing, delivering keynotes at various conferences and serving as former Head of Strategy. Alex holds a master’s degree in Economics and International Marketing Management from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Luke is a passionate technologist with over 30 years of experience building software applications in the UK and New Zealand. He leads a highly talented group of technologist in Auckland and Wellington, and chairs the regional AI Guild for AKQA.
Roxanne is a digital and ICT leader with over 20 years’ experience in the telco, energy and banking sectors, and a broad background across sales, product and strategy.
Nakul works closely with stakeholders to enable data driven outcomes and help them explore the best ways to innovate, whether via Generative AI models, recommendation models, research or sustainability.
With over a decade of experience, Nakul facilitates deeper understanding of how Google’s data and AI tools can improve business and personal outcomes while upholding Google’s AI ethical principles.
Michelle has a history of leading projects that straddle the divide between technology and business departments within New Zealand organisations and was involved in one of New Zealands first deployments of Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Michelle has helped build the RPA capability within a range of organisations and she currently leads the RPA Centre of Excellence for Air New Zealand.
For over 15 years, Jason worked closely with CEOs, CMOs and CIOs throughout Australasia to exploit the opportunities that analytics and customer experience creates for driving value to the bottom line. Jason specialises in helping executives to run their businesses better; in terms of delivering insights that leads to competitive strength and an organisational culture that strives to understand their customers better and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Jason works for Adobe, the global leader in helping businesses transform with data and analytics to build great customer experiences. Using comprehensive, integrated cloud technology that gives businesses everything they need to design and deliver exceptional customer experiences at scale, that keeps them ahead of competitors in their market
Founder of Perpetual Guardian, former Chair of Regional Facilities Auckland, PaySauce and Realestate.com.au
Andrew has made a career of leading market-changing innovation and industry digitisation. He founded New Zealand’s largest corporate trustee company, Perpetual Guardian, and spearheaded the company’s efforts to create four-day working weeks that helped spark a global movement.
Barnes spent 20 years in Australia, floating realestate.com.au on the ASX and held senior roles in Macquarie Bank, Citi, Tower, County Natwest, and was chairman of Australasian Wealth Investments. In 2013, Barnes acquired Perpetual Trust in New Zealand, and purchased Guardian Trust, creating Perpetual Guardian. In April 2015, he acquired e-will platform My Bucket List and Foundation Corporate Trust. In 2018, Barnes announced that Perpetual Guardian would be trialling four day work weeks. The trial sparked widespread international interest, with the World Economic Forum. In 2020, Barnes published, ‘The 4 Day Week” and through this work he is on the advisory board of the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University.
Dr. Kim Oosthuizen is responsible for identifying and harnessing AI innovation opportunities to enhance processes and usability, driving the modernisation of businesses into intelligent enterprises. With over 20 years of experience in various operations, Centre of Excellence, and technology roles across South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia, Kim has developed a well-rounded understanding of end-to-end business processes. She holds a PhD in AI integration into business and is passionate about leveraging AI to simplify processes. Kim has published multiple academic papers on AI integration into business and founded the SAP AI Council in Australia to focus on the responsible adoption, operation, and scaling of AI across Australian industries. She also lectures part-time at various business schools.
Habib is a seasoned AI and data leader with a proven track record in developing innovative data-driven products and transforming organizations with actionable insights. At One New Zealand, Habib leads a multidisciplinary team at the intersection of applied machine learning, platform development, and business strategy, creating a solid foundation for leveraging data as a strategic asset.
With a hands-on approach to leadership, Habib has deep expertise in building and architecting scalable data platforms and delivering cutting-edge machine learning solutions. His role focuses on driving business value by identifying and integrating diverse data sources into products that enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. Working closely with engineering and business teams, he strategically executes the development of AI-powered solutions, improving decision-making and competitive advantage.
A key aspect of his career is championing data literacy across organizations, enabling teams to leverage data effectively for smarter decision-making. Habib has also cultivated a culture of innovation, encouraging autonomy and empowering his teams to continuously improve processes and operational awareness.
Habib holds a PhD from the University of Oxford and has completed prestigious programs such as the Chief Data Officer Certification and Executive Data Science certification, equipping him with a blend of academic rigor and practical experience to lead in today’s data-centric world.
As co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, Charlotte works promoting internationally the benefits of a productivity-focused and reduced-hour workplace. Through this, she is on the board of the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University. Charlotte’s passion for the reduced-hour work has led 4 Day Week Global to become the world’s leading organisation in promoting the concept of working smarter, not longer. A co-founding partner of the World Wellbeing Movement alongside a number of leading global partners. In addition, Charlotte is working with a number of central and regional governments to help create an equitable method to transition to reducing work hours across an entire economy.
Today, Charlotte is considered the pioneer of the global four-day week movement. Alongside her partner, Andrew Barnes, they are conducting the largest ever trials, currently taking place across the globe, with hundreds of companies and thousands of staff taking part to change their workplaces. This trial is combined with a global research programme involving academics from leading universities including Boston College, Cambridge, Oxford and many more. Encouraging organisations to look at what they can change to become future workplaces and ready for the 21st century and beyond. Forbes Magazine recently recognised her as one of the Future of Work 50. 4 Day Week Global was also named in Time top 100 most influential companies for 2023. Charlotte is on the board of Give-a-little, New Zealand’s number one fundraising platform.
Anshuman is profoundly committed to addressing complex business challenges through AI, advanced analytics, and machine learning. As the leader of the AI & Engineering Tribe and Chapter Area at Spark, he steers his team with deep business acumen, outstanding problem-solving capabilities, and an expertise around how data and AI can be applied to generate business value. His team’s focus is on crafting innovative products and solutions that bolster Spark’s competitive advantage and generate substantial commercial value. AI innovations and pursuing potential collaborations that expand technological frontiers are consistently at the forefront of his agenda, positioning him as a globally recognised leader in this field.
Brian has worked in information technology for over 20 years, with extensive experience leading data and analytics teams while managing projects and building solutions in a global environment.
He returned to New Zealand in January 2019 after working at Nike leading their EMEA Enterprise Data and Analytics practice, based in Amsterdam. At Nike, Brian was focused on building and leading the team’s capability; migrating the business to the cloud and developing an advanced analytics function to deliver value to the business. Prior to Nike, Brian was the Global Architect for Data and Analytics at Heineken, based in Amsterdam, which followed a senior data role at the European Central Bank, based in Frankfurt.
He joined the Loyalty NZ team as Chief Data and Analytics Officer where he is championing a high performing agile culture and reinventing Loyalty D&A with new platforms and advanced analytics. In 2020, Brian was appointed to the expanded role of Chief Technology & Data Officer.
His specialties include data and analytics architecture and platforms, loyalty and membership analytics, leading data and analytics teams in multi-national environments, cloud migration, and getting value out of data science investments. Brian is the co-author of the book “Transition to Advanced Analytics”
Helius’ career began in a start-up company driving digital transformation using Computer Aided Design. After graduating as a geologist, he implemented technologies for a state government in Brazil.
With data, digital and transformation roles across South America, South Africa, the UK, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, Helius has broad experience with AI techniques and over the years has delivered tangible business value through the use of AI technologies, including supervised and unsupervised learning, machine learning, natural language processing and more recently, is passionate the opportunities of leveraging generative AI.
He joined Fonterra as Chief Data Officer in 2022.
Rachel is the Domain lead for Decision Science & AI at ASB, where she has established and evolved the banks analytics functions since 2017.
With 20 plus years’ experience in analytics across many prominent organisations, Rachel combines her academic background in Computer Science, Statistics and Business with her practical experience across many industries to drive AI Innovation.
A commercially focused leader, Rachel excels in building high-performing teams and developing analytics capabilities that directly enhance business outcomes.
Rachel’s passion lies in championing the value of analytics and fostering an analytics culture within organizations. She is committed to the ethical use of AI and leverages her deep understanding of what’s possible with AI to drive strategic decision-making.
Simon Kennedy is the chief digital officer at Foodstuffs North Island. A leader with strong values and a clear vision who empowers his team to aim high and deliver the best results for customers.
With a focus on driving strategic change through digital and cultural innovation, Simon is part of the journey at Foodstuffs NI at a critical time with their strong focus on digital customer experiences and online revenue.
Kenny Thein joined Restaurant Brands just prior to Covid in 2019 and helped the organisation mature and operate digitally at scale during turbulent and uncertain times, not just in technology, but in its people & processes. He comes from technical background, with grounding in Management Consulting across multiple verticals.
One of the key deliverables during this time was the introduction of scalable commerce platforms for KFC, PizzaHut and Taco Bell and delivering them at speed, safely into stores. As well as building of a New Enterprise Cloud Data Warehouse.
Last year (FY22) we recorded our biggest sales year of $1.23bn. We have over 11,000 staff and over 350 owned restaurants and 104 franchised, serving over 54 million customers, in 4 divisions globally, for our 4 brands, KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell & Carl’s Jr.
New Zealand contributed over $529 million in sales to the group.
In New Zealand Kenny has a multi-disciplined technology team, of Platform Managers, PMO, Store Technology Specialist, Service Desk to support all our New Zealand stores, Cyber Security, Infrastructure and Data & Analytics functions. This team services all technology related to our New Zealand business and also provides some global services.
Kate is the Assistant Governor/General Manager Information, Data and Analytics at Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Kate joined RBNZ in 2022 where she is responsible for statistics, data strategy, data science, data governance and records and information management. Kate has had an extensive career in digital, data and technology leadership roles across the public and private sectors. Her experience includes almost 20 years in financial services including at BNZ where she held a number of data leadership roles. Prior to joining the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Kate led the Evidence, Insights and Innovation team at EECA. Prior to that, she was the Director of Data Systems and Analytics at the Social Investment Agency. Kate is passionate about supporting continued education and was a member of the Victoria University of Wellington Human Ethics Committee for a number of years. She spent three years on the MIT Sloan CISR Data Research board where she contributed to industry data research and has an executive certificate in Strategic Innovation from MIT Sloan School of Management, a BA and Masters degree in Information Management from Victoria University of Wellington. Kate is also a member of the advisory board for the Victoria University of Wellington Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. As a recognised thought leader on digital and data innovation, Kate is active in promoting women in STEM through her work as a Global Women in Data Science Ambassador where Kate has been instrumental in bringing the Women in Data Science to New Zealand conference to New Zealand and is a member of the Women in Data Science Worldwide Advisory Council
Manu Iyer is a dedicated advocate for ‘customer obsession’ as a path to sustainable growth.
With over two decades of experience in the evolving Banking and Financial Services industry across Asia and Oceania, he believes in banking as an equalizer and opportunity creator.
At Thoughtworks, Manu drives the growth, profitability, partnerships, and strategic direction of the Banking, Financial Services, and FinTech markets across APAC. He is a global SME in retail lending, financial well-being, open banking, and payments and has collaborated with many leading financial services and fintech companies.