2026 agenda

Chairperson’s Opening Address

• 
  Paul NatacChief Information Officer, Provident Insurance Limited

Opening keynote: How SCTI rebuilt at speed under economic pressure & what NZ CIOs can learn

• Unpacking how SCTI rebuilt a core platform at speed despite budget cuts and time pressure
• Sharing the leadership and cultural levers that enabled rapid delivery under constraint
• Highlighting practical lessons CIOs can apply to achieve transformation in cost-tight environments

• 
  Alexandra SmartChief Technology Officer, Southern Cross Health Society

Interactive Networking

Take this time to introduce yourself to someone at your table you don’t already know—share what brought you to the summit and start building those valuable connections

Cloud cost optimisation & modernisation to balance spending, agility & risk

Panellists:

• How can FinOps practices rein in cloud spend while still maximising business value?
• What’s the right balance between on-premise and cloud to deliver agility without overspend?
• How can CIOs modernise legacy systems safely while reducing technical debt and staying compliant?

• 
  Paul NatacChief Information Officer, Provident Insurance Limited
• 
  Rohit KashikarGroup Head of Technology, Delta Insurance New Zealand
• 
  Alistair VickersChief Information Officer, Horizon Energy
• 
  Peter RadichGroup Chief Digital Officer, New Zealand Health Group
• 
  Priscila BernardesCEO, Lancom Technology

Presentation: The 5% Club: How Southbase Proved AI Can Deliver Real ROI

• This session showcases how AI directly impacts frontline workers in construction, beyond the backend systems
• While 95% of AI projects fail to deliver ROI, see how Southbase Construction joined the group that's driving measurable value and real-world impact
• Watch a live demo of AI-powered voice reporting that transformed health and safety compliance from a cumbersome app to a quick phone call
• Learn how IT leaders can champion technology that genuinely changes how people work on the ground in various industries, and not just in the office

• 
  Lem PrestageGroup IT Manager, Southbase Construction
• 
  John DeebField Chief Technology Officer, Workato

Case study: Securing the gateway: Cyber resilience in digital modernisation at Auckland Airport

• Learn how Auckland Airport is embedding cybersecurity into every layer of its digital modernisation
• See how cloud-first and IoT-driven systems can be secured to support resilience and compliance
• Discover practical lessons for safeguarding critical infrastructure while driving speed and innovation

• 
  Andrew MenetHead of Cyber and Security, Auckland Airport

Shift happens: Accelerated journey from integration woes to AI goes

Tired of chasing "shiny" AI trends that lead nowhere? Ready to shift from integration woes to AI that actually goes? Join David Irecki, CTO APJ Boomi, as he hosts Mircel Van Der Walt, Solution & Architecture Manager at HEB Construction, for a fireside chat that’s less about hype and more about the healthy, sustainable mindset. Mircel will share their pragmatic, 'build-right' journey, a foundation that’s modular, repeatable, and scalable, and show you how AI ROI isn't just smoke and mirrors, but a tangible outcome of a solid data framework.

• 
  David IreckiChief Technology Officer, APJ Boomi
• 
  Mircel Van Der WaltSolution and Architecture Manager, HEB Construction

Panel: Data as a business advantage: Balancing growth with governance & ethics

Panellists:

• How can organisations turn data governance from a compliance exercise into a true growth and trust-building strategy?
• What are the most effective ways to treat data as a business asset that reduces risk, drives profitability, and upholds ethical responsibility?
• How does governance-enabled agility give enterprises a competitive edge in fast-changing markets while ensuring decisions are transparent and inclusive?

• 
  Paul NatacChief Information Officer, Provident Insurance Limited
• 
  Wayne KingiHead of Operational Data Services, Westpac NZ
• 
  Xanthe SulzbergerHead of Data - Operational Excellence, Fonterra
• 
  Kari JonesExecutive Director Transformation and Operational Delivery, Financial Markets Authority - Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko
• 
  Andrew GoodinChief Information Officer, Classic Group

Interactive Breakouts

During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to attend 2 x 30-minute interactive breakout sessions of their choice

• Breakout A: Beyond cost-cutting: The CIO’s blueprint for turning tech investment into real business value
• Breakout B: Beyond the AI POC graveyard – from experiments to enterprise value
• Breakout C: Off the Record: Inside the 5% Club — What It Really Takes to Make AI Succeed
• Breakout D: From POCs to Production: Turning AI experiments into real business value
• Breakout E: The hidden cost of tool sprawl: Simplifying IT without losing capability
• Breakout F: The necessary evil: Why staff avoid process mapping and SOPs
• Breakout G: Securing every identity from AD to AI

• 
  Kevin RobinsonPartner, ARA Digital
• 
  Zahid ArainAPAC General Manager, TBM Council
• 
  Alistair MascarenhasPartner - Ara Digital, Ara Digital Limited
• 
  Sheldon DargavilleNew Zealand Country Lead, IBM
• 
  Frank HanderhanEngagement Director, Data & AI, HSO, ANZ
• 
  John DeebField Chief Technology Officer, Workato
• 
  Lem PrestageGroup IT Manager, Southbase Construction
• 
  Raji HaththotuwegamaNational Solutions Advisor - Data, AI and Apps, Canon Business Services
• 
  Pablo MunozMarketing Director, Ninjaone
• 
  Sean WallaceVP Sales & Community, Flowingly
• 
  Chris RussellArea Vice President - Australia & New Zealand, Silverfort

Case study: Reimaging public service with GenAI, award-winning lessons from the frontline

• Why strong, visible executive leadership is essential to moving AI from novelty to enterprise capability
• How AI adoption must go hand-in-hand with rethinking roles, workflows, governance, and service design
• Practical examples of AI initiatives delivering real outcomes, unlocking tens of thousands of staff hours, improving response times, and generating measurable savings
• Moving from curiosity and caution to capability and culture change across 300+ staff, and how clear governance, risk settings and staff empowerment create confidence to scale AI responsibly

• 
  Jarred GriffithsDirector of Strategy and Engagement, Hutt City Council

Fireside chat: Future in the making: CIO’s & emerging leaders share the journey

Panellists:

• How did each of you arrive at your role, and what key moments shaped your journey?
• From your perspectives, how has the CIO role changed over time?
• What lessons can emerging leaders learn from today’s CIOs, and vice versa?
• How can both generations prepare for a future dominated by AI, data, and digital-first models?

• 
  Paul NatacChief Information Officer, Provident Insurance Limited
• 
  Ange NashChief Information Officer, AA Insurance
• 
  Fiona MillarDigital Technology Manager, Christchurch International Airport

Chairperson’s closing address

• 
  Paul NatacChief Information Officer, Provident Insurance Limited