ABOUT


The National HR Summit New Zealand is back and bringing together HR leaders from across New Zealand to build connections, share ideas and create lasting professional relations.

From recruitment in today’s competitive market to building resilience, this event is uniting the sector to tackle the workforce challenges you care about most, with the strategies you can rely on. 

We will also announce the winners of the highly anticipated HRD Awards New Zealand live from the summit.  

Embrace your workforce’s full potential, connect with your community and conquer the hurdles that stand in your way – reserve your seat today.

Celebrate New Zealand’s HR rockstars

Join us in recognizing the profession’s best in class at the HRD Awards New Zealand – the nation’s leading independent rewards program for HR professionals. Winners will be revealed live and in-person this April during the National HR Summit New Zealand.

WHY SHOULD I ATTEND?

  • User Icon

    Hear evidence-based insights from HRDs, CHROs, and global HR heads of New Zealand’s most successful companies

  • Chat Icon

    Gain new perspectives from HR peers who are facing the same challenges – generate ideas, share real-life experiences, and hear proven strategies

  • Idea Icon

    Connect with over 100 HR leaders face-to-face

Speakers


Nick Arnott
Nick Arnott

ANZ Head
HiBob

Sonya Bloomfield
Sonya Bloomfield

Chief Culture Officer
Electric Kiwi

Nikki Bould
Nikki Bould

Mediation Practitioner, People and Culture Specialist
The Helpful Human

Sue Breeze
Sue Breeze

Head of Talent Acquisition
WSP NZ

Allan Bunting
Allan Bunting

Black Ferns Director of Rugby

Julie Cressey
Julie Cressey

Chief Executive Officer New Zealand
TELUS Health

Philip Doak
Philip Doak

GM Safety & Wellbeing; Head of Culture & Leadership
Port of Auckland

Phillipa Gimmillaro
Phillipa Gimmillaro

Chief People Officer
Hind Management

Gerard Hoffman
Gerard Hoffman

Counsellor, Registered Clinical Social Worker, Facilitator, Organisational Wellbeing Consultant, Trainer

Katrina Hau
Katrina Hau

Director People Experience
Auror

Annie Johnson
Annie Johnson

Partner- Advisory
Contented AI

Shannon Karaka
Shannon Karaka

Country Leader, A/NZ
Deel

Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis

Head of People and Culture
Connetics

Nish Pai
Nish Pai

Head of Capability and Organisational Development
Mitre 10

Ainsley Palairet
Ainsley Palairet

Director
FixHR

Candice Payne
Candice Payne

former Global Head of Talent – Customer
Xero

Ceri Rowland
Ceri Rowland

Chief People Officer
Douglas Pharmaceuticals

Michelle Russell
Michelle Russell

GM Talent & Culture, NZ & Pacific
ANZ

Shyamini Szeko
Shyamini Szeko

Head of Learning & Capability
Tegel Foods

AGENDA


  • Registration opens
  • Opening remarks from the Chairperson
    Ainsley Palairet
    Ainsley Palairet

    Director
    FixHR

  • Welcome remarks from the Event Partner
    Julie Cressey
    Julie Cressey

    Chief Executive Officer New Zealand
    TELUS Health

  • KEYNOTE: Striving for potential – the recipe for high performance

    In this inspiring keynote, hear how Allan cultivates high-performing teams through building self-awareness and guiding individuals to find their true purpose. From the World Sevens Series Championships to Gold at the Olympics, hear how his experiences on and off the field have shaped his leadership approach to nurture the best and brightest in rugby.

     

    • How to guide, empower and unearth potential through leading with authenticity and trust
    • How critical simplicity brings out the best in individuals
    • Recruiting and connecting the right leaders to build high-performing teams
    Allan Bunting
    Allan Bunting

    Black Ferns Director of Rugby

  • PANEL: Strategic recruitment – how to attract and hire top employees

    As the talent shortage continues, how are HR teams ensuring they are securing the best employees in the market? Hear how top New Zealand companies are attracting and finding the best employees.

     

    • Examples of creative, targeted solutions for recruiting employees
    • Determining recruitment spend on a reduced budget
    • How to boost talent acquisition initiatives in a lean HR team
    • Leveraging automation, AI and other emerging technology to source the best candidates effectively
    Moderator
    Ainsley Palairet
    Ainsley Palairet

    Director
    FixHR

    Panellists
    Sue Breeze
    Sue Breeze

    Head of Talent Acquisition
    WSP NZ

    Shannon Karaka
    Shannon Karaka

    Country Leader, A/NZ
    Deel

    Mark Lewis
    Mark Lewis

    Head of People and Culture
    Connetics

    Candice Payne
    Candice Payne

    former Global Head of Talent – Customer
    Xero

  • Speed networking

    Expand your network, make connections, and meet fellow delegates in a structured networking session.

  • HRD Awards New Zealand 2024 announcement

    The winners of the following categories will be announced:

     

    • NZ HR Rising Star of the Year
    • NZ HR Manager of the Year
  • Morning tea and refreshments break
  • CASE STUDY: How to successfully retain employees

    With initiatives ranging from inclusive hybrid work arrangements to career development programs, companies are rethinking their retention strategies. In this session, Phillipa Gimmillaro will share how retains its employees in this competitive market.

     

    • Fostering a workplace culture of belonging and inclusivity
    • Designing learning and development programs to support career growth
    • Developing companywide programs to build community engagement
    • Implementing equal and fair pay initiatives through remuneration policies
    Phillipa Gimmillaro
    Phillipa Gimmillaro

    Chief People Officer
    Hind Management

  • Psychological safety and positive workplace culture: The other side of workplace wellbeing

    Workplaces across New Zealand and globally are increasingly focussing on workplace culture’s crucial role in staff engagement and organisational performance. Research on psychological safety, bullying and harassment prevention provides strong evidence that organisation-wide education and empowerment programmes can significantly impact staff wellbeing, retention and workplace collaboration.

     

    • Why positive organisational culture and psychological safety matters
    • What a strategic top-down approach to improving workplace culture looks like
    • Evidence-based workplace engagement, education and empowerment programmes that shift culture
    Gerard Hoffman
    Gerard Hoffman

    Counsellor, Registered Clinical Social Worker, Facilitator, Organisational Wellbeing Consultant, Trainer

  • HRD Awards New Zealand 2024 announcement

    The winners of the following categories will be announced:

     

    • NZ HR Director of the Year
    • HR Team of the Year
  • Networking lunch
  • PANEL: Effective wellbeing strategies for building resilient teams

    As teams and managers continue to face burnout and stress, what preventative measures can companies adopt by taking a proactive approach to finding solutions? In this session, hear how top New Zealand companies are supporting and motivating employees through successful wellbeing initiatives.

     

    • Tips for navigating managerial burnout
    • How to create a psychologically safe workplace
    • Addressing and managing psychosocial risks at work
    • How to avoid ‘wellbeing washing’
    • Identifying metrics to measure and track wellbeing
    Moderator
    Ainsley Palairet
    Ainsley Palairet

    Director
    FixHR

    Panellists
    Nick Arnott
    Nick Arnott

    ANZ Head
    HiBob

    Philip Doak
    Philip Doak

    GM Safety & Wellbeing; Head of Culture & Leadership
    Port of Auckland

    Katrina Hau
    Katrina Hau

    Director People Experience
    Auror

    Ceri Rowland
    Ceri Rowland

    Chief People Officer
    Douglas Pharmaceuticals

  • ChatGPT in HR – practical workshop

    How can HR professionals harness the benefits of AI tools to improve efficiency? This practical workshop will cover a step-by-step guide to using ChatGPT to support the HR function.

     

    • Understanding the basics – how to write effective ChatGPT commands
    • Overview of ethical issues in the use of AI (and how to overcome them)
    • How to use ChatGPT in training, onboarding and policy compliance
    Annie Johnson
    Annie Johnson

    Partner- Advisory
    Contented AI

  • HRD Awards New Zealand 2024 announcement

    The winners of the following categories will be announced:

     

    • Employer of Choice (<200 Staff)
    • Employer of Choice (>200 Staff)

     

  • Afternoon tea and refreshments break
  • Grand Prize Draws

    Expo Passport Grand Prize

    Collect all exhibitors’ stamps on the Expo Passport for the chance to win a $300 gift card to Amano!

     

    Sponsor Prize Giveaways

    Visit the sponsor’s booth to know how to join

     

  • WORKSHOP: How to manage workplace conflict

    In this practical workshop, hear strategies for managing team conflict effectively to avoid further escalation and minimise risks.

     

    • Practical strategies for resolving conflict between employees
    • How to recognise and prevent emerging conflict before it escalates
    • Learn several approaches to conflict resolution
    Nikki Bould
    Nikki Bould

    Mediation Practitioner, People and Culture Specialist
    The Helpful Human

  • PANEL: Learning and development to engage remote workers

    How can companies deliver effective learning experiences for their hybrid workforces? This session will discuss strategies for enabling employees to capture learning opportunities both in and out of the workplace.

     

    • What learning initiatives are best delivered face-to-face versus virtually?
    • Encouraging a learning culture for time-poor and burnt-out employees
    • Tips for delivering L&D programs on a budget
    • How to secure buy-in for L&D initiatives
    • Measuring the ROI of L&D investments
    Moderator
    Ainsley Palairet
    Ainsley Palairet

    Director
    FixHR

    Panellists
    Sonya Bloomfield
    Sonya Bloomfield

    Chief Culture Officer
    Electric Kiwi

    Nish Pai
    Nish Pai

    Head of Capability and Organisational Development
    Mitre 10

    Michelle Russell
    Michelle Russell

    GM Talent & Culture, NZ & Pacific
    ANZ

    Shyamini Szeko
    Shyamini Szeko

    Head of Learning & Capability
    Tegel Foods

  • ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

    In this interactive session, delegates will discuss key HR challenges covered at the conference and develop action points to implement change.

  • Event concludes

SPONSORS


EVENT PARTNER

  • TELUS Health

GOLD SPONSORS

  • Deel
  • Employment Hero
  • HiBob

SILVER SPONSOR

  • Humanforce

Exhibitors

  • Gallup
  • HealthNow
  • Lifetime
  • Menodoctor
  • ReadyTech

Official publication

  • HRD New Zealand

Organised by

  • Key Media

VENUE


Hilton Auckland

CONTACT US


Example: [email protected]
Example: (61) 409-889-253
Recaptcha