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3 - 4 March 2027 | Grand Millennium, Auckland

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Boost your career and shape your future in the ever evolving workplace

Step into a day designed just for PAs, EAs, Executive & Administrative support teams and office managers – the engine of every organisation. The Office, PA & Event Planners Show brings together expert speakers, hands-on workshops, and a supportive community to help you work smarter, grow your career, and be proactive about your wellbeing. From the latest tech and productivity hacks, event planning tips to wow clients and colleagues to building influence and resilience, this is your space to learn, connect, and recharge.

Master the modern workplace

Navigate trends, hone advanced skills, and build resilience for success in the evolving office environment.

Become an efficiency expert

Sharpen your administrative toolkit, leverage technology & innovation, and master project & event management.

Cultivate strong relationships

Gain insights into workplace dynamics and build powerful networks to elevate your career.

Promote well-being & growth

Discover strategies to manage stress, maintain work-life balance, and thrive both personally and professionally.

BE IN TO WIN

The Grand by SkyCity

Book a 1-day Show Pass or 2-day VIP Pass before 20 February 2026 & be in to win!
  • 1 nights stay for two at the Grand by SkyCity in a harbour view room
  • Breakfast for two at The Terrace restaurant 
  • 2 Sky Tower tickets

Terms & Conditions for prize draw

The Grand Sky City (4)

Work

Master the modern workplace

Learn to navigate innovation, leverage digital skills, and future-proof your career with insights on AI and automation.

Boost Efficiency & Productivity

Develop smarter scheduling, master time management, and refine your event and project management skills.

Life

Thrive Professionally & Personally

Embrace a balanced approach to your career and personal life, focusing on growth beyond your desk.

Build Your Influence

Gain the confidence to lead without formal authority and expand your professional network through effective strategies.

Wellbeing

Cultivate Resilience

Nurture your well-being with practical tips on managing stress and thriving under pressure.

Master Energy & Mindfulness

Learn to work with your natural rhythms and incorporate simple mindfulness practices into your busy day.

KEY SPEAKERS

We have one great key speaker confirmed, with more to come, be sure to book your spot as to not miss out.

Steve Griffin

Leadership Trainer, Author and Coach

Claire Barnes

CEO, ECOYA

Kate Mason

Communications coach, world-champion debater and author

A WORLD-CLASS VENUE FIRST

Held at the brand new NZICC

Celebrate the highly anticipated opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), a landmark venue that will redefine business events in New Zealand. The Office, PA & Event Planner Show is proud to be one of the first to be held at this state-of-the-art facility, offering a unique opportunity to experience New Zealand’s largest conference space just weeks after its official launch.

NZICC
be in to win

PLAY AND WIN

Join in on our leaderboard competition – Engage with exhibitors to earn points and work your way up the leaderboard for awesome prizes

1 of 4 Giftbox Boutique Gift Boxes

(Valued from $75- $400)

1 night stay at the Mayfair King Room

(Valued at $380)

Auckland Bridge Climb for 2

(Valued at $310)

Auckland Bridge Bungy for 2

(Valued at $420)

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We are currently working on the programme and agenda. 
If you would like to have input into our research programme please email xxxx@brightstar.co.nz 

Venue

The location and how you can get there

Address

Grand Millennium Auckland,
71 Mayoral Drive, Cnr Vincent Street Auckland 1010

2027 Agenda:

Download agenda

8:30

Registration and Coffee

9:00

Welcome from the Chair

Mandy Dague, Business Support Executive, GSK NZ

9:10

The future workforce

  • Understanding the workforce trends reshaping organisations, leadership and ways of working

  • Exploring how AI, automation and changing employee expectations are redefining the EA/PA profession

  • Identifying the skills, capabilities and mindsets that will be most valuable in the years ahead

  • Preparing for the opportunities and challenges of the next generation workplace


9:40

C-suit panel discussion: Becoming a strategic partner

  • Moving beyond task execution to become a proactive adviser and trusted sounding board

  • Building trust, credibility and influence through anticipation, judgement and discretion

  • Understanding how EAs/PAs can contribute to business priorities and organisational outcomes

  • Strengthening the executive-assistant relationship to maximise impact for both parties

Colin Albert, VP/GM, GSK

Ankit Gupta, Group Chief Data and AI Officer, The Warehouse Group

Ben Dakers, Chief Digital Officer, Awanui Group

Vicki Caisley, Chief People & Transformation Officer, The New Zealand Automobile Association Incorporated

Nicola Teal, National Strategic Growth & Partnerships Manager, Orbit World Travel NZ

10:30

Morning break

11:00

Preparing for the future of work and building long term AI capabilities

  • Understanding the wider tech ecosystem shaping work

  • Understanding how AI reshapes work in practice, including productivity, decision-making, and information flow in office environments

  • Identifying where to start by selecting practical, low-risk use cases, building confidence with AI tools and creating an action plan for your AI journey

  • Developing practical AI skills, including effective prompting, evaluating outputs, choosing the right tools and knowing when human judgement is essential

  • Recognising the role of data, context and system fragmentation in shaping AI accuracy, reliability and limitations

  • Using AI responsibly by considering privacy, confidentiality, governance, security and organisational policies while adopting new technologies

Sarah Bellett, Head of People Experience, One NZ

11:40

AI QuickFire: AI and Safety

  • Understanding safe and responsible use of AI in day-to-day office work

  • What information should never be entered into AI tools (confidentiality, privacy, sensitive data)

  • How organisational policies and governance shape what “safe use” actually means in practice

  • Recognising risk areas: data leakage, incorrect outputs, and over-reliance on AI

  • Building simple habits to stay compliant while still working efficiently with AI


12.00

AI QuickFire: From information to action

  • From raw, unstructured input to a finished, client-ready output. A real process, end to end

  • Where the hours actually go, and why the fix is rarely AI prompting alone

  • Moving from prompting AI to building tools that work the same way every time, for the whole team

  • What becomes possible once the redundant work is gone

  • • The human as the final decision layer: context, judgement, creativity and security

  • A workflow the audience can take away and rebuild

Ghizlane Chebitou, EA Operations Coordinator - Bayleys Building Consultancy, Bayleys Real Estate

12.20

AI QuickFire: When AI gets it wrong in the office

  • Common AI failures in office environments: missed context, incorrect summaries, tone errors

  • Why these errors happen (lack of organisational context, fragmented systems, incomplete data)

  • Real workplace impact: miscommunication, poor decisions, and reputational risk

  • How professionals validate, correct, and challenge AI-generated outputs

  • Reinforcing human judgement as the final decision layer in all AI-assisted work

Pouria Asghari, Head of GTM Ecosystems & AI, Halter

12:40

Lunch

1:40

Navigating difficult conversations with influence

  • Why AI fails without workforce readiness, trust, and clear use cases

  • Designing AI-enabled workflows that augment how people work

  • Moving from pilots to production: governance, data readiness, and integration challenges

  • Building confidence vs resistance across teams, overcoming the AI FUD cycle

  • Measuring success: adoption, productivity uplift, and decision quality, not just deployment

Robyn Hill, Founder, Courageous Conversations NZ

2:20

Roundtable networking: Peer-to-Peer problem solving

  • Setting boundaries: Saying no with confidence

  • The art of giving and receiving feedback | Jane Lindsay, Executive Assistant, Tower

  • Building your professional brand & personal brand | Loren Tomlinson, Director & Lead Digital Marketing Strategist, The Social Collective

  • Confidently manage budgets and financial decisions

  • The EA's role in governance, risk & compliance | Marise Winthrop, General Counsel & Strategic Delivery Lead, Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC)

  • Starting your AI journey, where to start?

  • Negotiation skills for everyday influence

3.00

Afternoon break

3:30

Panel discussion: Collaborating across neurodiversity and generational difference

  • Understanding how different brains, perspectives, and generations shape the way we work

  • Recognising neurodiverse strengths and creating environments where different thinking styles thrive

  • Adapting communication and collaboration approaches across generational expectations and preferences

  • Building inclusive practices that improve clarity, trust, and team performance

  • Turning difference into a strength to enhance creativity, decision-making, and efficiency

  • Practical strategies for working more effectively in diverse and fast-changing teams

Kayla Oughtou, EA / Practice Manager, Angus Jenkins Leadership, Founder, Dopamine & Co NZ

Dr. Shireen Chua, Director | Intercultural Coach | Facilitator, Third Culture Solutions

Shyamini Szeko, Head of Organisational Capability, Tegel Foods Ltd

4:10

Sustaining performance and protecting wellbeing in high-demand environment

  • Recognising psychosocial risks in fast-paced executive and office support environments

  • Managing workload pressure, mental load, and competing priorities effectively

  • Building sustainable work habits that support long-term energy and performance

  • Setting clear, confident boundaries with executives and key stakeholders

  • Strengthening personal resilience while supporting team wellbeing in practice

  • Creating healthier ways of working that improve both effectiveness and sustainability

Adele Saunders, Head of Psychosocial Safety & Wellbeing, Fonterra

5:00

Chair's summary remarks and end of conference followed by networking reception

8:50

Registration and coffee


Participants on a 2-day VIP pass will be able to attend both of these workshops. Each workshop will be run twice so all VIP pass participants will be able to attend both.

Session 1: 9.00 – 12.30

Session 2: 13.30 – 17.00


AI in the workplace from essential skills to advanced practice

  • Understanding what AI is (and isn’t) in a modern workplace context

  • Building confidence in using AI safely, responsibly and effectively

  • Writing clear and effective prompts for emails, briefs, summaries and agendas

  • Using AI to speed up every day administrative and coordination tasks

  • Improving tone, clarity and structure in workplace communication

  • Applying AI to executive support tasks such as meeting prep and follow-ups

  • Turning complex or unstructured information into clear, usable outputs

  • Identifying opportunities to improve workflows through AI support

  • Moving from task-based use to designing simple AI-powered systems

  • Exploring practical ways to integrate AI into your daily EA/PA workflow



Navigating difficult conversation and influencing with professionalism

  • Building confidence to prepare for and lead difficult conversations with executives, stakeholders and colleagues

  • Communicating clearly and assertively while maintaining trust, professionalism and strong working relationships

  • Managing competing priorities, pushing back constructively, and setting boundaries with confidence

  • Giving and receiving feedback effectively, turning feedback into a tool for growth, influence, and stronger working relationships

  • Shifting from support to strategic assets, strengthening your impact by contributing insight, judgement and value beyond task execution

  • Navigating sensitive conversations in complex environments, including exposure to governance settings such as boards, Chairs and senior leadership teams

  • Applying practical techniques through realistic workplace scenarios to strengthen communication under pressure

Robyn Hill, Founder, Courageous Conversations NZ

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2027 Speakers

KEY SPEAKERS FROM 2026

Steve Griffin

Leadership Trainer, Author and Coach

Claire Barnes

CEO, ECOYA

Kate Mason

Communications coach, world-champion debater and author

Marise Winthrop

General Counsel and Strategic Delivery Lead
Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC)
Marise Winthrop is General Counsel and Strategic Delivery Lead at Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), an NZX-listed agri-tech co-operative. Marise’s career journey is a bit different in that it began as office junior in a law firm after leaving school at 16, progressing through secretarial and support roles before completing her law degree while raising a family. Marise now leads teams spanning legal, governance, intellectual property, data governance and strategic delivery, working closely with executives and directors on matters ranging from regulatory compliance and risk management to major commercial projects and organisational strategy. She was awarded ILANZ private sector in-house lawyer of the year in 2018 and has completed the Harvard Business School Women on Boards programme and serves the board of Cure Parkinson’s NZ.

Robyn Hill

Founder
Courageous Conversations NZ
Robyn Hill is the founder of Courageous Conversations NZ and an accredited mediator, courageous conversation facilitator and coach, and leadership development partner. She helps people, teams and organisations lean into the conversations that matter most — including difficult conversations, conflict, leadership challenges and change — with greater clarity, confidence and care. For the Workplace and Executive Support Show, Robyn will bring her practical, real-world approach to supporting executive support and workplace professionals to navigate courageous conversations in a timely and professional way: not leaping in reactively, not delaying for too long, but preparing well, communicating clearly and preserving strong working relationships under pressure. Robyn brings more than 25 years of people leadership experience, along with specialist expertise in courageous conversations, mediation, conflict management coaching, difficult conversation coaching and facilitation. Her work is grounded in neuroscience, behavioural science, practical leadership experience and a commitment to mana-enhancing practice.

Jane Lindsay

Executive Assistant
Tower
With a varied career spanning executive support, finance, and operations, Jane brings a unique blend of experience from across the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. She currently works at Tower as the Executive Assistant to the CEO along with three other executive members. Prior to this, she worked as an Executive Assistant at KPMG New Zealand, supporting three partners within the Consulting division. Earlier in her career, she served as a Financial Analyst at KPMG, building on her foundation in business and financial operations. Jane’s career has also included roles such as Executive Assistant at the Health and Disability Commissioner’s Office, Business Manager at a start-up food company (Food Nation) and various operational roles at Global Women. Originally from Fiji, Jane spent her early years in Sydney, Australia before moving to New Zealand in 2011. She now lives in Auckland with her husband. Outside of work, she is passionate about giving back to the community, particularly through youth mentoring and contributing to church initiatives, such as training course delivery.

Vicki Caisley

Chief People & Transformation Officer
New Zealand Automobile Association (AA)
Vicki Caisley is an experienced executive and transformation leader with more than 30 years’ experience shaping organisations to deliver better outcomes for people, customers and communities. As Chief People & Transformation Officer at the New Zealand Automobile Association (AA), she leads enterprise-wide transformation, organisational design, people strategy, culture, leadership, and change. Vicki has held senior executive roles across the health, financial services, membership and not-for-profit sectors, including ten years as Chief People & Strategy Officer at Southern Cross Health Society. She has extensive experience in operating model design, strategic workforce planning, leadership development, governance, and large-scale business transformation. Her governance experience includes board roles with Fire and Emergency New Zealand and one of New Zealand’s leading independent schools. She holds an Executive MBA with Distinction and is a Leadership New Zealand alumna. In 2022, she was recognised as one of Insurance Business’s Elite Women. Vicki is passionate about helping organisations navigate change in a way that strengthens performance, builds capability, and creates environments where people and organisations can succeed together.

Kayla Oughtou

Founder
Dopamine & Co NZ

Dr. Shireen Chua

Director | Intercultural Coach | Facilitator
Third Culture Solutions

Pouria Asghari

Head of GTM Ecosystems & AI
Halter

Ghizlane Chebitou

Digital Solutions Architect
Bayleys Building Consultancy
Ghizlane Chebitou works on a simple principle: repetitive work is a design flaw, not a job description. As Digital Solutions Architect at Bayleys Building Consultancy, she builds the systems that engineer it out: automation that clears redundant work for good, business intelligence that gives leaders visibility where there was none, and AI workflows that turn raw, scattered information into decisions and client-ready output. She’s deliberately unsentimental about tools: sometimes the answer is code, sometimes a better platform, sometimes replacing an entire suite. What matters is that the business moves forward and people’s hours land on work that actually needs a human. She came to architecture from the inside; six years in executive support and operations, the seat every piece of information passes through. It taught her exactly where the hours go, and it’s why the systems she builds get used.

Sarah Bellett

Head of People Experience
One NZ
Sarah is the Head of People Experience at One NZ, leading a team of exceptional humans creating experiences that blend the disciplines of change, capability and organisational effectiveness spanning the full employee lifecycle. Joining the Vodafone whānau in 2017, she bought with her expertise leading A&NZ learning teams through large scale business transformation. Developing business aligned learning strategies, executing innovative tactical actions, and energising teams to lead org-wide change programmes that ‘connect the dots’, are the aspects of transformation that Sarah enjoys the most.

Ankit Gupta

Group Chief Data and AI Officer
The Warehouse Group

Colin Albert

VP/GM
GSK

Nicola Teal

National Strategic Growth & Partnerships Manager
Orbit World Travel
I am the National Strategic Growth & Partnerships Manager at Orbit World Travel, part of the House of Travel Group. With more than 25 years’ experience spanning aviation, health and safety, business development and leadership, I’ve built my career by helping organisations navigate change, build trusted partnerships and achieve meaningful business outcomes. When the pandemic brought the travel industry to a standstill, I transitioned from Air New Zealand to Safety’n Action, partnering with organisations navigating significant change and complex risk environments. Working alongside senior leaders, I facilitated challenging conversations, influenced strategic decision-making and strengthened my belief that trust, adaptability and empathy are the foundations of lasting leadership. Today, I work with executives across New Zealand’s corporate, government and association sectors, helping organisations move beyond transactional relationships to build strategic partnerships that deliver lasting commercial value. As a leadership coach and mentor for more than 10 years, I’m passionate about helping people build confidence, strengthen their influence and realise their leadership potential. I believe our greatest impact comes from anticipating needs, challenging thinking and continually evolving beyond our role to create meaningful value – especially in a world where change never stands still.

Loren Tomlinson

Director & Lead Digital Marketing Strategist
The Social Collective
Loren Tomlinson is the Founder and Director of The Social Collective, a boutique digital marketing agency based in Auckland specialising in social media, paid advertising, and strategy for established service businesses across New Zealand and Australia. With over six years in marketing and serving 200+ businesses, Loren works at the intersection of earned and owned media – helping founder-led brands build the digital ecosystems that convert every PR moment. Her agency was featured in NZ Marketing Magazine’s Founders Issue in 2026, and The Social Collective is the official content partner of The Social Summit Sydney. Loren is also the Founder and Host of In Her Empire Era, a luxury podcast and event series for ambitious women in business expanding across NZ and Australia, and is a regular speaker at conferences and industry events nationwide.

Shyamini Szeko

Head of Organisational Capability
Tegel foods
Shyamini Szeko is Head of Organisational Capability at Tegel Foods, where she leads work that connects strategy, capability, and execution across the business. She focuses on helping organisations build the capability and confidence to navigate ongoing change, not just once, but continuously. Her Master’s in Change and Organisational Resilience has shaped a particular interest in how continuous change and an ageing workforce intersect in the workplace. She focuses on how change is experienced differently across life stages, and what this means for organisations trying to sustain performance, inclusion, and adaptability over time.

Ben Dakers

Chief Digital Officer
Awanui Labs

Gold Sponsor

Exhibitors

BEIA

Urban Gourmet

Peppers Clearwater Resort – Accor Group

eCoach – Mahu City Express

Team Up Events

Eat First

Sudima Hotels

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Corporate Cabs

The VA Foundry

Venues Ōtautahi

Technical Event Solutions

Hotel Grand Chancellor

Bridgewater Country Estate

Minor Hotels

Giftbox Boutique

Bay of Plenty

Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre

Tuakau Hotel

Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport

Naumi Hotel Wellington

My Food Bag

TableHub

Due Drop Events Centre

Palmy Venues

Graeme Dingle Foundation

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Corporate Travel Management

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The Hotel Britomart

Don't miss out on the connections and credibility boost!

Live B2B events are your chance to shine. Showcase your thought leadership, solidify your market position, and forge valuable connections with potential customers – all at once.

This exclusive event puts you in front of a highly skilled audience hungry for insights. Get ready for meaningful engagement that drives results.

Plus, we have some unique opportunities to put your company, products, and services in the spotlight.

Ready to take your brand to the next level? Contact us today to learn more or secure your spot at this leading event.

Why you should invest in audience marketing
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VIP Content to be confirmed for 2027

Workshops (3 March 2027)

AI in the workplace from essential skills to advanced practice

Tracey Lock

Managing Director, Your A Team; & Business Coach, Tracey Lock Business Coach

  • Why AI matters for support roles today
  • Busting myths: AI as a helper, not a replacement
  • Real-world examples of AI in admin, scheduling, and office management
  • Key tools relevant to support staff (ChatGPT, Copilot, scheduling assistants, transcription tools, etc.)
  • Automation tools – when and how to use them to advance your tech stack including the risks of using third party tools over direct integrations
  • Ethics, privacy & company policies: what to watch out for
  • Practical use cases and demonstrations – Drafting professional emails & reports in minutes – Smarter meeting prep: agendas, summaries, and action lists – Diary & travel planning with AI assistance -Managing information overload (note-taking, research, task tracking)
  • How you can use AI to elevate your role – from support staff to strategic partner
  • Tips for ongoing learning & keeping up with new tools
Influence Without Authority: The Hidden Power of Support Roles

Melanie Unstead

Founder, Exec Assist

  • The unique position of support professionals
  • Influence as a “superpower”
  • The psychology of persuasion & trust
  • Identifying your personal sphere of influence
  • Techniques for assertive yet diplomatic communication
  • Handling difficult conversations (with senior leaders, peers, or vendors)
  • Moving from task-doer to strategic enabler
  • Framing ideas so they land with decision-makers
  • Building credibility & visibility in your organisation

Want to join this conference?

Register your interest, we will be in touch when tickets are available.
Register your interest

BE IN TO WIN

The Grand by SkyCity

Book a 1-day Show Pass or 2-day VIP Pass before 20 February 2026 & be in to win!
  • 1 nights stay for two at the Grand by SkyCity in a harbour view room
  • Breakfast for two at The Terrace restaurant 
  • 2 Sky Tower tickets

Terms & Conditions for prize draw

The Grand Sky City (4)

Tickets

2-day VIP Pass

Super Early Brird
$1700
$ 1200 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking Function
  • 2 deep dive workshops (3 March)
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month 2026.
Buy ticket

2-day VIP Pass

Early Bird
$1700
$ 1400 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking function
  • 2 deep dive workshops (3 March)
  • For valid ticket/s, payment by # month, 202#.
Buy ticket

2-day VIP Pass

Full Price
$1700
$ 1500 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking Function
  • 2 deep dive workshops (3 March)
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month 2026.
Buy ticket

2-day VIP Pass

Last Minute
$ 1700 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking Function
  • 2 deep dive workshops (3 March)
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month 2026.
Buy ticket

1-day Show Pass

Super Early Bird
$1400
$ 1000 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking Function
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month 2026.
Buy ticket

1-Day Show Pass

Early Bird
$1400
$ 1100 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking function
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month, 202#.
Buy ticket

1-Day Show Pass

Full Price
$1400
$ 1200 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking function
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month, 202#.
Buy ticket

1-Day Show Pass

Last Minute
$ 1400 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking function
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month, 202#.
Buy ticket

Double Pass - come with a colleague!

1-Day Show
Double Pass

$ 800 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking function
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month, 202#.
Buy ticket

2-day VIP
Double Pass

$ 1000 + gst
  • Full Show Access
  • Networking Function
  • 2 deep dive workshops (3 March)
  • For valid ticket, payment by # month 2026.
Buy ticket
Registration Conditions

Ticket Terms
All prices are in New Zealand dollars ($NZD)
A surcharge of 2.5% + GST applies to credit card payments on top of the total amount.
Pre-Sale Tickets are valid only for the specific event for which they were purchased and cannot be transferred to other events. To remain valid, Super Saver and Early Bird tickets must be paid by date quoted.
Group ticket options are valid for registrations from the same organisation, booked at the same time.
By selecting any special pricing offer for classes of organisation, sector, or individuals or using any promotion code, you are asserting to the organiser your right to claim any such pricing offer, and acknowledge the organiser’s right to audit such claim and, if in the opinion of the organiser using its sole discretion the conditions for special pricing are not met, reject any registration.

For full terms & conditions, please visit https://www.brightstar.co.nz/terms-and-conditions

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