AI in Clinical Practice: Transforming Healthcare in Aotearoa

30 APRIL 2026.

RYDGES, AUCKLAND.

AI in Clinical Practice: Transforming Healthcare in Aotearoa

This conference explores the New Zealand experience of the clinical use of AI, grounded in local case studies, policy direction, and frontline experience. Hear directly from the implementors of diagnostic imaging, decision support tools and patient monitoring systems. Discover the success and issues in embedding tools safely into real clinical workflows. Explore governance, ethics, equity, and workforce capability alongside clinical outcomes. Leave better informed about adopting, scaling, and governing AI to improve patient care.

Designed for clinicians, clinical leaders, health professionals, policymakers, researchers, AI vendors, and Māori and Pacific health leaders, the conference equips participants to make informed decisions about adopting, scaling, and governing AI to improve patient care across Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system.

KEY SPEAKERS FOR 2026

Our 2026 key lineup brings together thought leaders and frontline practitioners in clinical AI. Check out more today.

Sonny Taite

Director Innovation and AI

Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand

Bindi Norwell

Group Chief Executive

ProCare

Tana Isaac

EVP, Product and Technology

Lunit International

Who Should Attend?

Clinicians and clinical leaders
Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, clinical directors, and CMOs exploring or already using AI in practice

Health sector executives and managers
Te Whatu Ora leaders, hospital and service managers, and digital health leaders responsible for strategy, investment, and implementation
Health IT, data, and digital teams
Informatics, analytics, and digital transformation specialists supporting AI-enabled care

Policy, regulatory, and governance professionals
Those involved in health policy, ethics, privacy, risk, and legal oversight

Researchers and academics
Clinicians and scientists working in clinical AI, predictive modelling, and health innovation
Industry and vendors
AI solution providers, integrators, and consultants working alongside the health sector
Equity and community health leaders
Māori and Pacific health leaders, population health specialists, and those focused on culturally safe and equitable outcomes

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Agenda

8:00	Registration and Coffee
8:50	Mihi Whakatau
9:00	Welcoming remarks from the Chair
9:10	HealthX in Action: Driving System-Wide Digital and AI Transformation The establishment of HealthX and how they are shaping digital and AI innovation across the New Zealand healthcare system Understand the delivery focused model and criteria used to determine priority projects that tackle workforce pressure, access inequities, and high-impact clinical use cases for AI and digital tools Explore first pilot project of AI scribes in a Hawkes Bay hospital and how it will be rolled out across NZ emergency departments Vision for next 12 months and project pipeline Sonny Taite, Director Innovation and AI, Te Whatu Ora \| Health New Zealand
9:45	AI in Action Panel: Clinical AI implementation in New Zealand Healthcare Exploring how AI is being used across primary and secondary care, lessons learned, and upcoming initiatives Strategies for driving adoption, encouraging effective and responsible use and creating lasting cultural change Identifying where AI adds the most benefit, potential pitfalls, and patient safety considerations Ethical considerations for use of AI in data and clinical decision-making support Addressing requirements for upskilling for AI literacy within the workforce, and navigating current regulations and legal frameworks Professor Robyn Whittaker, Clinical Director for Evidence & Pathways and Data & Analytics within Planning, Funding & Outcomes, Te Whatu Ora and Chair of Te Whatu Ora’s National AI & Algorithm Expert Advisory Group Bindi Norwell, CEO, ProCare Group More panellists to be announced
10:30	Morning break
11:00	Ethics and AI in Clinical Practice: Managing Risk, Trust, and Fairness Understanding where AI scribes and decision tools add value and where they introduce new patient safety risks; balancing efficiency gains with clinician oversight Ensuring quality data and how subtle inaccuracies can have serious implications for diagnosis, treatment and continuity of care if unchecked How building patient-provider trust is essential to ethical use of AI in healthcare and the importance of robust consent processes, transparency about data handling (including offshore cloud storage), and adherence to existing legal and professional frameworks
11:40	Putting People First: AI, Health Equity and Cultural Safety Using the South Auckland diabetes screening pilot as a case study to explore equity, cultural safety, and the needs of marginalised communities when using AI tools Engaging Pacific and other communities to co-design AI solutions that reflect lived experience and build trust Evaluating AI impact through patient outcomes, early diagnosis, and real-world health improvements Ensuring data sovereignty and reducing bias to remove inequities in healthcare delivery
12:20	Lunch
13:20	Case study: Exploring AI in imaging and breast cancer screening How AI is being used in medical image analysis to improve accuracy, speed, and clinical decision-making What AI does well today, where human judgement remains critical, and lessons learned from implementation Lessons from software implementation including data bias, local relevance vs global models, and integrating AI into real clinical workflows Exploring global developments in AI in healthcare including changing patient expectations, the role of digital twins, advancement of generative AI and the way they could impact clinical decision making in future Tana Isaac, EVP Product and Technology, Lunit International
13:50	Tech Spotlight: Innovations Shaping New Zealand Healthcare Showcase of technology made in New Zealand and abroad that is in use and in development today Understand the broader contribution technology can make to improving outcomes, efficiency, and equity in the healthcare system
15:00	Afternoon break
15:30	Navigating the grey: Legal Frameworks for AI in Clinical Settings Key legal and ethical considerations for AI in clinical diagnostics Understanding liability and responsibilities for healthcare providers using AI Navigating grey areas and regulatory uncertainty in healthcare AI Lessons and insights from international experiences with AI in medicine
16:10	The Future of AI in NZ Healthcare: Scaling Innovation for Impact How AI can transform clinical practice and healthcare delivery across Aotearoa Applying global insights to responsibly scale AI solutions locally Exploring next-generation applications such as remote patient monitoring, AI-enhanced X-ray triage, and other emerging technologies
16:50	Summary remarks from the Chair
17:00	Day 1 close & networking drinks

Speakers

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