Designed for Tomorrow’s Finance Leaders: The Emerging Leaders Forum 2025

Emerging Finance Leader’s Forum

FREE exclusive event co-located with The NZ CFO summit

4 September 2025 | Cordis, Auckland

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Connect, network, and grow your skills at this inaugural forum within New Zealand’s leading conference for finance leaders. With a focus on development, connection and inspiration, this forum will examine how to become a Finance Leader in today’s finance environment. Supporting attendees to develop the skills, the attributes and the attitudes required to lead teams, projects, and departments.

Limited to 50 participants, this exclusive forum will be led by a distinguished panel of seasoned CFOs and finance leaders, sharing their experiences and answering any questions you may have.

Who should register?

Inspiration | Progression | Development

This forum has been crafted specifically for those who are not yet at the senior levels of finance leadership but aspire to be. Ideally you will have a few years’ experience in a relevant finance role and have aspirations to become a CFO or other Finance Leader. We welcome all attendees who are looking for that next step and want to learn about the skills, attributes and attitudes required.

Fast-track your development: Gain insights and practical skills directly from established finance leaders and CFOs

Become an industry leader: Immerse yourself in a stimulating environment embedded within NZ’s premier event for finance leader the CFO Summit designed to foster the next generation of leadership

Network with the elite: Build connections with industry leaders and peers, propelling your career forward

Fuel the Future of Finance Leadership

Are you an aspiring finance leader hungry to take the next step in your career? We encourage you to register your interest for the Emerging Leaders’ Forum! 

Or do you know a bright mind with the potential to shape the future of finance leadership in New Zealand? We invite you to nominate an inspiring emerging leader from your team for this exclusive event. 

Meet the mentors

Agenda

10:20	Registration and Coffee
11:00	Welcoming remarks from the MC
11:10	Identifying the core skills and capabilities required of the future finance leaders Recognising the new skill sets required for finance teams and finance leaders Understanding that strategic leadership is the cornerstone of modern finance – how the role of finance leader has evolved beyond financial stewardship How has the profession transitioned from a retrospective focus on reporting to providing forward-looking insights that support decision making? Moving beyond accounting expertise – gaining competitive advantage by developing your proficiency in data analytics and digital tools The role of the finance team in identifying and mitigating risks Exploring the modern CFO’s role in scaling and sustaining growth Developing the capability to review the effectiveness of the finance function to ensure that processes, strategy and enabling tools align with organisational goals
11:40	How to gain visibility and effectively articulate your value to fastrack your career How to demonstrate your value with clarity and authority Pathways to influence, innovation, and growth Exploring proven strategies that will empower you to claim your authority, engage others and elevate your impact Developing the soft skills necessary for effective finance leadership and partnership Elizabeth Lewis Daniell, CFO, Wexer & Member, CA ANZ CFO and Finance Leaders Special Interest Group Committee
12:00	What do you need to know to become a CFO? Defining the essential new CFO skillsets - leadership, strategy, transformation and commercial The role of the CFO in the development, execution and management of strategy The CFO’s role as a driver of change within an organisation Exploring the development of new pathways to the CFO role The CEO-CFO relationship - what do they expect from their CFO – what should the CFO bring to the table? The CFO –Board Director dynamic – what do Boards need from a CFO What finance teams want from their CFO? Louise Keen, Interim CFO, Shape Energy & Financial Consultant, STILL
12:20	Exploring non-traditional pathways for finance career progression What other options are there for aspiring finance professionals outside of the standard Finance Manager to CFO pathway? What else could you do with the core finance skills and experience that you have? What capabilities do you need to think about developing to take an alternative trajectory? Sharing my finance career journey Pauras Rege, Director, Tiaki Capital & Chair, CA ANZ Auckland Emerging Leaders Special Interest Group
12:40	Panel discussion: How to become a finance leader in today’s finance environment Partnering with the business - How can emerging finance leader’s better partner with other departments and key stakeholders to achieve strategic business success and ensure their relevance and career development? How can finance professionals ensure they engage in continuous learning and development to remain competitive and stay ahead changes in the industry? Strategies to innovate and maximise the value of the latest trends and new technologies for career progression and business success Practical tips for emerging CFOs and finance leaders and on becoming more strategic leaders within their organisations Rimma Gayfullina, Financial Controller - Airport Rentals & Motorhome Republic, Webjet Group Louise Keen, Interim CFO, Shape Energy Elizabeth Lewis Daniell, CFO, Wexer Michelle Young, Deputy CFO, One NZ
1:10	Close of Emerging Finance Leader's Forum followed by lunch and networking

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Designed for Tomorrow’s Finance Leaders: The Emerging Leaders Forum 2025

Who should register?

Fuel the Future of Finance Leadership

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