30 JULY 2026 | InterContinental Wellington
THE CHANGE & TRANSFORMATION SUMMIT
Culture | Strategy | Engagement | Capability | Delivery
As organisations grapple with rapid change and evolving business landscapes, successful transformation is imperative for long-term success. This event provides essential insights and strategies to navigate complex change initiatives, mitigate risks, and unlock significant performance improvements.
Are you ready to lead your team through successful change?
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to adapt and transform is critical to long-term success. Join us for a comprehensive exploration of the key strategies and techniques to navigate organisational change and drive lasting impact.
Mastering Change Management
Learn proven methodologies and frameworks to effectively manage large-scale transformations.
Cultivating a Change-Positive Culture
Discover how to foster a culture that embraces change and drives innovation.
Leveraging Leadership for Transition
Gain insights from experienced leaders on inspiring and guiding teams through change
Practical Tips & Case Studies
Benefit from real-world examples and actionable advice to implement change effectively.
The Psychology of Change
Understand the emotional and cognitive factors that influence individual and organisational responses to change
This event is ideal for:
- Executives and leaders: Those responsible for driving strategic change and organisational transformation.
- Change management professionals: Individuals who specialise in managing and leading change initiatives.
- HR professionals: HR leaders and practitioners interested in fostering a culture of change and employee engagement.
- Consultants and advisors: Professionals who support organisations in their change and transformation journeys.
- Anyone seeking to develop their leadership skills and ability to navigate change.
Venue
The location and how you can get there
Address
InterContinental Wellington
2 Grey Street,
Wellington Central
8:30 | Registration and Coffee |
9:00 | Welcome from the Chair Dr. Shireen Chua, Director | Intercultural Coach | Facilitator, Third Culture Solutions |
9:10 | Transformation starts with leadership: Setting the tone from the top
Allan Sampson, Executive Leadership | Business Transformation & Strategy; ex Country Manager NZ, Gentrack |
9:50 | From intent to adoption: Making change stick in the real world
Sarah Able, Chief People and Culture Officer, The Co-operative Bank |
10:30 | Morning break |
11:00 | The foundations of successful change - Why trust must be built long before transformation begins
Nigel Wilson, Communications, Culture & Change Leader |
11:45 | Communication & Culture in an Age of Accelerating Change
Melissa Crawford, Futurist, Technologist and Culture Change expert |
12:30 | Lunch |
1:30 | Beyond the AI hype: Embedding AI into how work gets done
Michelle Burke, Data and AI specialist consultant |
2:10 | The change capability gap: Why strategy fails in execution
Amy Cavanaugh, Head of Transformation, Public Trust |
2:50 | Leading people through sustained change
Dr. Shireen Chua, Director | Intercultural Coach | Facilitator, Third Culture Solutions |
3.30 | Afternoon break |
3:50 | Empathetic Change Management - walking in someone else’s shoes
Penny Hurlstone, Change Management Lead, Spark New Zealand |
4:20 | Closing keynote: The future of change leadership
Scott Wright, Founder & CEO, The HI Company |
5:00 | Chair's summary remarks and end of conference followed by networking reception |
Speakers
Sarah Able
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Michelle Burke
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Nigel Wilson
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Nigel Wilson is a senior communications and engagement leader with more than 20 years’ experience helping large and complex organisations navigate transformation, uncertainty and high-pressure environments.
He is currently GM Corporate Communications at KiwiRail, where he has led communication and engagement through significant organisational change, major operational events, and periods of intense public and stakeholder scrutiny. His experience spans executive communication, internal culture and engagement, leadership alignment, crisis communication, and translating complex strategy into clear, human-centred narratives.
Prior to KiwiRail, Nigel held senior communications roles at organisations including Spark, BNZ and Fonterra, working across large-scale transformation programmes, culture and leadership initiatives, and enterprise-wide change.
Nigel is particularly interested in the role trust, clarity and leadership behaviour play during periods of transformation, and how organisations can communicate in ways that build credibility, reduce confusion and support meaningful change adoption.
Nigel is known for combining strategic insight, operational realism and engaging storytelling to help leaders think differently about trust, communication and change.
Melissa Crawford
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Scott Wright
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Scott Wright is a speaker, TEDx presenter and founder of The HI Co, with 30 years of senior commercial and executive leadership experience across iconic businesses including Frucor Suntory, Lion, Goodman Fielder, DB and Cadbury. A former Marketing Director, Commercial Director and General Manager, Scott has spent nearly two decades on executive leadership teams, leading strategy, driving growth, building cultures and navigating disruption from the inside.
His recent TEDx talk, What Are Your Yellow Shoes?, explored how to best invest in your Human Identity and presence as a strategic asset, not just a soft skill. Scott’s message for finance and accounting leaders is that knowing your personal leadership brand is a critical skill to underpin your effectiveness.
Amy Cavanaugh
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Allan Sampson
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Supporting Organisation
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Tickets - choose your option
DOUBLE PASS
PRICE PER PERSON-
Must be from the same organisation & book at the same time. For valid tickets, payment by 30 July, 2026.
INDIVIDUAL TICKET
LOCAL, CENTRAL GOVT, NGO RATE-
For valid ticket, payment by 30 July, 2026.
SUPER SAVER
LOCAL, CENTRAL GOVT, NGO RATE-
For valid ticket, payment by 12 June, 2026.
EARLY BIRD
LOCAL, CENTRAL GOVT, NGO RATE-
For valid ticket, payment by 30 June, 2026.
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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