31 MARCH 2027
GRAND MILLENNIUM, AUCKLAND

The Strategy of Data, Analytics & AI Conference

TURNING AI AMBITION INTO INTELLIGENT ENTERPRISE

AI is no longer just about personal productivity tools or isolated experiments – it is actively reshaping how modern organisations operate, make decisions, and drive long-term value. However, scaling from fragmented pilots to an integrated, AI-enabled enterprise presents complex challenges. Success requires far more than acquiring new software; it demands clear strategic alignment, trusted data foundations, resilient cybersecurity, robust governance, and empowered teams.

The Strategy of Data, Analytics & AI Conference brings together senior executives, data and analytics specialists, and transformation leaders to explore how to bridge the gap between AI ambition and enterprise execution. Join us to gain actionable frameworks for navigating emerging risks, building core data capabilities, and leading your organisation into an AI-driven future.

WHAT WE'LL EXPLORE

Key themes

AI Transformation: Transitioning from standalone AI tools to fully autonomous, agentic workflows and scalable enterprise capability.
Intelligent Organisation: Aligning advanced analytics, AI, and business strategy to drive smarter decision-making and operational value.
Data Foundations & Trust: Navigating data sovereignty, cloud architectures, and regulatory frameworks to ensure your data remains a secure strategic asset.
Risk, Cybersecurity & Resilience: Safeguarding sensitive assets against AI-driven threats while building proportionate controls that enable innovation.
People, Leadership & Culture: Preparing workforce models, establishing executive accountability, and driving sustainable organisational change.

Agenda

31 MARCH 2027

8:30	Registration and Coffee
9:00	Welcome from the Chair
9:10	Opening Keynote: Leading the future of work in a data-driven world Understanding how organisations need to evolve as data, AI and technology reshape the way we work Looking beyond today’s challenges to define future-ready strategy and competitive advantage Exploring how the workforce and leadership roles must evolve as AI becomes embedded in decision-making Balancing technology advancement with human capability, trust and collaboration Moving from AI tools and experimentation towards AI-enabled organisations that deliver real business outcomes Tighe Wall, Chief Technology Officer, Contact Energy
9:40	C-Suite Panel: Putting strategy first: How leaders are navigating the AI transformation How AI is influencing business strategy and decision-making Moving beyond experimentation towards enterprise adoption Defining what success looks like before investing in technology Aligning AI, data and analytics initiatives with business priorities The role of executives in driving transformation Balancing innovation, investment and organisational risk Marco A. Ciobo, Principal & Founder \| Digital Insights and Transformation, Advisor, Bain & Company, Cyient Sharyn Reichstein, Chief Risk Officer, Tower Wayne Bloem, Director of Technology, Ritchies Transport Holdings Limited
10.20	Moving from experimentation to intelligent organisations Identifying the right opportunities for AI adoption Moving beyond Copilot and basic productivity use cases Understanding the rise of AI agents and autonomous workflows Exploring where AI agents can transform business processes Building capability across teams
10:50	Morning break
11:20	From data to intelligence: Turning insights into better business decisions Moving beyond dashboards and reporting towards real-time decision intelligence Combining data, analytics and AI to anticipate outcomes and recommend action Exploring how AI agents and autonomous workflows are changing decision-making Identifying where AI is delivering measurable business value Building organisations where data, AI and human judgement work together Turning intelligence into faster, smarter and more confident decisions
11:40	The hallmarks of good AI governance: From legislation to practical control Understanding where NZ's current legislation, regulatory guidance, and international developments actually create obligations Translating high-level responsible AI principles into policies their organisation can actually operate Applying a governance model for agentic AI Mapping governance responsibilities across board, executive, technology, data, and business-owner roles Designing proportionate controls that scale with risk rather than blocking adoption outright
12.00	Roundatble discussion: When AI Goes Wrong: Can Your Organisation Recover? \| Sponsored by Wasabi As AI agents take on more of your decisions and workflows, join peers to discuss whether you could restore the data, models, and records behind them to a trusted state after a cyber attack, corruption, or a bad change.
1:00	Lunch
2:00	Panel discussion: When transformation gets hard: Lessons from AI, Data and Digital change Why technology initiatives fail Common mistakes when implementing AI and analytics Managing expectations and avoiding over-reliance on technology Learning from setbacks and adapting quickly Building resilience into transformation journeys Caroline Webb, Principal Advisor - Digital Innovation, ACC New Zealand Pouria Asghari, Head of GTM Ecosystems & AI, Halter Anupama Wijesundara, Data and Performance Lead / Board Member, TWOW/Kites
2:40	Data Sovereignty: Taking control of your most valuable asset Understanding why data sovereignty has become a strategic priority Managing where organisational data is stored, accessed and processed Navigating increasing regulatory, privacy and security expectations Understanding the implications of using global AI platforms and cloud providers Ensuring data decisions align with business risk appetite and long-term strategy Tuscany Joelle-Hui, Portfolio Product Manager \| Data & AI, TVNZ
3.20	Afternoon break
3:50	Bringing your board and organisation on the AI journey How leaders should communicate AI strategy with their boards Educating directors on opportunities, limitations and risks Establishing clear accountability and governance frameworks Building responsible AI principles Ensuring AI investments align with organisational strategy Jeff Sutton, Head of Transformation, OfficeMax
4:25	Closing keynote: Cyber security, protecting the intelligent organisation How AI is changing cyber threats and vulnerabilities Understanding the risks of increased automation and AI agents Protecting sensitive organisational data Building a cyber security culture across your organisation Educating employees to become part of your defence strategy New battleground of AI vs AI: Balancing innovation with responsible risk management Paul Jepson, Chief Digital and Data Officer, FMG
5:00	Chair's summary remarks and end of conference followed by networking reception

Speakers

Check back soon for updates

Wayne Bloem

Director of Technology

Ritchies Transport Holdings Limited

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Wayne Bloem leads technology at Ritchies Transport, New Zealand’s largest privately owned bus and coach operator and a KKR portfolio company. Reporting to the CEO, he is responsible for digital strategy, infrastructure, data and analytics, and cybersecurity across a national network serving around 3,000 staff. Wayne treats AI as a business decision before a technology one. He defines the problem and what success should look like first, then decides where data, analytics and automation will make a real difference. At Ritchies he built a three-year digital roadmap tied to private equity value creation. He has also led large operational programmes, including HASTUS scheduling and a self-service platform for a workforce that is mostly on the road. He is particularly interested in how leaders move AI beyond pilots and into everyday operations without taking on unmanaged risk. He holds an AI for Business Mini MBA from Section and is based in Auckland.

Anupama Wijesundara

Data and Performance Lead / Board Member

TWOW/Kites

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Anupama is a data, strategy and governance leader with over 10 years of experience across the health, social services and community sectors. His expertise spans organisational strategy, data and analytics, operational leadership, transformation, governance and service improvement, with a strong focus on translating complexity into clear strategic direction and action. He has led multidisciplinary teams and major organisational initiatives, working across both strategy and execution to strengthen organisational performance, data governance, service delivery and decision-making. Anupama’s background in social work, combined with extensive experience in data, project management, technology and operational leadership, provides him with a distinctive systems-thinking and human-centred perspective on organisational transformation. He is particularly focused on connecting people, data, technology and strategy to break down organisational silos, strengthen organisational capability and build more responsive systems that deliver sustainable outcomes for communities.

Tuscany Joelle-Hui

Portfolio Product Manager | Data & AI

TVNZ

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Tuscany Joelle-Hui leads the AI Centre of Excellence at TVNZ, where she owns AI strategy and governance, including work with iwi and cultural advisors on Māori data sovereignty. A member of the AI Forum Governance Group, she has spent her career turning complex data into products that add value to New Zealand businesses without eroding public trust.

Caroline Webb

Principal Advisor - Digital Innovation

ACC New Zealand

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Paul Jepson

Chief Digital and Data Officer

FMG

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Paul joined the Mutual in February 2024 as Chief Information Officer (Chief Digital and Data Officer as of February 2026), bringing over 30 years’ experience within the digital and information technology transformation space. He’s worked for several organisations within the UK and New Zealand, including a range of executive roles, including Chief Information Officer at The Electoral Commission, IT Director at Newcastle Building Society, Deputy Chief Executive at the Earthquake Commission (EQC) and Chief Information Officer at the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). His authentic leadership style has seen him lead large and diverse teams within the private and public sectors, covering strategy definition through to operational execution. Paul also enjoys coaching and mentoring and has been a mentor for Women in Technology Leadership since 2020.

Pouria Asghari

Head of GTM Ecosystems & AI

Halter

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Pouria Asghari is a product and technology leader with deep experience building and scaling digital products, go-to-market systems, and AI-driven customer experiences. He is currently Head of GTM Ecosystems & AI at Halter, where he leads the technology ecosystem across sales, customer support and operations, with a focus on AI-first automation and scalable commercial systems. Previously, Pouria held product and technology leadership roles at MediaWorks New Zealand, leading product, AI, CRM and digital delivery across some of the country’s largest media platforms. His career spans more than a decade across New Zealand, the UAE and Spain, with experience across product, AI, CRM, data and digital transformation.

Sharyn Reichstein

Chief Risk Officer

Tower NZ

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Sharyn joined Tower in July 2023 as Chief Risk Officer, bringing deep expertise in enterprise risk, financial regulation, and corporate governance. Previously General Manager, General Insurance at APRA, she led supervision of Australia’s general insurance industry and chaired APRA’s General Insurance Industry Group. With experience across banking, insurance, and superannuation, Sharyn is highly skilled in stress testing, policy development, supervision frameworks, and strategic risk management.

Tighe Wall

Chief Transformation Officer

Contact Energy

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Tighe is responsible for the transformation of Contact Energy – leading the data & AI, digital, and core technology functions. He is also the 2026 New Zealand CIO of the Year. Prior to joining Contact Tighe was the Head of Digital Strategy and Transformation at E.ON SE (Germany) where his teams led the global digital, workplace, and cultural transformations. Before that he led several consulting practices at IBM Interactive Experience (the Netherlands, UK, and US).

Workshops - 1 April

STANDALONE WORKSHOPS (1 APRIL 2027) Attend for $799+gst standalone, or bundle with conference for $399+gst

AI & CX - The reality check, what's actually working

9:00am - 12:00pm

AI & CX - The reality check, what's actually working

Identifying where AI can improve the customer journey and deliver measurable value
Exploring practical applications of AI agents in customer service, customer support and end-to-end journey management
Understanding how AI agents are changing customer interactions and business processes
Assessing risks around privacy, accuracy, accountability and customer trust
Defining where human judgement, oversight and escalation remain essential
Developing practical guardrails and an actionable roadmap for adopting AI agents responsible

Facilitator to be confirmed

Attend for $799+gst standalone, or bundle with conference for $399+gst

From Customer Data to Action - Designing more relevant experiences

1:00pm - 5:00pm

From customer data to action: Designing more relevant experiences

Identifying how customer data can reveal needs, behaviours and pain points
Exploring how organisations can turn customer insights into more relevant and seamless experiences
Connecting data across channels to better understand the end-to-end customer journey
Balancing the use of customer data with privacy, trust and expectations
Identifying opportunities to improve engagement, loyalty and business performance
Developing practical actions for turning customer insights into measurable improvements

Facilitator to be confirmed

Attend for $799+gst standalone, or bundle with conference for $399+gst

Governing AI in Practice: From approval to audit readiness (ISO/IEC 42001)

9:00am - 12:00pm

From AI Approval to Audit Readiness

This practical, hands-on workshop takes participants through a real-world AI adoption decision, showing how ISO/IEC 42001 can be applied to move from “Can we approve this?” to “Can we prove we governed it?”

Using a fictional organisation and a Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption scenario, participants will work through the key risks, responsibilities, controls and evidence needed to make AI adoption defensible and audit-ready.

Scoping an AI Management System for a real-world organisational scenario
Assessing an AI adoption decision and identify the risks, responsibilities and obligations that need to be addressed
Translating the decision into practical controls, policies and governance processes
Identifying what good evidence looks like for demonstrating responsible and compliant AI use
Exploring how ISO/IEC 42001 works alongside ISO/IEC 27001 and existing governance frameworks
Building an ongoing management approach for monitoring and governing AI after approval
Developing a practical 90-day roadmap to strengthen AI governance and audit readiness

Facilitated by Owais Nawchoo, Consultant

Attend for $799+gst standalone, or bundle with conference for $399+gst

CO-LOCATED WITH

CUSTOMER CENTRED

Even the most advanced AI and data architectures fall flat without real customer impact. Co-located alongside this event, Customer Centred focuses on turning raw insight into human-centred journey design, commercial growth, and ethical personalisation.

Bring your cross-functional teams to learn side-by-side, bridging the gap between back-stage infrastructure and front-stage experience to build solutions that actually execute.

Interested in both events? Your ticket allows access to both – book your preference, feel free to explore on the day.

Tickets

$1499

$ 1099 + gst per person

Conference Only - For valid ticket/s, payment by 18 December 2026. Offer only available to enterprise and public sector end-users.

$1499

$ 999 + gst per person

Conference group rate min purchase 2 tickets - For valid ticket/s, payment by 18 December 2026. Offer only available to enterprise and public sector end-users.

$ 799 + gst

Add to conference and pay only $399 per person per workshop. For valid ticket/s, payment by 31 March 2027. Offer only available to enterprise and public sector end-users.

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.
Super Early Bird Tickets are valid only for the specific event for which they were purchased and cannot be transferred to other events. To remain valid, 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

Explore event insights

Silver Sponsor

Align Your Brand with Data, Analytics
& AI Decision-Makers

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

Connect with the executive decision-makers defining New Zealand’s AI and data future.

The Strategy of Data, Analytics & AI Conference gathers C-suite leaders, tech executives, and transformation leads across NZ enterprise. This is your platform to showcase your solutions directly to key buyers as they navigate AI adoption, agentic workflows, data sovereignty, and governance.

A limited number of sponsorship and exhibition packages are available—delivering targeted brand exposure before, during, and after the event, alongside direct access to budget-holding decision-makers.

Partner with New Zealand’s premier enterprise AI event. Contact us today to discuss a tailored sponsorship package.

Venue

The location and how you can get there

Address

Grand Millennium
71 Mayoral Drive,
Auckland

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Make an enquiry or register your interest

Got questions or want to stay in the loop? Write to us.

General Contact

Tagged Strategy of Data

31 MARCH 2027 GRAND MILLENNIUM, AUCKLAND

The Strategy of Data, Analytics & AI Conference

TURNING AI AMBITION INTO INTELLIGENT ENTERPRISE

WHAT WE'LL EXPLORE

Key themes

Agenda

Speakers

Check back soon for updates

Wayne Bloem

Anupama Wijesundara

Tuscany Joelle-Hui

Caroline Webb

Paul Jepson

Pouria Asghari

Sharyn Reichstein

Tighe Wall

Workshops - 1 April

STANDALONE WORKSHOPS (1 APRIL 2027) Attend for $799+gst standalone, or bundle with conference for $399+gst

9:00am - 12:00pm

AI & CX - The reality check, what's actually working

1:00pm - 5:00pm

From customer data to action: Designing more relevant experiences

9:00am - 12:00pm

From AI Approval to Audit Readiness

CO-LOCATED WITH

CUSTOMER CENTRED

Tickets

CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE

WORKSHOP ONLY

Registration Conditions

Explore event insights

Silver Sponsor

Align Your Brand with Data, Analytics & AI Decision-Makers

Venue

The location and how you can get there

Check out our other upcoming events

Make an enquiry or register your interest

General Contact

31 MARCH 2027
GRAND MILLENNIUM, AUCKLAND

Align Your Brand with Data, Analytics
& AI Decision-Makers