ACE New Zealand SME Summit

About

The 2025 SME Summit is an action-packed day of presentations, workshops and discussions on topics that matter most to small and medium sized businesses in Aotearoa.  

This one-day event is designed to drive industry conversations and decisions, equipping you to navigate current challenges and look ahead to future trends. 

Join us as we empower you to lead with trust, strive for excellence and make impactful connections. 

Details

• Date: Wednesday 21 May 
• Time: 8.15am to 5.30pm with an optional dinner to follow 
• Location: B:Hive at Smales Farm, Takapuna, Auckland

Key topics     

You can customise your day by choosing between two topics: 

Business resilience

In our 'business resilience' stream, you'll find sessions on business resilience, digital resilience, insurance and risk, quality management, and enhancing your customer experience and offerings. These sessions will provide you with strategies to help your business withstand and thrive through challenges, build robust digital infrastructures, manage risks, and ensure high standards in your operations.

The future of business

'The future of business' stream will cover emerging technology, communicating with clients, growing a business, and advanced strategies for competitive positioning. These sessions are designed to help you leverage new technology for business growth, develop the next generation of business leaders, and expand your business with practical advice and strategies.

Programme

8.15am: Networking breakfast

9am: Mihi whakatau and welcome

9.20am: Resilience and reaching to the future with Josh Komen
We all have the power to consciously choose our attitude and how we approach adversity, but sometimes we need guidance to find the courage to move forward and grab opportunities when they emerge, especially in tough times. Hear from athlete and cancer survivor Josh Komen for an inspirational keynote session where he’ll share his personal story and teach you how to take control of personal or professional challenges. Read more

10.15am: Morning tea

10.35am: Concurrent sessions (choose one) 

• Organisational resilience with Ana Ivanovic-Tongue, academyEx (Business resilience)
  Explore strategies to strengthen your organisational resilience to help your business thrive through challenges.  
  
  
• Emerging technologies (The future of business) 
  Stay ahead of the curve by exploring the latest technologies that can drive your business forward. Learn how to integrate cutting-edge innovations such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and IoT (Internet of Things) into your operations to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and create new opportunities for growth.

11.40am: Concurrent sessions (choose one)

• Insurance and risk (Business resilience)
  Gain insights into identifying and mitigating business risks through effective insurance and risk management practices. Learn how to assess your coverage, understand new policy options, and develop a risk management plan to safeguard your business against unforeseen events.
  
  
• Build a more valuable business with Adrian Pickstock, Quad Consulting (The future of business)
  Delve into developing your business strategy and learn how to create a strategy that truly differentiates you in the market. Read more 

12.40pm: Lunch

1.20pm: Concurrent sessions (choose one) 

• Quality management with Majid Zahoor, BSI (Business resilience)  
  Discover the importance of maintaining high standards in your operations and products to build a resilient business. Walk away with actionable strategies for quality control, process improvement and achieving industry certifications that enhance your reputation and customer trust.
  
  
• Effective communication strategies with Liz Wotherspoon, The Icehouse  (The future of business)
  Learn techniques for clear and concise messaging, active listening, and adapting communication styles to different audiences. Get equipped with the tools you need to navigate complex conversations, share important information effectively and build stronger professional relationships. Read more

2.25pm: Concurrent sessions (choose one)

• It all comes down to culture (Business resilience)  
  Understand the importance of organisational culture in driving success, often surpassing the impact of strategic planning. Explore how fostering a strong, positive culture can lead to higher employee engagement, innovation and overall performance, ultimately making strategy execution more effective.
  
  
• Establishing a market entry point into Australia, with Warner Cowin, Height, and Kathryn Jones, NZTE (The future of business)
  The Australian infrastructure market offers New Zealand businesses a viable opportunity to diversify revenue and grow a new market. Find out how to enter Australia and the support available from NZTE, the government’s business development agency. Read more

3.25pm: Afternoon tea

3.45pm: Panel discussion: What's the future of work?
What does the future of work look like for your local government clients, what are the market trends, and how can consultants support local authorities to make things easier? This panel discussion features Craig Hobbs (Waikato District Council), Monique Davidson (Horowhenua District Council) and Barry Potter (Auckland Council), facilitated by Sanchia Jacobs (Beca, formerly Otago District Council). Read more

4.45pm: Wrap up

5pm: Networking drinks and nibbles

6pm: Optional networking dinner

Format

The presentations will be followed by interactive workshops to help you apply the learning in your business immediately. Dedicated facilitators will guide you through the process, ensuring you leave with actionable strategies and tools.

The event also offers valuable networking opportunities to connect, learn and grow with industry leaders and peers.

To get a glimpse of what to expect, check out the 2024 SME Summit video and hear about the value you'll get out of it. 

Cost

• $395 +GST for ACE members
• $595 +GST for non-members

Optional networking dinner

• Additional $100 per person