Action from the SME Summit 2025
The 2025 ACE New Zealand SME Summit in Auckland on 21 May was an action-packed day of presentations, workshops and discussions on topics that matter most to small and medium-sized businesses in Aotearoa. Check out some of the key topics from our speakers and watch the video where ACE members share their highlights.
When everything is in turmoil, choose your attitude
We all have the capacity to overcome hardship, says Josh Komen, athlete and cancer survivor, who opened our SME Summit with his personal story of fighting adversity through his battle with cancer.
He encouraged attendees to choose their attitude and take control: “When everything seems to be in turmoil, we still have the power to choose our attitude. In any set of given circumstances, choose your own way.”
Josh likened his journey to the ebbs and flows of business - look for alternative streams, take responsibility and back yourself to make decisions, which won’t always be the right ones. You must be able to pivot, adapt, say yes to opportunities and make a plan, but don’t fall in love with it. He encouraged the audience to break through the fear barrier as opportunities always exist, you just need to be able to recognise them.
And be patient and stay connected: “Don’t shut the door and disconnect from friends and family. Keep others around you. You’re not using all your strength unless you ask for help.”
Josh's inspirational keynote culminated with some wise words extolling the virtues of being patient saying good things come to those who wait: “I stand here as a word of encouragement to you all, whatever you go through in life - success is not final, failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts.”
He left us with three suggestions of everyday actions we can all do to help ourselves - breathe, connect, and have a positive power phrase for oneself: “There’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
A day in the AI world is a long time – how can we keep up?
A day in the AI world is a long time, and the speed of tech is changing faster than the decision-making process of most businesses. So how can we keep up?
We heard insights from Theresa Wells from GHD and Nick Sterling from The Innovation Activator (a Callaghan Innovation offshoot venture) who are part of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Working Group for the AI Forum New Zealand.
They delved into market trends and shared the action plan for 2025 that includes analysing the current state of AI in the industry, launching a centre of excellence, curating AI policy guidelines, fostering knowledge sharing, and integrating AI into construction contracts.
They also put attendees to the test, thinking ahead to what AI in business will look like in five years’ time.
Lots of exciting things to come from the AEC working group as the action plan roles out, we’ll keep you updated.
What's a strategy? Key questions to ask yourself
What is strategy and what isn’t? We heard some hard truths from Advisory.Works Managing Director Logan Wedgwood, who suggested we throw out our templates and instead get talking.
He urged us to think about:
- What is your company passionate about?
- What could your company be the best in the world at?
- Where will you maximise your profit?
- What would your company look like in 10 years’ time if it were truly great?
- What impact do you want to have?
- What will your customers say about you?
A fantastic, hands-on session that got us all thinking.
The world is having a mid-life crisis and NZ is the teenager
Change is happening so fast right now - across economics, demographics, geopolitical, digital, AI, procurement – that it's as if the world is having a mid-life crisis. New Zealand is like the teenager in this scenario, and we need to figure out who we are.
We were lucky to hear from Frances Valintine CNZM, Founder and Board Director of academyEX, who emphasised how the unimaginable today will be familiar tomorrow.
So how do we anticipate and shape the future, not just react to it? How do we lean into the rapidly changing world in front of us?
Frances said New Zealand has one of the lowest levels of professional development in the world, and we need our workforce to be highly skilled as we'll be relying on these people in the future. It's also critical that we keep our young people here to grow our economy.
Three top tips from an insurance expert
What insurance policies do you need for your business, and how do you mitigate insurance risks? Duncan Cotterill partner Duncan McGill shared his three top tips:
- Insurance for business - the main policies you need include professional indemnity, statutory liability, employment practices liability, cyber, product and public liability, directors and officers, and others (commercial property, business interruption, vehicles, key employee)
- To avoid claims, focus on good document maintenance, receive and record instructions in writing, have agreed terms of engagement before commencing work, retain signed short form agreements, and immediately notify your broker of circumstances that might give rise to a claim
- Limitations of liability - Duncan said it's important to be aware of several case studies: Tauranga City Council v Harrison Grierson; TADD Management Ltd v Weine, Beca Carter v Wellington City Council
An interactive and enlightening session about all things insurance.
Global QMS expert makes the complex simple
“What is a quality management system? It’s a structured way to say what you do, do what you say, and prove that you did it.”
Majid Zahoor, BSI Group Global Director for the Healthcare Sector, made the complex simple as he talked about the importance of maintaining high standards in your operations and products to build a resilient business.
Great for ACE members to hear from a global expert.
Don't think about your customers, think like your customers
Effective communication plays a vital role when clients are deciding to choose you, says Elizabeth Wotherspoon, Programme Director and Head of Customer Solutions at The Icehouse.
Liz encouraged us to grow our clarity, confidence and connection by:
- Outside-in thinking - move away from thinking ABOUT our customers to thinking LIKE our customers
- Putting customers at the core of our business – they’ve always been important but now more so than ever
- Don't try to be all things to all people – build relationships with the customers that matter
- What’s important to people hasn’t changed - but sometimes our priorities are affected, particularly where pace is a factor
Wise and practical tips, thanks Liz!
Leverage all your contacts to get started in Australia
Looking to establish a market entry point into Australia? As Height Chief Executive Warner Cowin told us yesterday, Sydney is only a three-hour flight away and the Australian infrastructure market offers New Zealand businesses a viable and real opportunity to diversify revenue and grow a new market.
His top tips:
- Don’t rely on cold calls – think about who in your NZ network could connect you with contacts across the ditch and get yourself over there to meet face-to-face
- Think about your core customers – can you concentrate on one city, identify a profitable niche and build a consistent pipeline?
We also heard from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Customer Manager Kathryn Jones about how the government agency can support you to expand internationally, understand the market, and make the right connections.
A great session with valuable advice from those who have done the mahi.
Take care of your people and productivity will flow
“Take care of your people, they’ll strengthen your culture and productivity will follow naturally.”
There was standing room only for this session on the benefits of building and defining your workplace culture with Lee Turner and Kim Dovey from Skillpod.
They delved into the top ten things that impact culture, shared tools to improve different aspects of culture, and explained that culture is not stagnant - it needs to be nurtured so it can grow.
A fantastic hands-on session with plenty of top tips for us all to work on.
Partner with councils as if you're leaving a legacy
Great scope exists for collaboration between local government and consultants, and building strong relationships is one of the keys to success.
This was part of the open and honest discussion from our local government panellists at our SME Summit last week featuring Craig Hobbs of Waikato District Council, Barry Potter of Auckland Council, Monique Davidson of Horowhenua District Council and panel facilitator Sanchia Jacobs, formerly Central Otago District Council and now at Beca.
They urged consultants to remind councils about the value they can provide that the council can’t necessarily afford or doesn’t have on its doorstep. Good work done for others or word of mouth also grabs attention: “Your brand is your work.”
By better understanding each other, local government and consultants can focus on smart solutions, long-term planning, and a shared vision about what is good for New Zealand.
“Walk alongside the council as if you’re living in that community and you’re leaving a legacy for your grandchildren.”