2025 ACE Awards Gala – ACE New Zealand
The ACE Awards celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s best consultants working in the built and natural environment and the exceptional mahi being done for communities here and overseas.
The awards recognise the consultants who go above and beyond ‘business as usual’ to deliver projects and initiatives. Our award entrants are often up against really complex challenges, like tight timeframes, small budgets or remote locations, so the results we’ve seen from this year’s entrants are truly remarkable.
It’s the rigorous judging criteria that makes the ACE Awards stand out, and the calibre of entries this year was especially high. Our judges are consultants at the top of their game, handpicked each year from the industry. As well as outstanding consulting services, they focus on technical expertise, sustainable value and client satisfaction.
Projects are awarded gold, silver or merit based on the level of achievement, how much the project has exceeded expectations and whether it sets a new industry standard. Judges may also present special awards where there is a unique contribution to the industry or community.
2025 ACE Awards finalists
Major infrastructure projects, vital water assets, an avalanche shelter and a treetop walkway are among the finalists in the 2025 ACE Awards. Read more
Tickets
A ticket to the ACE Awards Gala is included in any full registration for the Futurespace conference.
Individual tickets are $240 plus GST and tables of ten are $2,400 plus GST.
To get tickets, visit the Futurespace registration page and select ‘Guest ticket to ACE Awards Gala’.
Venue
Under the Dome, Auckland MuseumAuckland DomainParnellAuckland 1010
Contact
If you have any questions about the ACE Awards, email ACE Awards Operations Co-ordinator Yasmin Rudman-Cruse at yasmin@acenz.org.nz.
If you have any questions about the Emerging Leader Award, Fururespace Award, or Diversity and Inclusion Award, email ACE General Manager of Engagement Hannah Bryce at hannah@acenz.org.nz.
Wellington Umbrella Mental Health Awareness Workshop – ACENZ
March 5th 2019, from 9am – 4.30pm. ACENZ is hosting a heavily subsidized Umbrella Workshop.
Limited seats available, be sure you don’t miss out on this great opportunity!
The Mental Health Awareness Workshop is designed to:
Increase participant’s knowledge about stress, mental health and illness,
Help participants feel more confident talking about mental health, including when speaking with colleagues they may be concerned about,
Further develop their understanding about how to promote and protect mental health at work,
Ensure participants understand how they can enhance their own emotional, psychological, and social well-being
Key Learning Outcomes:
Connect with colleagues and feel confident you have new knowledge and robust skills to take away
Practice how to have conversations about mental health and illness
Identify when stress turns into signs of something more serious, and what to do about it.
Learn effective, practical strategies to strengthen your wellbeing at work
Learn more about the facilitator here
Register for the Wellington Workshop
Standard registration (from 15th Dec 18 onwards): $400+gst
Futurespace 2025 – ACE New Zealand
Effective leadership is critical for driving sustainable growth and fostering innovation in the engineering and consulting industry so we can deliver excellence for our communities.We’re at a pivotal point in Aotearoa as we navigate economic turbulence, an uncertain pipeline of work, an exodus of talent, rapid growth of AI, the impact of global politics and other complex challenges. What keeps you up at night?Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Futurespace 2025 where we will explore the future of leadership and consulting in New Zealand’s built and natural environment.This two-day conference is an opportunity for executives, up-and-coming leaders, innovators, designers and consultants to delve into the unique challenges and opportunities in the New Zealand market and from our place in the global arena.This year’s theme is Leadership of the future – the evolving landscape of consulting where we’ll aim to shape, change and grow your leadership capability.Join us to discover effective strategies, visionary insights and innovative methods to power your business and grow consulting excellence.Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui – be strong, be brave, be steadfast.
Date
Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 October
Venue
Markovina Vineyard Estate, Kumeu, Auckland
Register
Register here
More information
For the latest news and information about Futurespace 2025, visit futurespaceconference.nz
Auckland Members Breakfast
Please join us for the 2018 Auckland Members Breakfast! Held at the Grand Millennium Auckland Hotel (located at 71 Mayoral Drive, Auckland) from 7:30-9:00am on Thursday, 14th June.
Use this form to order tickets for a single individual or multiple people. All tickets ($38 pp) include a hot buffet breakfast with tea and coffee, and are in New Zealand Dollars and exclude GST.
AI Foundations Webinar Series with AI Forum AEC Working Group & academyEX – Webinar 1: AI Fundamentals with Felix – ACE New Zealand
The Foundations in AI webinar series is a collaborative initiative between ACE New Zealand, academyEX, and the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Working Group, as part of the AI Forum New Zealand. The webinar series is designed to empower consulting and engineering professionals to lead confidently through digital transformation. By engaging with AI now, we’re not just future-proofing individual firms—we’re strengthening the resilience and relevance of the entire consulting and engineering sector.
Through our Strategic Plan ACE is committed to powering successful businesses that are ready for the future. This webinar series aims to equip members with practical tools, sector-specific insights, and access to thought leadership that helps them adapt, innovate, and thrive.
Webinar 1: AI Fundamentals with Felix
Kick off the Foundations in AI webinar series with Felix Scholz in a foundational session that demystifies AI and introduces safe, practical ways to begin exploring its potential in consulting and engineering. Topics include:
What AI is and how it differs from traditional software
Core AI safety principles and risk management
Data privacy and legal considerations for ACE member firms
Creating safe sandboxes for experimentation
Building AI capability through continuous learning
This session will also reference practical resources and support options for developing implementation roadmaps, assessing data readiness, managing change, and piloting tools.
Speaker:
Felix Scholz, Senior Lecturer, academyEX
Felix Scholz is a senior lecturer at academyEX and founder of Stokeventures, with a background spanning PwC, Fonterra, ASB, and startups. He specialises in AI-driven innovation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. Felix helps professionals turn abstract concepts into practical outcomes using frameworks like design sprints and agile delivery—now supercharged with AI. Known for his clarity and hands-on approach, he’s guided hundreds of learners in safely exploring tools, ethics, and strategy in the AI space.
Register for the webinar
Join academyEX, the AEC Working Group and ACE New Zealand via Zoom on Friday 10 October to demystify AI and begin exploring in a safe and practical way.
Register here
NZTA’s decision-led approach: The framework for state highway projects – ACE New Zealand
As of July 2025, the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi uses its decision-led approach to develop state highway infrastructure projects which supports smarter, more transparent decision-making.
Consultants will see changes in how NZTA develops investment cases and the role consultants play. Those who are currently working on NZTA projects or will be in the future are encouraged to attend this session.
In this webinar you’ll learn about:
What the decision-led approach is and why it matters
How to apply the approach
What changes consultants can expect to see
New tools, templates and examples to support your work
How this approach aligns with Treasury’s Better Business Cases and the investment lifecycle
Check out the draft guidance
The draft guidance for the approach is now available on the NZTA website.
Register for the webinar
Join NZTA and ACE New Zealand via Zoom on Wednesday 8 October to get an overview of the decision-led approach, understand the changes consultants can expect to see, and learn about new tools and templates to support your work.
Register here
Share your feedback
To further refine the guidance, NZTA is collecting feedback from those who’ve used the approach. We encourage you to get familiar with the approach and the guidance, and understand how it will shape the way NZTA and consultants will work together.
To provide feedback, email decisionledpdinfo@nzta.govt.nz by 16 October 2025.
Practice Managers Forum – ACE New Zealand
The ACE New Zealand Practice Managers Forum is for practice managers and leaders involved in the operational functions of their firm, such as HR, finance, general office operations and more.
The forum aims to connect people in small to medium sized firms to enable them to discuss relevant topics, ask questions and share concerns.
The forum is facilitated by ACE staff with a new topic selected for discussion each session.
The forum runs approximately every few months and is open to ACE members.The next Practice Managers Forum is scheduled for Monday 15 September from 1pm-2pm.
This month’s topic
We’ll be discussing contracts, including issues we are currently seeing in the market, some of ACE’s recent advocacy work, and the resources we have available to support members in navigating these issues.There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and discuss with the group.
If you have any specific questions you would like us to cover, please send these through to julia@acenz.org.nz prior to the meeting.
We look forward to seeing you on Monday 15 September!
Join the forum
Enter your details online and we’ll send you a link to join the online meeting.
How to align with the Government’s wellbeing agenda – so you can win more work – ACE New Zealand
Are you reading about broader outcomes and wondering if they apply to you?
Are you being asked in tenders and RFPs how you generate social outcomes as part of what you do?
If so, it’s worth tuning into this webinar with George Hulbert, Director of The Clarity Business.
What we’ll cover
George will talk us through:
what’s going on
why it is important to you
what you can do to align with this
About our presenter
George Hulbert spends much of his time helping companies to win tendered work, as well as helping them to structure their approaches and win work under the Government’s evolving social procurement agenda. He says that one thread runs through the Government’s tendering programme is the absolute focus on leveraging wellbeing through procurement across Aotearoa. “The Government aims to improve the wellbeing of New Zealanders in ‘everything we do’, seeking ‘partnerships with businesses to create training and job opportunities for Kiwis, and particularly those who are struggling’.
Find out more and register
Register for this webinar
How to use the Contract Checklist – ACE New Zealand
A contract between the consultant and the client is crucial for clarity on project scope, expectations, risk and liability.
The new Contract Checklist is designed to help ACE New Zealand members to identify certain terms of concern within contracts. It is important to consider the fairness of contract terms, including the impact those terms may have on the consultant’s insurance coverage and maintaining a healthy market.
In this webinar, members of the ACE New Zealand Legal Roundtable will cover key aspects of the Contract Checklist and share tips on how to use it within your business, followed by a Q&A.
If you work at an ACE member firm and deal with commercial matters, contracts, insurance and tenders, this one is for you.
Presenters
Cynthia Garton – Senior Legal Counsel at Egis
Alice Ruddenklau – Senior Legal Counsel at Stantec
Register
Secure your spot for the Zoom webinar – register here.
Links
Download the Contract Checklist (members only)
Download contract templates, read related guidelines, report an unfair contract, and access related insights and webinars
ACE Awards – ACE New Zealand
Due to Aotearoa New Zealand moving into the red traffic light setting, the ACE Awards in-person event has been cancelled.
We are working quickly to move the event online. We want to shout loudly about the amazing work our members have achieved for communities in Aotearoa, and we’ll soon announce a new date for the online awards presentation (likely to be late February or early March).
Finalists will be awarded gold, silver or merit.
View the ACE Awards finalists
Our sponsors
The ACE Awards are proudly sponsored by:
Tonkin + Taylor
AECOM