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.
Tough calls leaders make on hiring, projects and technology – ACE New Zealand
This webinar is designed to help consulting leaders make sense of 2025’s challenges: political and economic uncertainty, talent drain and the pressure to act without clear pipeline visibility.
Through peer insights and practical strategies, we’ll explore how to lead with confidence and clarity – because the choices made now will define the firms of 2030 and beyond.
We’ll build on the momentum of our recent “gearing up for growth” roundtable lunches with Projectworks, where more than 45 consulting leaders from across Aotearoa shared candid insights into how their firms are navigating uncertainty, reshaping leadership and preparing for a forecasted 2026 rebound. For a summary, check out the article The work is coming – five things to do before you start hiring.
We’ll also reflect on the six strategies shared by Mark Orttung, Chief Executive of Projectworks, in his ACE article In the eye of the storm? Six strategies to get through it from a consulting chief executive – a timely reminder that bold decisions made during tough times can shape the firms that thrive in the future.
If you’re a consulting leader navigating uncertainty and needing clarity, this webinar is for you. Whether you’re grappling with hiring freezes, evolving team structures or the pressure to act without clear pipeline visibility, this session will offer practical insights, peer strategies and a sense of direction.
What you’ll take away
Clearer priorities for hiring, team structure, and AI adoption
Retention strategies and ideas for industry-wide collaboration
Lessons from past disruptions to guide current decisions.
Tools to plan around pipeline uncertainty and make smarter investments
Peer insights to benchmark your firm’s approach
Speakers
Mark Orttung, Chief Executive of Projectworks
Helen Davidson, Chief Executive of ACE New Zealand
Emily Afoa, Pou Whakarae | Director of Tektus
Andy Lind, Director of ENGCO
Steven Price, Managing Director of Riley
Details
Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025
Time: 12-1pm
Register
Register here
Building reform breakfast with Chris Penk and Arena Williams – ACE New Zealand
Join us for a collaborative industry breakfast in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland where we will hear from Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk and Labour’s Building and Construction spokesperson Arena Williams.
This panel discussion will bring together leaders from across the consultancy and construction sectors for a kōrero on building and infrastructure reform.
This session will focus on reform of the building consent system and a review of current liability settings – key areas within Minister Penk’s portfolio – and explore how we can support the development of a bipartisan infrastructure pipeline.
With a Q&A format and a spirit of collaboration, this event offers ACE members an opportunity to engage directly with policymakers and contribute to shaping a more resilient, efficient and future-ready built environment.
Speakers
Chris Penk, Minister for Building and Construction
Arena Williams, Labour spokesperson for Building and Construction
Helen Davidson, ACE New Zealand Chief Executive
Programme
7.30am: Light breakfast
8am: Welcome
8.05am: Five-minute presentations from Chris Penk and Arena Williams
8.15am: Panel discussion
8.50am: Wrap up and next steps
Venue
This event will be hosted by Pattle Delamore Partners, Level 2/109 Fanshawe Street, Auckland 1010.
Pattle Delamore Partners is located in the Fonterra Centre – the entrance to the building is on Gaunt Street.
If you require carparking, this is available in one of the Wilson Carparking buildings. The closest are at 115 Fanshaw Street and 36 Gaunt Street. There are multiple bus stops nearby on Fanshaw Street and Daldy Street.
Cost
ACE members $45
Non-members $75
Join the waitlist
This event is now sold out, but you can join the waitlist here.
ACE New Zealand AGM 2025 – ACE New Zealand
We’d love to see you online at our upcoming ACE New Zealand Annual General Meeting, where we’ll share our annual report, fill you in on what we’ve been up to over the past year as your consultant’s champion, celebrate our members and volunteers, and report on the year ahead.
We hope to see you there!
Details
Monday 18 August
12-1pm
Agenda
Welcome and karakia tīmatanga
Apologies
Minutes of the 2023/2024 AGM
Matters arising
Members
Annual report and financial results
Year ahead
Budget 2025/26
Election results
Appointment of the auditor
Thanks to our volunteers
General business
Close and karakia whakamutunga
Register
Register to attend online
Large firms – have your say about the ACE Awards changes – ACE New Zealand
The ACE Awards celebrate excellence in Aotearoa New Zealand’s consulting sector – but you’ve told us they need to evolve.
We want the awards to work for ALL our members, no matter the size of your firm or the kind of work you do.
A full review of the awards is underway to ensure they remain relevant, inclusive and future-focused.
Join us online to learn more, ask questions and provide feedback.
Who is this webinar for?
This session is for large firms (100 or more people) to explain the proposed changes and answer your questions.
What changes are proposed?
You can find out all the details of the awards review, including:
What we’ve heard
What we’ve done
What we want
Proposed award categories
Find out more
What if I can’t make it to the webinar?
You can also fill out a survey to let us know what you think about the new award categories and structure – it will take only a few minutes.
Start survey
Register
Register for the webinar here
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