Christchurch YP Event – Global Engineering and Innovation – ACENZ
Global Engineering & Innovation Breakfast
Join the Christchurch Young Professionals for a breakfast on Wednesday, 24th October at the GHD Offices from 7:15-9:00am. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from leaders in the industry including:
Ian Fraser – General Manager Asia Pacific for GHD
Jenson Varghese – NZ Regional Manager for MRCagney
Teresa McCallum – Smart Cities Program Manager for Christchurch City Council
Our three speakers will be presenting on global engineering and innovation, and sharing their wealth of knowledge and insight. You won’t want to miss this event, with direct access to some of the industry’s prominent leaders. Take your chance to ask them questions and learn more about what’s happening across the globe. A light breakfast will be provided.
RSVP below for this FREE event, and remember it counts towards your CPD – professional development.
Wellington YP Leadership Panel and Networking Event – ACENZ
Join our Wellington Young Professionals on Tuesday, February 21st at the Hideaway Bar (now Leroy’s Bar) from 5:30 to 7:30pm for an evening of networking, drinks, nibbles, and a fantastic panel on leadership.The event will host 4 highly respected industry leaders, forming our panel for the evening. We will cover various topics such as leadership, entreprenureal advice, soft skills, technical skills, and more! The panel will also answer any audience questions, so make sure to mark your calendars for Tuesday, 21st February in Wellington!This event is targeted at Young Professionals but open to any staff employed by an ACENZ Member Firm (or any other YPs you think would find value from the evening). Please RSVP so we can make the appropriate bookings prior to the event, either email Holly Morchat Stanko at hmorchat@acenz.org.nz or register online for this FREE event here: http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2017/acenz-young-professionals-leadership-panel-and-networking/wellington
Member event with Alexia Hilbertidou – CEO of Girlboss NZ – ACE New Zealand
Join us for our first face-to-face event post-lockdown.
Enjoy networking with peers and hear from an incredible speaker, Alexia Hilbertidou, who is kicking down doors for young women in STEM and in the boardroom.
Following on from Alexia, we’ll have a panel discussion with:
Alexia Hilbertidou
Darryl-Lee Wendelborn – Managing Director, Beca
Ceinwen McNeil – Chief Executive, BVT Engineering Professional Services
Danielle Gatland – Consultant, MRCagney
Rupert Hodson – Northern Regional Manager, Beca
What we’ll cover
How we can encourage more women into STEM and consulting
Why broader representation is critical for our sector, and to delivering better outcomes for communities
What firms can do and are doing to make that happen (both at recruitment phase, and throughout careers)
How are we closing the gender pay equity gap
How do we close the gap between policy, what happens in the office, and what happens out on site
About our presenter
Alexia’s own mission is to get young women to the table – the boardroom table that is, and she believes the decisions made while young are crucial in paving the way.
Alexia’s passion for STEM led her to create GirlBoss when she was just 16 years old. Less than two years later GirlBoss has become a 12,000 strong network for ambitious, young New Zealand women.
Despite being only 20, Alexia has packed a significant amount of leadership and entrepreneurial experience into her life. With over 33 Honours and Awards to her name, she was named the most influential New Zealand woman under 25
Find out more and register
Register for this event
ACENZ and Aon Risk and Insurance Webinar – ACENZ
Join us either in person (if in Wellington) or remotely (via webinar platform) for the upcoming Risk and Insurance event with Ross Meijer of Aon and Arthur Park of CEAS.
Register by Webinar Attendance Here.
If you are registering to attend in person at the Wellington Club, use the registration form below.
This FREE event will be held on Tuesday, 9th October from 4:30-6:30pm at the Wellington Club (Level 4, 88 The Terrace) in Wellington or via the webinar platform if joining from another location – internet connection required. **NOTE – if joining via the webinar platform, the event presentation will begin promptly at 5:00pm.**Ross and Arthur will address common issues regarding risk and insurance for consultants in the engineering and consulting industry. During the presentation, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions (use the “Q&A” feature if joining by webinar). Complimentary drinks and nibbles will be available for participants joining us at the Wellington Club. We encourage Members to invite other staff or colleagues to this event…consider creating your own gathering at your office and join as one “attendee” via the webinar platform. You can also submit questions in advance by emailing hmorchat@acenz.org.nz. Simply email your questions and use “ACENZ and Aon event Q&A” in the subject line. Questions will be filtered (if duplicate questions are submitted) and answered live during the event.This event will also be recorded and made available to Members on the Members Only Library Page – Other when complete.
If you’ve never used Zoom Webinars before, you can download this helpful informational sheet here.
We want to thank both Aon and CEAS for their partnership in this event.
We’ve got a few more physical meet-ups happening around the country. Check them out (and RSVP directly to those events below):
Christchurch Event – Risk & Insurance Webinar (9th October 4:30-6:30pm)
We hope to see you there or online for the event. Remember…if joining via the webinar platform, the event will begin at 5:00pm.
Cheers,ACENZ Events Team
ACE New Zealand SME Summit
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
Who should attend this event?
This event is designed for business owners, directors, managers, business development professionals, practice managers, client relationship managers, emerging leaders, marketing managers and other professionals who work to drive the business forward.
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 KomenWe 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. Read more
Emerging technologies with Theresa Wells, GHD (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)
Understanding insurance and risk with Duncan McGill, Duncan Cotterill (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 Logan Wedgwood, Advisory.Works (The future of business)Delve into developing your business strategy and learn how to create a strategy that truly differentiates you in the market.
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. Read more
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 with Lee Turner and Kim Dovey, Skillpod (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)
Barry Potter (Auckland Council)
Facilitated by Sanchia Jacobs (Beca, formerly Central 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
Register
Registrations for the event have now closed.
Wellington Member Event – 24 July – ACENZ
ACENZ and Aon Risk and Insurance Webinar – Christchurch
Risk & Insurance Webinar in Christchurch
Join your Christchurch Regional Chair Representative, Maryam Razz, for the upcoming Risk and Insurance webinar with Ross Meijer of Aon and Arthur Park of CEAS. ACENZ is also hosting a physical meet-up for this event in Wellington (click here to RSVP for that event).
This FREE event will be held on Tuesday, 9th October from 4:30-6:30pm at the GHD Offices in Christchurch (Level 3, 138 Victoria Street, CBD) in Christchurch or via the webinar platform if joining from another location – internet connection required. The webinar presentation will begin promptly at 5:00pm, so don’t be late!
Ross and Arthur will address common issues regarding risk and insurance for consultants in the engineering and consulting industry. During the presentation, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions (use the “Q&A” feature if joining by webinar).
If you want to attend the event via webinar (not at GHD Christchurch) then please use this link to register.
Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and nibbles will be available for participants joining Maryam at the GHD Christchurch offices. You can also submit questions in advance by emailing hmorchat@acenz.org.nz. Simply email your questions and use “ACENZ and Aon event Q&A” in the subject line. Questions will be filtered (if duplicate questions are submitted) and answered live during the event.This event will also be recorded and made available to Members on the Members Only Library Page – Other when complete.
Again, register on this page if you wish to attend the physical meet-up in Christchurch.
Lessons from NZTA’s ‘decision led project development approach’ – ACE New Zealand
The Government has tasked the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) with building a more efficient business case process – one that leads to better investment choices, and more efficient and timely infrastructure delivery.
Work is continuing at pace and a prototype of the decision-led project development approach has been applied to a range of projects, including Te Ara Hauāuru – Northwest Busway.
Come along to hear more about the new NZTA approach, what was learned from applying it to the development of the investment case for Te Ara Hauāuru – Northwest Busway, what it means for you in the infrastructure sector, and next steps for this approach including embedding it into project development for all NZTA projects from mid-2025.
Drinks and nibbles will be provided and there will be plenty of time for networking before and after the event. Doors open at 4pm and the presentations start at 4.45pm.
Details
Date: Thursday 15 May 2025
Time: 4-6pm
Venue: Jacobs, Level 2, 12-16 Nicholls Lane, Parnell, Auckland
Cost: Free
Speakers
NZTA
Robyn Elston, National Manager System Design
Emma Fisk, Director – Rapid Transit System Design
Craig Mitchell, Manager Portfolio Definition
Jacobs
Matt Hawkes, AMJ Joint Venture Project Lead
Register
This is an in-person event and places are limited. Please register by Thursday 8 May 2025.
Register now
Wellington Networking BINGO – ACENZ
Want to build your network but tired of the same old boring networking events?
Join us on Tuesday, April 9th in Wellington at Leroy’s Bar (bottom of Plimmer Steps) for Networking BINGO! This event is centered around meeting new people and expanding your networks but in a fun and interactive way. Drinks and nibbles will be provided along with the opportunity to win some career-boosting prizes.
This is a FREE event, open to any employee of an ACENZ Member firm.
We hope to see you there on Tuesday, 9th April from 5:00 to 7:00pm!
Wellington YP Pub Quiz Networking Event – ACENZ
Join us in Wellington on Thursday, 20th September from 5:30-7:30pm at Leroys Bar for a networking Pub Quiz event. We invite all Young Professionals (or the “young at heart”) to join us for an engineering themed pub quiz.
We’ll be hosting six rounds of quiz questions along with some nibbles and drinks. We’d like to thank DTCE for sponsoring this event and supporting the Young Professionals initiative.
So come join us on 20th September for some networking with your peers and a good time exercising your brain in a fun and laid-back way.
RSVP below to reserve your place. Note that all RSVPs will be added to our database to be included in future YP event emails and other ACENZ news. You can always update your communication preferences if they change in the future.
We hope to see you there!
Cheers,
The Wellington ACENZ Young Professionals Committee