Agenda

8.00

Registration and Refreshments

8.40

Mihi

8.50

Opening Address from Aventedge

8.55

Chairperson’s Opening Address

Jo Fair, Chief of People & Culture, Southern Cross Healthcare

ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AI IN THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

9.00

International Keynote: Tracking the AI Journey Beyond Silos | How Responsible AI Is Transforming CX, Contact Centres & Workforce Productivity

Journey Beyond’s AI journey began in early 2024 under Madhumita’s leadership. She has been pivotal to their responsible AI adoption. In this keynote session, she will share how their AI adoption is tracking.

Shedding insights into how Journey Beyond is taking an organisation-wide approach in implementing AI
Sharing the wins Journey Beyond has experienced in streamlining its CX and contact centre operations through AI and automation
Providing insight into how Journey Beyond is enhancing its workforce productivity by empowering its employees, reducing administrative friction, and allowing its staff to deliver on personalised customer experiences

Madhumita Mazumdar, Executive General Manager Technology, Journey Beyond

9.30

Industry Insights

10.00

Chief People Leaders’ Panel: Redefining the Future of Work in Aotearoa

Charting the roadmap of what HR leaders are looking for when it comes to resourcing for the organisation – balancing the tech and human resources
Diving into how skills and capabilities are what are driving recruitment strategies – moving away from traditional roles and job descriptions to modern requirements
Rethinking recruitment in the age of AI – unpacking what talent acquisition looks like when intelligent tools reshape sourcing, screening, and decision-making
Addressing the elephant in the room – how can AI assist with Aotearoa’s skills shortage
Embedding Te Ao Māori principles when it comes to AI adoption and the workforce and its capabilities

Moderator: Jo Fair, Chief of People & Culture, Southern Cross Healthcare

Panellists:

Charlotte Ward, Chief People Officer, Kiwibank

Samantha Ford, Chief People Officer, Awanui Group

10.40

Morning Tea

Attendees can move between the sessions listed under the two streams

THE AI-ENHANCED LIFECYCLE

Chair: Ryan Ghisi, Head of People Operations, 2degrees

11.10

Case Study: Redesigning CX Through Workforce Transformation Enabled by AI | GPC Asia Pacific

Sharing insights into GPC Asia Pacific’s unique AI adoption and implementation journey
Focusing on merging fast customer service with meaningful employee roles, ensuring AI supports rather than replaces staff
Setting in place tools to increase workforce digital fluency

Debbie MacDonald, General Manager – Organisational Development, Change and Communications, GPC Asia Pacific

11.30

Industry Insights

11.50

Panel: Designing People-Centric AI Experiences Across the Employee Lifecycle

Mapping where AI adds value and where human connection remains essential across key HR touchpoints
Ensuring AI-enabled processes uphold organisational values, cultural expectations and employee trust
Creating consistent, scalable and ethical AI practices that enhance the employee experience from hire to exit

Moderator: Oonagh Hall, General Manager, Human Resources, The Trusts

Panellists:
Ryan Ghisi, Head of People Operations, 2degrees

Billie Lawson, Learning and Development Manager, Vitaco

Syntia Leite, Head of HR APAC, Hunter Douglas

SCALING AI LITERACY & RESKILLING AT PACE

Chair: Katherine Jensen, Professional Teaching Fellow and PhD Researcher in Responsible AI Adoption, University of Auckland Business School

11:10

Case Study: Implementing a Strategy for the Uptake of AI in the Organisation | Trade Me

Designing a practical roadmap for the ethical, safe, and responsible use of AI across teams
Identifying skills gaps and creating upskilling opportunities to prepare the workforce for AI
Putting in place a uniform strategy for the use of AI within the organisation
Iterating the AI strategy as these tools get smarter

Loren Thomas, Head of People Partnering and Experience, Trade Me

11:30

Industry Insights

11:50

Panel: Attraction and Retention of Skilled Employees in a Digital Era

Aligning business functions and workforce planning with the digital and AI skills available in the talent market
Understanding how to attract, onboard, and retain high-demand unicorn hires
Exploring how organisations can grow talent from within through upskilling, reskilling and clear development pathways

Panellists:
Himanshu Redhu, Head of Talent, Leadership, and Learning, Bupa

Madhumita Mazumdar, Executive General Manager Technology, Journey Beyond

Anna Liumaihetau Darling, General Manager People Experience, Sharesies

Kim Nicholas, General Manager HR - Talent Acquisition, Systems and Payroll, The Warehouse Group

12.30

Networking Lunch

Session Header

Attendees can move between the sessions listed under the two streams

1.30

Industry Insights

1.50

Case Study: Designing an AI Tool to Deliver on Outcomes by Creating High-Performing Project Teams

Palmerston North City Council have been excelling in AI adoption and implementation. They have designed an in-house AI tool that dives into skills taxonomy. It is designed to match jobs with the skill set required for commissioned projects. Hear from Sarah Morris as she takes us through the journey of bringing this to life, and how the tool will continue to evolve as the needs of the business change.

Evaluating how an AI‑driven skills taxonomy can improve project team formation and workforce utilisation
Understanding the design decisions, data foundations and organisational insights that shaped the development of the in‑house tool
Assessing how the tool adapts to evolving business needs and supports more consistent, outcome‑focused project delivery

Sarah Morris, General Manager People & Capability, Palmerston North City Council

1:30

Industry Insights

1:50

Case Study: Embedding AI into a Performance Management Plan | The Trusts

Tracking employee goals and objectives during their tenure with the company
Setting KPIs to measure performance management and skills development goals
Analysing performance insights generated by the AI tool to support fairer evaluations, targeted coaching and continuous improvement
Evaluating real‑time behavioural and performance trends to inform development conversations and leadership decision‑making

Oonagh Hall, General Manager, Human Resources, The Trusts

2:10

Introduction to the roundtable topics

2.15

Roundtable 1: Designing Hybrid Work Models Enhanced by AI

Roundtable 2: Preparing Employees for AI Adoption Through Change Management

Roundtable 3: Ethical Decision-Making in Everyday Use of AI

Roundtable 4: Managing Organisational Risk in the Age of Generative AI

Roundtable 5: Building Trust and Transparency in AI-Supported Workflows

Roundtable 6: Building Digital Confidence Across the Workforce

Ben Choo, People Analytics and Systems Manager, Genesis

Roundtable 7: Redesigning Performance Metrics in an AI-Enabled Workplace

Roundtable 8: Upskilling Leaders to Make AI-Informed Decisions

3.15

Afternoon Tea

SECURE AI INTEGRATIONS & DATA GOVERNANCE

3.45

Panel: The Collision of HR and Technology Teams in Preparing the Organisation for AI Readiness

Exploring how HR and technology teams align priorities, responsibilities and governance
Understanding how security, data protection, and risk management shape AI adoption and influence decisions across both functions
Diving into how the tech teams safeguard employee data from vulnerabilities
Identifying the cross-functional capabilities, communication channels, and decision frameworks needed to embed AI safely and effectively across the organisation

Katrina Benedetti Forastieri, Chief People Officer, Ravensdown

Katherine Jensen, Professional Teaching Fellow and PhD Researcher in Responsible AI Adoption, University of Auckland Business School

Paul Natac, Deputy Chief Executive Officer | Chief Information Officer, Provident Insurance

4.05

Industry Insights

4.25

Closing Keynote: Keeping Your Mental Health in Check in a Fast-Paced Business Landscape

Understanding how rapid technological change impacts stress, uncertainty, and psychological safety
Exploring strategies that support resilience, adaptability, and mental wellbeing during transformation
Embedding mental health into leadership behaviours, policies, and workforce planning
Preparing people for continuous change without compromising on their wellbeing

Dr Joanna Sinclair, Chief Wellbeing Officer, Te Whatu Ora

4.50

Chairperson’s Closing Address & Networking Drinks

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