Wellington welcomes the 2026 Leadership conference
The IoD’s Annual Leadership Conference is New Zealand’s leading governance event – bringing together more than 500 directors and business leaders for two days of fresh insights, bold conversations and invaluable connections.
In 2026, we’re excited to host the conference in Wellington for the first time. A standout line-up of local and international speakers will explore the critical governance and leadership issues shaping Aotearoa and the world.
Our 2026 programme is in the works – filled with thought-provoking content and leading voices in governance. To give you an idea of what’s ahead, explore the 2025 programme and speakers below.
Join us as a sponsor of New Zealand’s premier governance event. Sponsorship is a unique opportunity to align your brand with governance leadership, amplify your voice in the director community and connect directly with decision makers from across Aotearoa. Download the prospectus to learn more about the sponsorship opportunities available.
Viaduct Events Centre
Registrations open at Viaduct Events Centre with networking drinks and canapés. Get prepared by completing your registration this evening, while having the opportunity to meet friends and business connections, old and new. Finishes 6.30pm.
Viaduct Events Centre
Join us from 7.30am to register, grab a coffee and visit our exhibitor stands. Take your seat ahead of the conference opening at 9.00am.
Take your seats by 9.00am for the formal welcome to the 2025 IoD Leadership Conference.
What does it take to build trust in a world of constant disruption? In this keynote session, Kirsty will delve into the evolving landscape of global communications, emphasising the critical role of trust in navigating today's interconnected world. She’ll reveal what it means to lead with integrity and influence in a fractured media landscape and why trust is no longer a soft value, but a strategic imperative.
This session is sponsored by IoD national sponsor Dentons.
After a decade in global tech and venture capital, Bowen Pan returns to Aotearoa with fresh eyes on what’s possible. In this keynote, he shares his observations on coming home and why New Zealand is uniquely placed to build world-class companies that think differently, move faster and scale globally. Drawing on experience at the intersection of innovation, investment and execution, Bowen explores how venture-backed companies think and what could happen if more of us adopted that mindset. A call to lift our ambition, back bold ideas, and rethink what we can build from here.
Morning tea in the Waiheke foyer and in Kawau Room (level 3) – relax and enjoy harbour views.
What makes an enterprise not just successful—but built to last? In this session, Russell Low of Singapore’s Clermont Group explores the board’s role in designing organisations that endure. He’ll examine how good governance builds trust, drives long-term prosperity, and positions business as a force for good. With corporate lifespans shrinking, this is a timely call for directors to think beyond performance—and lead for legacy.
What does good health and safety governance look like when the stakes are high and the margin for error is near zero? In this session, facilitated by Sheridan Broadbent, Dean Bracewell, Chair of Air New Zealand’s Health and Safety Committee, joins Chief Safety Officer Nathan McGraw to share how the board and executive work together to lead safety in a high-risk, highly regulated environment. From culture to reporting to critical risk oversight, this conversation offers practical insights for any board committed to keeping people safe.
Great questions unlock insight, build trust and sharpen decision-making we ask questions we already know the answer to or that close down, rather than open up, thinking. But in complex, fast-moving environments, the quality of our questions can be the difference between surface-level dialogue and meaningful insight. In this energising 15-minute session, leadership thinker Digby Scott explores why bold, open-ended questions are core to effective governance, executive challenge and organisational performance, and how to get better at asking them. Curious minds welcome. Practical, provocative and to the point, this is a session that will stay with you long after the conference.
Lunch in the Waiheke foyer and in Kawau Room (level 3) – network, recharge and explore the exhibition and IoD lounge.
Join IoD podcast Board Matters host Steven Moe MInstD as he facilitates conversations with panellists from Season 3 of the podcast series, which explored the role of psychological safety in boardrooms. What does it really mean to create a safe space, and why does it matter for governance today? This session unpacks how directors can enable diverse perspectives, support rigorous debate and create an environment where challenge is welcomed and trust can grow.
Step into the boardroom of CHEW Chocolate Ltd – a fast-growing, health-focused chocolate company with a twist – and join governance experts and directors from across Aotearoa for a truly unique experience.
In this interactive workshop, you’ll take your seat as a board director, or even CEO (have you got what it takes to become CEO Dee Lightful?), tackling real-time strategic decisions with your peers, voting live via app, and navigating challenges in a dynamic fictional case study).
Guided by IoD governance experts and led by Giselle McLachlan, this is a fast-paced, thought-provoking and fun session where you’ll test your instincts, sharpen your decision-making, and maybe even stir the chocolate pot.
Bring your governance brain – and your sense of humour.
Serious governance. Decisions to chew over.
Objective: To help directors understand why nature-related risks and dependencies are financially material, even in sectors not traditionally seen as “nature dependant”, and how to begin identifying and governing them.
This session opens with a staged board meeting of a fictional hotel company, The Circle Resorts Ltd, where executives present escalating risks tied to degraded ecosystems, insurance retreat, and changing land-use pressures. Through this immersive experience, attendees will witness how nature risk can quietly but materially disrupt core business operations and hear the kinds of questions a board should (and shouldn’t) be asking. After the “board meeting” Vicki Watson MInstD will facilitate discussions and reflections with experienced directors and executives on their experiences navigating these conversations and offer practical advice for embedding nature risk into enterprise risk management, strategy, and board agendas.
Thanks to The Aotearoa Circle for sponsoring this session.
Afternoon tea in the Waiheke foyer and in Kawau Room (level 3) – connect, explore and visit the IoD lounge.
New Zealand’s economy is nature-dependent. From freshwater, to fertile soils, to the export premiums we earn from being ‘clean and green’. But nature loss is fast becoming a governance blind spot. In this high-impact Fast Fact, Izzy Fenwick shows how nature is commercial; affecting insurance, asset values, supply chains and market access. With real-world examples and razor-sharp insights, she’ll challenge directors to see ecosystem decline not just as an ESG issue, but a material exposure.
Because governing nature isn’t about charity, it’s about future-proofing strategy, resilience, and long-term value.
Thanks to The Aotearoa Circle for sponsoring this session.
We are honoured to welcome the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, to close Day 1 of the conference. In this address, the Prime Minister will share reflections with the director community at a time of change, challenge and opportunity. This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from New Zealand’s leader on issues relevant to governance, leadership and the future of Aotearoa.
Commentary with the day’s key highlights.
The Pacific is entering a new era of strategic competition and uncertainty, shaped by global power shifts, climate pressures and regional security concerns. These developments carry direct consequences for New Zealand organisations - from trade and investment to governance and risk.
In this 20-minute session, Ashalyna will provide clear, authoritative insights into the evolving geopolitical landscape and what it means for directors. This is an opportunity for Chartered Members to deepen their understanding of regional dynamics and consider how boards can best position themselves in a rapidly changing environment.
Join us before dinner and take the opportunity to share some of your key takeaways from the first day with your peers.
Wrap up day one with a relaxed and memorable evening at the conference dinner. This is your chance to unwind and connect with fellow attendees. With great food, light entertainment and lively conversation, it’s the perfect way to strengthen new connections and reflect on the day’s insights.
Dress code; business, business casual or dinner attire. Whatever you feel comfortable in!
Viaduct Events Centre
Grab a light bite and coffee ahead of the Power Breakfast sessions.
What sets exceptional chairs apart and how do they create conditions for their boards to thrive? Facilitated by Neil Paviour-Smith CFInstD
Risk is no longer linear. From geopolitical shocks to climate disruption and cyber threats, the interconnected nature of today’s risk landscape is testing the limits of traditional models. Join Matt Pritchard CMInstD, Chair of KPMG, as he facilitates a conversation with senior directors on how boards must evolve their thinking, frameworks and oversight to stay ahead of fast-moving and compounding risks. This session explores the future of risk governance—and what directors must do now to lead with clarity in uncertainty.
This session is sponsored by IoD national sponsor KPMG.
The first 90 days on a board can shape your long-term effectiveness. How do you hit the ground listening—while laying the groundwork to influence? In this candid session, a panel of seasoned directors will explores how to navigate the first 90 days with purpose and confidence, ask the right questions, and make a meaningful contribution from the outset.
We'll open day two with a highlights reel of all the action from day one of the conference.
With fertility rates declining to historic lows, an aging population, and significant migration patterns, join us for this session with Professor Paul Spoonley as he discusses how these changes are transforming communities, the economy and identities across New Zealand.
In this fireside chat, David Kirk will join Mark Cross for a rare, behind-the-scenes conversation about how he led the bold transformation of NZ Rugby’s governance. This is a compelling story of courageous leadership, strategic reform, and the power of strong governance to future-proof one of New Zealand’s most iconic institutions.
What do emerging directors expect from the boardrooms they’re entering—and how do they see governance evolving? Young directors share their insights, challenges and aspirations for the future of governance in Aotearoa. Fresh, direct and future-focused, this session offers a snapshot of the next generation’s vision for board leadership.
Morning tea in the Waiheke foyer and in Kawau Room (level 3) – relax and enjoy harbour views.
Boards are expected to provide strong governance in a rapidly changing environment but how can directors make the best use of AI without losing sight of judgment, ethics, and accountability?
In this breakout session, you’ll explore how AI can fit into governance practice, blending governance principles with practical AI tools. Together, we’ll literally build a prototype Governance Bot and test how it can support board discussions.
Join us for a hands-on and thought-provoking session on how AI can strengthen governance when teams and technology work together.
Advisory boards are fast becoming a strategic tool for organisations seeking flexibility, external insight and agile decision-making—without the formality of a governance board. But what’s really driving their growth, and where do they fit in the governance landscape?
In this session, Louise Broekman, founder and CEO of the Advisory Board Centre, shares key findings from the State of the Market research—a global benchmark study that maps the evolving role, reach and impact of advisory boards. Drawing on real-world examples and emerging international trends, Louise will unpack how advisory boards are being used to unlock value, the risks to watch for, and what directors need to understand as this model becomes mainstream.
In a sector driven by purpose but constrained by resources, how far should organisations go to work together? In this breakout session, a panel of experienced for-purpose directors explores the spectrum of collaboration – from partnerships to full mergers. What does effective collaboration really look like in practice, and when does convergence become the right strategic move? Join Craig Fisher FCA, CMInstD as he facilitates a thought-provoking conversation on what the future of collective impact could, and should, look like.
Lunch in the Waiheke foyer and in Kawau Room (level 3) – network, recharge and explore the exhibition and IoD lounge.
Running a company responsible for 30% of the world’s dairy exports requires a relationship anchored in mutual trust and respect. Join us for this fireside chat with the chair and CEO of Fonterra.
This session is sponsored by IoD national partner ASB.
A lot has happened globally and domestically in 2025 to date, clouding the recovery NZ should be enjoying now that inflation has been tamed – trade and geopolitical risks of course one getting a lot of limelight. This snapshot will give directors a sense of how recent developments will influence the economic outlook and provide food for thought as directors consider the strategic direction of their organisations.
In a fireside chat renowned Australian business journalist and author of The Chairman’s Lounge, Joe Aston, will explore the origins of corporate crises. Using real life examples from Qantas to Rio Tinto, Joe will explain how once-great CEOs lose their judgement, how boards and shareholders are blinded, and the governance red flags that are missed along the way.
Conference closing commentary with key highlights and takeaways.
Thank you for joining us.
Available until Sunday 30 November if not sold prior
Available until Saturday 28 February if not sold prior
If you wish to cancel your registration for the IoD 2026 Annual Leadership Conference, you must contact us via email. The following cancellation conditions apply:
You may transfer your registration to another person if you are unable to attend. Please get in contact with us; conference@iod.org.nz
If paying by invoice payment must be received before attendance at conference (in-person or virtual), or your registration will be cancelled.
Please use your invoice number as your reference. This is now payable directly to the Institute of Directors. All invoices must be paid within 14 days.
Tākina Convention and Events Centre, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington
Set in the heart of Wellington, Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre offers a striking backdrop for connection and ideas. Just moments from the waterfront and Te Papa, it’s surrounded by the energy of the capital - the perfect place to gather for big conversations.
Inside, light-filled spaces and flexible facilities create a seamless conference experience. With strong sustainability credentials and a design that reflects Wellington’s character, Tākina provides an inspiring setting for Aotearoa’s premier governance event.
3 – 4 September 2026
We have accommodation options at exclusive rates – all within walking distance of Tākina Convention and Events Centre, restaurants and everything Wellington has to offer. Find out more about your accommodation options below.
Boasting stunning waterfront views, InterContinental Wellington is a five-star retreat in the heart of the capital. With elegant rooms, renowned dining, and the award-winning Club InterContinental, it offers a sophisticated base close to the city’s arts, shopping, and dining. Just a 12-minute walk to Tākina Convention Centre. Conference Rate: A special booking code will be available soon for delegates.
TRYP offers a stylish and comfortable stay with heritage art-deco character and modern convenience. Located in the vibrant CBD, you’ll find shopping, dining, and culture right on your doorstep. Just a 4-minute walk to Tākina Convention Centre. Conference Rate: Use promo code IODSep26 on the TRYP website to receive 20% off the best available rate. Valid for stays from 2–5 September 2026.
