AOTEAROA AI SUMMIT

Programme

Explore our summit programme filled with inspiring keynote presentations, engaging panel discussions, and plenty of networking opportunities in the company of AI leaders from Aotearoa and around the world. 

Check out the latest speakers

Thursday 18 September

MORNING

8.30 - Registration and Coffee

Mihi Whakatau

Megan Tapsell, GM Enterprise & Pacific Technology, ANZ; Chair, AI Forum NZ

Julia Pahina, CEO & Co-Founder, Fibre Fale

Hon Shane Reti, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

  • Understanding how Indigenous worldviews can inform AI development
  • Concrete steps for supporting an ethical, inclusive AI ecosystem in Aotearoa
  • Inspiration to pursue paths that lead to successful AI frameworks and innovation

Greg Davidson, Group Chief Executive Officer, Datacom Group

  • Understanding how Indigenous worldviews can inform AI development
  • Concrete steps for supporting an ethical, inclusive AI ecosystem in Aotearoa
  • Inspiration to pursue paths that lead to successful AI frameworks and innovation

 

Representative from Cisco

  • What has worked and what hasn’t in deploying AI at scale
  • The unintended consequences of AI innovation
  • Global trends in ethical AI development and regulation
  • How inclusive design can bridge the equity gap, with a focus on Māori and Pasifika representation in AI development and governance

 

Speakers to be confirmed 

 

Morning Break

Forget the headlines and big promises, there are practical, high-impact AI wins your algorithm won’t show you, but they’re exactly what’s fueling competitive advantage in 2025. SupaHuman helped deliver 100+ AI solution projects across ANZ, and in this session, Dave shares real, on-the-ground case studies revealing how forward-thinking teams are adopting AI to unlock organisational intelligence, reduce compliance risk, and free smart minds from the manual work that drains productivity.

Dave Howden, CEO & Co-founder, SupaHuman

Join us for a dynamic discussion on how AI is transforming the AEC industry, featuring insights from industry leaders and government representatives.

  • What are the current opportunities for AI in the AEC sector?
  • What outcomes and results have we seen from AI implementation in AEC?
  • What are the future directions and potential developments for AI in this sector?

 

Pamela Bell, Chief Everything Officer, Building Institute Aotearoa
Ali Hamlin–Paenga, CEO, Te Matapihi 

Further panellists to be announced

As AI continues to mature, it’s increasingly intersecting with other powerful technologies—quantum computing, robotics, and agent-based systems—reshaping the boundaries of what’s possible. This keynote panel explores the convergence frontier: what’s emerging, what’s coming next, and how these trends may transform industries, societies, and the human experience.

Michael Witbrock, Professor, Auckland University

Ming Cheuk, Chief Technical Officer, ElementX

Further panellists to be announced

Lunch

Thursday 18 September

AFTERNOON

13.20 - AI Hackathon Festival: finalist pitching session and 2025 awards

AI Hackathon brings together diverse minds to create technological solutions for our most pressing global challenges. You’ll learn new skills, create connections, make an impact and network with mentors in our safe space to play and promote AI for Good. 

Each hackathon team will pitch their solution to a judging panel and regional winners will be announced. Our national judging panel will then select 4 finalists to pitch their idea at the 2025 Aotearoa AI Summit 

Meet our regional team winners who join our AI EnviroHack pitching session as finalists.

Moderated by: Madeline Newman, Executive Director, AI Forum New Zealand and Albert Bifet, Professor of AI, Director of the Te Ipu o te Mahara AI Institute, University of Waikato; & Co-chair, Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association (AIRA).

Interactive sessions to share experiences and insights

Topics will be confirmed closer to the event, however they may include:

    1. AI Hot Seat: Bring Your Biggest Challenges and Get Experts Advice”
      An interactive, rapid-fire session where participants share their real-world AI challenges -technical, operational, or strategic – and the SupaHuman team provides quick, actionable solutions and recommendations on the spot.

      Facilitators: Dave Howden – CEO, SupaHuman; Blair Woods – CTO, SupaHuman.

    2. What frameworks are needed for responsible AI governance?
    3. Balancing innovation with ethical considerations and privacy laws
    4. The impact of AI on job creation and displacement
    5. Upskilling and reskilling workers for an AI-driven economy
    6. Ethical AI: Protecting indigenous knowledge and data sovereignty
    7. How New Zealand businesses can leverage AI for growth
    8. Using AI for better public service delivery and policy-making
    9. Transparency and accountability in AI decision-making
    10. How can businesses and the government build public trust in AI?

Afternoon Break

Tanya Ruka, Victoria University of Wellington

Join us for a series of Quickfire presentations highlighting transformation driven by AI and showcasing NZ stories and talent within the AI industry.  

Arash Tayebi, CEO, Kara.tech 

Glen Willoughby, CEO, Staples VR 

Gavin Sharkey, Managing Director and Co-founder, Kōwhai AI 

Richard Wright, Head of Data and Analytics and AI Lead, Lotto NZ 

Join us as we celebrate and learn about our esteemed award winners from last night’s inaugural AI Summit Awards and crown the Aotearoa AI People’s Choice Award

Tākina Convention & Exhibition Centre

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