2025 New Zealand HR Leadership Summit

17th & 18th September
Grand Millennium Auckland
Forward Motion – leveraging the collective strength to shape change

As trusted business advisors, HR leaders are relied upon to navigate change within their businesses, sectors and communities. Leadership is a behaviour that can inspire change and create a meaningful impact on people. The 2025 New Zealand HR Leadership Summit will encourage attendees – people and culture leaders – to examine what change looks like in their organisations and how they can influence decision-making and drive positive change for the benefit of their organisations, workforces, and the communities they serve.

Embedded with the theme Forward Motion – leveraging the collective strength to shape change, the program will explore topics such as building a sustainable people strategy, fostering skills- and work-based talent, integrating Kaupapa Māori for change, balancing human and digital capabilities, aligning values across business and leadership, and empowering a diverse, multigenerational workforce.
Key discussion topics:
  • Navigating the evolving people landscape – HR shaping change for the benefit of their organisations, workforces, and the communities they serve
  • Leveraging human potential, collaboration, knowledge, and data – developing a future-ready organisation
  • Embedding Kaupapa Māori to deliver organisational change
  • Strategic workforce planning – developing a sustainable people strategy
  • Fostering a work- and skills-based workforce – building an adaptable and effective workforce
  • Empowering a multigenerational workforce – fostering an inclusive environment and enhancing collaboration, innovation, and overall performance
  • Neurodiversity in the workplace – practical guidance for organisations to benefit from all types of minds
  • Assessing the use of AI in HR functions – risks, opportunities, skills and governance considerations
  • AI adoption, human capabilities and trust – incorporating AI in the workplace meaningly and impactfully
  • Creating a safety-first environment – the interconnection of HR, safety and leadership
  • The future of talent management – creating an engaged and high-performing workforce
  • Leadership development – identifying and developing top talent and future leaders
  • What's next? Trends and expectations that might shape the way HR influences business outcomes, inspires future leaders and contributes to a wider ecosystem
  • + more

Featured Presenters

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Nikki Dines
Chief People Officer
Air New Zealand    
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Toni Grimshaw
Chief People, Safety & Wellbeing Officer
New Zealand Rugby    
 
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Philip Doak
General Manager, People & Legal
Ports of Auckland Limited    
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Cathy Hendry
Managing Director
Strategic Pay   
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Lynne Miller
General Manager, People & Culture
Auckland One Rail     
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Michelle Banfield
Chief People Officer
Indevin Group 
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Bradley Pandy
Organisational Capability Manager
Brosnan    
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Richard Binner
General Manager Operations
Fair Way
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Lynn Johnson
Chief People Officer
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited  
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Sarah Archer
Head of Talent, Diversity & Inclusion
Chorus NZ Limited 
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Jenny Turner

Founder & Director
Human Fabric    

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Mike W

National BDM, Workforce Solutions
ReadyTech

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Alex Howieson
General Manager, People & Culture
Oceania Healthcare
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Heather Langton
People, Culture & Ways of Working Director
Spark NZ
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Nish Pai

Head of Capability & Organisational Development
Mitre 10

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Wynand du Plessis

Group General Manager of Remuneration
Fletcher Building 

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Samantha Rogers
Head of Leadership & Culture
Synlait Milk Limited 
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Karlie Cremin
CEO
DLPA & Crestcom ANZ
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Kylie Telford

Head of People & Culture
International Accreditation NZ (IANZ)

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Sonya Cowen

Partner, Head of Research & Development
Winsborough

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Dr Shireen Chua

Director, Intercultural Coach, Facilitator
The Third Culture
Summit Chairperson

Gold Partners

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Summit Partners

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Testimonials

Register Your Interest

For information about registration, partnership or speaking opportunities, please contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.