CIO Innovation summit themes
Enterprise leadership
Harnessing emerging technologies and leadership capability to drive change
sovereign ai & digital trust
Building secure, ethical, and compliant digital ecosystems that earn trust
global-first, Responsible-always
Building globally competitive, ethically grounded enterprises
create intelligence: The human edge of enterprise innovation
Blending creativity, design and culture to fuel competitive differentiation
innovation for people, planet, & purpose
Driving transformation and innovation that delivers commercial performance and meaningful impact
SPEAKERS
The CIO Innovation Summit brings together globally renowned tech leaders and visionaries. Gain insights from the best minds shaping the future of technology, all in one place. Network with industry peers and share ideas, but also learn from international expertise directly applicable to the New Zealand market. It’s your chance to bridge the gap and propel your tech strategy forward.
Vinod bidarkoppa
Former Executive Vice President & CTO,
Walmart International
A global technology leader with 30+ years of experience driving growth through digital platform architecture and AI. Formerly EVP and CTO at Walmart International, he specialises in modernising legacy environments and scaling high-transaction systems. He brings a unique perspective on balancing rapid innovation with risk for New Zealand’s evolving tech landscape.
Angela Nash
Chief Digital Officer,
Craigs Investment Partners
Technology executive with a proven track record in enterprise-scale strategy and organisational change. Recognised as the 2023 CIO of the Year and a regular in the CIO Top 50, she specialises in aligning technology with business outcomes and building high-performing teams. She holds board roles with Quotable Value and Tennis New Zealand, mentors future leaders, and is a graduate of Massey and Waikato universities.
Gerard Florian
Former Group Executive – Technology and Business Services,
ANZ Bank
With nearly 40 years’ experience, this executive transforms technology into sustained business value. Previously leading global technology and serving as a Director for ANZ New Zealand, he now advises on enterprise transformation. He specialises in operationalising continuous change, leveraging AI to evolve project-driven models into scalable, customer-centric platforms.
Juliana Chua
Sr. Director & Head | Digital Tech & Innovation (Global),
EssilorLuxottica
With 20 years of experience in IP Law, Innovation and Digital space across 4 MNCs, 3 government bodies, and 2 start-ups, Juliana’s accolades include World CIO200, APAC CIO100, and Women Technology Leader of the Year. She is also an inventor to 6 patents, applications and designs in US, EU and JP for medical technologies space and have been featured by Financial Times, Wall Street, Forbes and Fortune.
Michelle Burke
Principal Advisor, Artificial Intelligence, New Zealand Defence Force
Victor Anton
GM & Founder, Wildlife.AI
Conservation biologist and founder of Wildlife.ai who leverages artificial intelligence and his PhD research from Victoria University of Wellington to translate big data into transformative global wildlife conservation practices.
Jonathan Good
Chief Executive Officer, Scentian Bio
Jonathan Good is the CEO of Scentian Bio. He has a successful background as an entrepreneur in New Zealand and the USA and has held senior leadership roles in global food businesses.
James Bergin
Executive GM – Technology Research & Advocacy, Xero
A visionary specialist in strategic foresight who masterfully blends deep technical expertise with storytelling to translate complex emerging technologies into actionable strategies that help the global business community navigate an increasingly complex digital future.
Kate Kolich
Head of Data and AI, Contact Energy | Co-chairwoman in Data Science NZ
Over 25 years of leadership experience in data, digital, and innovation across public and private sectors. Kate is a recognised thought leader, she has won multiple industry awards for her work and was named one of the top 100 innovators in data and analytics by Corinium Global Intelligence in 2024.
Bindi Norwell
Group CEO, ProCare
A visionary leader with over 25 years of experience across health, property, and telecommunications in NZ, Australia, and the UK. As Group CEO of ProCare and Co-Chair of Health Accelerator, she specialises in organisational growth and AI-driven healthcare transformation. Her track record in commercial leadership and governance was recently recognised with the 2025 Innovation Leadership Award.
Cameron Brill
Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Operations, Hato Hone St John
Cameron brings extensive international experience from KLM Amsterdam and Auckland Airport. Managing complex portfolios across digital, sustainability, and supply chain, they focus on large-scale service improvement. Recently Harvard-trained in AI leadership, they integrate economics, psychology, and information systems expertise to drive transformative change within critical New Zealand infrastructure.
Richard Wilkinson
Chief Digital Officer, Auckland Airport
Responsible for digital technology strategy and delivery at Auckland Airport, bringing over 20 years of experience from high-profile organisations including NZ Rugby, Tourism NZ, and Farmlands. An expert in managing digital and organisational change, they possess a strong connection to Te Ao Māori and serve as a trustee for Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa marae.
AMIT GUPTA
Group CEO & Founder, Ecosystm
Visionary tech entrepreneur who revolutionised the research landscape by democratising real-time data, while currently serving as a strategic advisor to the New Zealand government and President of TiE Singapore.
ZEINA JALIL
Deputy Chief Executive – Strategy and Executive Operations, Hato Hone St John
Award-winning executive leader and former diplomat with over 20 years of experience across Aotearoa and Asia, recognised for advancing international partnerships.
JAMES LAWRENCE
AI Centre of Enablement, Fonterra
Michelle Burke
Principal Advisor, Artificial Intelligence, New Zealand Defence Force
Victor Anton
GM & Founder, Wildlife.AI
Conservation biologist and founder of Wildlife.ai who leverages artificial intelligence and his PhD research from Victoria University of Wellington to translate big data into transformative global wildlife conservation practices.
Jonathan Good
Chief Executive Officer, Scentian Bio
Jonathan Good is the CEO of Scentian Bio. He has a successful background as an entrepreneur in New Zealand and the USA and has held senior leadership roles in global food businesses.
James Bergin
Executive GM – Technology Research & Advocacy, Xero
A visionary specialist in strategic foresight who masterfully blends deep technical expertise with storytelling to translate complex emerging technologies into actionable strategies that help the global business community navigate an increasingly complex digital future.
Kate Kolich
Head of Data and AI, Contact Energy | Co-chairwoman in Data Science NZ
Over 25 years of leadership experience in data, digital, and innovation across public and private sectors. Kate is a recognised thought leader, she has won multiple industry awards for her work and was named one of the top 100 innovators in data and analytics by Corinium Global Intelligence in 2024.
Bindi Norwell
Group CEO, ProCare
A visionary leader with over 25 years of experience across health, property, and telecommunications in NZ, Australia, and the UK. As Group CEO of ProCare and Co-Chair of Health Accelerator, she specialises in organisational growth and AI-driven healthcare transformation. Her track record in commercial leadership and governance was recently recognised with the 2025 Innovation Leadership Award.
Angela Nash
Chief Digital Officer, Craigs Investment Partners
An Auckland-based technology executive with a proven track record in enterprise-scale strategy and organisational change. Recognised as the 2023 CIO of the Year and a regular in the CIO Top 50, she specialises in aligning technology with business outcomes and building high-performing teams. She holds board roles with Quotable Value and Tennis New Zealand, mentors future leaders, and is a graduate of Massey and Waikato universities.
Richard Wilkinson
Chief Digital Officer, Auckland Airport
Responsible for digital technology strategy and delivery at Auckland Airport, bringing over 20 years of experience from high-profile organisations including NZ Rugby, Tourism NZ, and Farmlands. An expert in managing digital and organisational change, they possess a strong connection to Te Ao Māori and serve as a trustee for Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa marae.
AMIT GUPTA
Group CEO & Founder, Ecosystm
Visionary tech entrepreneur who revolutionised the research landscape by democratising real-time data, while currently serving as a strategic advisor to the New Zealand government and President of TiE Singapore.
ZEINA JALIL
Deputy Chief Executive – Strategy and Executive Operations, Hato Hone St John
Award-winning executive leader and former diplomat with over 20 years of experience across Aotearoa and Asia, recognised for advancing international partnerships.
agenda
CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
8:30am
Registration & coffee
9:00am
mihi whakatau
9:10am
opening remarks
ZEINA JALIL
DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE - STRATEGY AND EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS
HATO HONE ST JOHN
9:25am
KEYNOTE - THE STRATEGIC CIO: GLOBAL TRENDS, LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES, MEASURABLE IMPACT
Learn from leading global organisations through real-world case studies and data-driven insights on AI adoption, cloud sovereignty, and innovation strategies. Discover how these experiences can be applied locally, leveraging New Zealand’s unique value systems, regulatory environment, and competitive advantages, with practical takeaways designed to drive real impact.
AMIT GUPTA
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
9:55am
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE
This session explores how technology and innovation are reshaping economies, industries, and competitive advantage. Drawing on insights from high growth companies, global markets, and emerging innovation ecosystems, the session highlights what CIOs should be paying attention to now, from shifts in digital capability and AI adoption to the evolving role of technology leadership in driving organisational success. The session offers a forward-looking perspective on where technology is heading in 2027 and what it means for CIOs shaping strategy today.
Gerard Florian
Former Group Executive - Technology and Business Services
ANZ BANK
10:30am
MORNING BREAK
11:00am
SESSION TO BE CONFIRMED
INNOVATION FOR PEOPLE, PLANET & PURPOSE
11:30am
PANEL - REDEFINING INNOVATION IN THE CIO AGENDA: PEOPLE, PLANET, AND PURPOSE AT THE CORE
Innovation is about impact, not just speed or efficiency. Leaders are driving initiatives that benefit people, advance purpose-led outcomes, and protect the planet, while balancing productivity, resilience, and organisational capacity. This panel explores how New Zealand tech leaders are embedding these values into digital strategies.
James Bergin
Executive General Manager - Technology Research & Advocacy
Xero
Angela Nash
CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER
CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS
Jonathan Good
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SCENTIAN BIO
12:10Pm
THE ROI OF IMPACT: PROVING THAT TECHNOLOGY DRIVES BUSINESS VALUE
How do leaders turn technology into tangible results, linking innovation directly to business outcomes that matter? This session looks beyond the hype to show what works and why it makes a difference.
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
12:20PM
LUNCH BREAK
1:45Pm
CIO INNOVATION SHOWCASE
In this series of quick-fire presentations, hear from leading New Zealand organisations as they share how they’re deploying and managing innovative technologies to meet stakeholder and customer needs; and for business success.
Victor Anton
GM & Founder
Wildlife. ai
James Lawrence
AI Centre of Enablement
Fonterra
SCALING DEEP TECH & ENTERPRISE LEADERSHIP
2:30Pm
PANEL - Built to last: Balancing Transformation and Continuity in Critical Infrastructure
Critical infrastructure is no longer just physical – it’s deeply digital, data-driven, and always on. For CIOs, the challenge is ensuring continuity, performance, and trust at scale, while modernising legacy systems and enabling innovation. This panel explores how technology leaders are balancing modernisation with reliability, efficiency with resilience, and innovation with accountability across New Zealand’s most essential services.
Bharat Ratanpal
Chief information Officer
mERIDIAN eNERGY
RICHARD WILKINSON
Chief Digital Officer
Auckland Airport
Cameron Brill
Deputy Chief Executive - Corporate Operations
Hato Hone St. John
3:10Pm
FUTURE-READY TECH TEAMS: STAYING AHEAD OF INNOVATION PRESSURES
How do leaders build tech teams that not only keep up with rapid innovation? This session looks at the structures, skills, and ways of working that enable teams to deliver results in a fast-moving, high-pressure environment.
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
3:20PM
AFTERNOON BREAK
3:50Pm
HALOITSM PRESENTATION
TBC
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
4:20Pm
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Learn how to prioritise what truly matters – modernising infrastructure, enabling AI, upgrading enterprise applications, and delivering integrated platforms – while managing cost, risk, and team capacity. Practical strategies for turning innovation into measurable business impact, highlighting the pitfalls to avoid.
Vinod Bidarkoppa
Former EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CTO
WALMART INTERNATIONAL
5:00Pm
SUMMARY REMARKS
zeina jalil
DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE - STRATEGY AND EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS
HATO HONE ST JOHN
5:10PM
networking function
7:00PM
New Zealand CIO Innovation Awards gala dinner
9:00am
WELCOME BACK FROM THE MC
ZEINA JALIL
DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE - STRATEGY AND EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS
HATO HONE ST JOHN
9:10am
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE - RESPONSIBLY ACCELERATING INNOVATION
What does it take to push innovation forward without compromising responsibility? This session shares lessons from the global stage, highlighting both wins and missteps, and explores how organisations can prepare teams to act confidently and responsibly in complex, international markets.
Juliana Chua
Senior Director & Head | Digital Tech & Innovation (Global)
EssilorLuxottica
9:40am
PANEL - Global Ambition, Local Execution: How NZ's Tech Leaders are scaling responsibly
New Zealand’s largest technology organisations sit at the centre of transformation – not just adopting technology, but enabling it across industries, government, and society. This panel brings together the CEOs and country leaders shaping NZ’s digital landscape for a candid discussion on what’s actually working, what’s not, and what needs to change. From AI and platform adoption to delivery, accountability, and trust, this session will cut through the hype to explore how technology is being implemented at scale, and what CIOs should be demanding from their partners.
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
10:20am
SESSION TO BE CONFIRMED
10:30am
MORNING BREAK
11:20am
EMERGING LEADERS FORUM
SOVEREIGN AI & DIGITAL TRUST
11:20am
WHAT DOES SOVEREIGN AND ETHICAL AI LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE
How do leaders implement AI that is both responsible and impactful? This session examines the trade-offs between sovereignty, ethics, trust, and compliance, showing what it takes to get it right.
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
11:30AM
PANEL - Data as the backbone of sovereign ai and digital trust
Data is the key to smarter decisions, faster innovation, and maintaining trust – and requires infrastructure, governance, skills, and technology decisions. This panel explores how organisations can finally talk of data as a strategic asset: secure, accessible, and aligned with local values, while enabling business ownership and tech stewardship to work hand in hand.
Michelle Burke
Principal Advisor, Artificial Intelligence
New Zealand Defence Force
Kate Kolich
Head of Data and AI
Contact Energy | Co-Chairwoman in Data Science NZ
12:10pM
protecting value, resilience, and trust in a hyperconnected enterprise
How can organisations treat cyber risk as a strategic advantage rather than just a technical challenge? This session explores turning security into a driver of business resilience and trust.
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
12:40PM
LUNCH BREAK
creative intelligence: the human edge of enterprise innovation
1:40Pm
Storytelling for Technology Adoption – Communicating change effectively to employees and stakeholders
New Zealand organisations experiment freely, but the real challenge lies in deciding what to scale, what to retire, and how to industrialise deep tech, while navigating legacy systems, regulatory limits, and finite budgets. This panel explores how enterprise leaders are turning isolated wins into sustained, organisation-wide impact.
tbc
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
1:50Pm
Panel - Building a Collaborative Culture Through Technology
Whether we intend it or not, Agentic AI will be adopted, often embedded directly into enterprise platforms. Technology and business leaders must ensure it delivers real value without compromising human judgement. This panel explores how technology, HR, workforce strategy, and leadership can align to embed human-AI collaboration and transform a culture of innovation into a competitive advantage.
Brijesh John
Head of Digital Innovation
Inland Revenue
Bindi Norwell
Group CEO
PROCARE
Natasha Wilson
Head of IT - New Zealand
dla piper
2:30Pm
Creative Intelligence: Where Human Imagination Meets Technology
The session explores how technology and imagination intersect to reshape storytelling, revealing new ways narratives are conceived, experienced, and felt. It highlights the evolving role of human creativity in a world where AI expands the possibilities of narrative impact.
Sir Ian Taylor and Shekhar Kapoor
CEO & FOUNDER
ECOSYSTM GROUP
3:30Pm
end of summit
Venue and Travel
Hosted at the new New Zealand International Convention Centre in the heart of Auckland City.
NZICC
101 Hobson Street
Auckland, 1010
4 AUGUST 2026
The CIO Awards provide a formal, prestigious platform for acknowledging the greatness within your organisation. It celebrates the foresight, commitment, and hard work of individuals and teams, honouring those who are truly driving the future of ICT and business in New Zealand.
4 AUGUST 2026
The Cyber Security Risk Conference 2026 is New Zealand’s premier forum for leaders who understand that resilience is the only path forward. We bring together the architects of our digital safety to address the fastest-growing threat to our national economy.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The New Zealand CIO Innovation Summit & Awards is your chance to engage with the country’s most influential CIOs and decision-makers, seeking insights on navigating digital transformation, AI adoption, and cyber security.
2026 Sponsors
Headline Sponsor
Halo
Gold Sponsors
Zoho
Adaptiv
Pro Partner
Fivetran
Silver Sponsor
HPE Networking
Nitro Software
SAS IT
Logitech
Executive Board Room Sponsor
Zoho
Halo
PRE SUMMIT DINNER
Fujitsu
Exhibitor
Druidlab
Nodero
Assurity
DataMasque
Wesco Anixter
Theta