Navigating the Tough Times

Programme

Wednesday 12 November 2025

  • Kia ora and welcome to conference. Please sign in at the registration desk

  • To welcome everyone, acknowledge the people and place we’re gathering in, and set the scene for the two days ahead.

  • Sir Ashley Bloomfield
    Leadership in tough times

    Explore what it takes to lead in challenging times. This session helps us think about how we can lead with clarity, care, and confidence when things are uncertain.

  • Join us for morning tea

  • Panelists:

    • Jo Wrigley

    • Jeremy Mayall

    • Slay Way

    • Maria Bagshaw

    • Ellie Wilkinson

    Hearing from leaders across diverse sectors who are doing things differently. This session brings new ideas and ways of thinking that can inspire us as leaders to try new approaches in our own work.

  • Presenters:

    • Gary Thompson

    • Shannon Te Huia

    Stories of two people leading real change in their communities. These examples show what’s possible when people lead others; to work together with purpose, passion, and a strong sense of connection.

  • A participatory conversation where small groups discuss key questions, share ideas, and surface the themes that matter most to the people in the room.

  • Join us for lunch in the restaurant

  • A space where you choose the conversations that matter most to you. Bring your own ideas, questions, or challenges — or join a group that sparks your interest. It’s a chance to connect, share, and learn from each other.

  • An experiential process in mindfulness to help us pause, notice, and reconnect. This short session offers practical tools for dealing with stress and caring for ourselves, helping us return to the rest of the day with more focus and ease.

  • To wrap up the day, highlight what we’ve learned, and prepare for Day Two.

    Karakia Whakamutunga

  • Join us for networking and nibbles at Distinction Hotel

 

Thursday 13 November 2025

  • Sign in at the regsitration desk for Day 2 of conference

  • To welcome everyone back, recap what came through on Day One, and get ready for the next round of conversations.

  • Dave Letele
    Motivation and Momentum

    A powerful, emotional story of resilience and hope. This session reminds us that even small steps can lead to big change, and that perseverance, purpose, and people can carry us through the hardest times.

  • Panelists:

    • Garth Nowland-Foreman

    • Jenny Calley

    • Joanne Turner

    • Rangimahora Reddy

    • Tony Marsters

    Hearing from leaders who have guided their organisations through uncertainty and change. This session shares lessons on adapting, staying focused, and leading with heart when things don’t go to plan.

  • Join us for morning tea

  • Presenters:

    • Laura Casey

    • Linda Roil

    Two inspiring stories of grassroots leadership. These women-led organisations show what’s possible when passion and purpose drive action—even without funding or formal support.

  • A space where you choose the conversations that matter most to you. Bring your own ideas, questions, or challenges — or join a group that sparks your interest. It’s a chance to connect, share, and learn from each other.

  • Join us in the restaurant for lunch

  • An interactive session where participants explore key themes from the conference, share insights, and turn conversations into practical ideas and actions.

  • A short creative session, to capture our collective reflections and distil them into simple, powerful expressions — planting seeds for what comes next and sparking momentum to carry forward into our mahi.

  • Cam Calkoen
    Possibility into Action

    Setting an inspiring and forward-focused tone, encouraging us to move from constraint to possibility—and reminding us that our mindset and actions shape the future we want to create.

  • To thank everyone, close the event together, and acknowledge what we’ve shared and learned