NZTech Update – NZTech Women, High Impact Team update and six months on!

Hi Readers

This newsletter marks six months since I joined the NZTech team and no two weeks are the same! It has been my top priority to connect with our vibrant members and learn about your organisations, priorities, challenges and the innovative products and services you offer.

Just weeks after I joined NZTech, the Kaikoura earthquake struck and we were unable to return to our Wellington office. Our team showed great resilience while working remotely. Last week however, we moved into new offices on Lambton Quay and it’s great to have the team in one location again.

In February, we launched FinTechNZ and our membership continues to grow every week. Our inaugural FinTechNZ Connect events in Wellington and Christchurch have been very successful and our next is scheduled in Auckland on 18 April.

I thoroughly enjoy attending our member events and I particularly enjoyed our NZTech Women lunch celebrating International Women’s Day where we hosted BNZ’s Lana West. This event created great connections and plenty of ‘outside the event’ conversations are continuing. Having caught up on a few of these conversations, I am delighted to hear how members are embracing #beboldforchange.

When I am not meeting members, I regularly attend meetings with GCIO, MBIE’s Business Reference Group, Digital Skills Forum, Immigration Working Group and briefings with various Ministers and other government agencies.

This week, we also have an update from the NZTech Women High Impact Team who are extremely passionate about building a strong community of women and men to increase diversity in the tech sector. We have already met twice this year and there are a number of significant work streams underway including ShadowTech Day, our D&I forum, a new online presence, returnships and an inspiring initiative showcasing women in tech that is firmly under wraps, for now! If you are interested in being involved in NZTech Women, please contact me.

I know the next six months are set to be exciting, I’m especially looking forward to the diverse array of events at Techweek’17 and the NZ Hi-Tech Awards next month.

Andrea Hancox
Member & Government Relations

Join the discussion…

Coming in 4 weeks…

Don’t miss out!

CONNECT

FinTechNZ is hosting a Connect event in Auckland on 18 April. FinTechNZ is leading a trade mission to Singapore and Vietnam later this year. Follow FinTechNZ and join FinTech discussions on LinkedIn.

NZSA’s next networking event is April 11 in Auckland. Hear CEO Leigh Flounders explain how Latipay set about conquering China’s e-commerce digital frontier and the challenges of dealing with growth.

The Blockchain is set to disrupt every industry and change the way global commerce works. Registrations are now open for The Blockchain.NZ Conference, a key event during Techweek’17.

PROMOTE

Check out the Techweek’17 national line-up and don’t miss out on your pick of #twnz17 events! During Techweek, take the Mahuki Tech Tour at Te Papa in Wellington. ICYMI Watch the Techweek’17 promo video and share it on social media.

A new initiative at Victoria University is connecting Wellington businesses with international students. The free 12 week programme offers expert workshops and insights to new or established markets for exporters of products, technology and services.

Early bird registrations are now open for our EdTech Summit in June. This year’s programme will be structured in two key forums – Tech and Pedagogy, and Edtech for Export. ICYMI read our GovTech briefing paper from the Leader’s Forum at our Government & Technology Summit.

ADVANCE

The NZTech Women High Impact Team has been meeting regularly. Read the update from the team’s co-chair Eva Sherwood including ShadowTech Day, returnships, research, our D&I forum and connect events.

Accelerating a connected New Zealand; check out the NZ IoT Alliance‘s new online home. Following its recent launch, join the conversation and be involved. Follow @NZIoTAlliance on Twitter, Facebook or Linked In. Meanwhile, significant local IoT research is due for release midyear.

As part of LookSee Wellington, more than 48,000 international candidates applied to fill 265 tech sector vacancies. But, this doesn’t mean the skills shortage is solved says NZTech CEO Graeme Muller. New Zealand can’t depend on immigration as the silver bullet.

Want to know more?  Sign up for the NZTech weekly update, it’s free and will take less than a minute!