NZTech Inform – a new decade of opportunity

Warmest greetings to our members, partners and supporters. Welcome to a brand new year and also an entirely new decade of tech. Once again, thanks to Graeme Muller and the rest of the NZTech and Tech Alliance team, who have put in an amazing year of work. I would also like to acknowledge our outstanding NZTech board as well as the boards and executive councils of the many communities across the Tech Alliance. These committed board and council members don’t just provide governance, but also the vision, leadership and energy to drive our many projects, initiatives, working groups, collaborations, collective achievements and industry advancements. 

Over the holiday break, I enjoyed reading a number of tech trend predictions. There are so many forward looking views from many sources, that no matter which part of the tech sector we are interested in, there is plenty to entertain, excite, intrigue and inspire us all. Simply search “tech trends” online you may find yourself consumed for hours on end! 

Sadly, there has also been a constant news stream of conflicts, disasters and major challenges that continue to impact the lives of millions. The devastating fires in Australia are an important reminder that we are all connected, and that distance does not shield us from the rest of the world, especially for a small economy which relies on export and international partners for trade and security.

Last month, leaders in government, industry, business and civil society gathered for the 50th annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland. The key areas of focus were:

• Ecology: How to mobilise business to respond to the risks of climate change and ensure that measures to protect biodiversity reach forest floors and ocean beds.
• Economy: How to remove the long term debt burden and keep the economy working at a pace that allows higher inclusion.
• Technology: How to create a global consensus on deployment of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and avoid a technology war.
• Society: How to reskill and upskill a billion people in the next decade.
• Geopolitics: How the ‘spirit of Davos’ can create bridges to resolve conflicts in global hotspots. 
• Industry: How to help business create the models necessary to drive enterprise in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

I firmly believe that each of these areas provides Kiwi businesses an opportunity for innovation that can be consumed by the global market – to build new products and services that are good for the world. Please take the time to consider how your business is aligned to these challenges.  

Ngā mihi

Mitchell Pham
Chair
NZTech

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Techweek2020 returns this year, 18-24 May. Event submissions now open.