NZTech Update – Drones and digital skills

Hi Readers,

Last week I reported in from the ski field and this week I’m reporting from Taipei. I am at the Board meeting for the World Information Technology and Services Alliance followed by the World Congress on Information Technology where I’m flying the flag for New Zealand as a leading digital nation.

This Thursday, the sold out Canterbury Tech Summit will be in full swing. My return flight won’t get me back in time, but NZTech’s Nick Elias and Techweek’s Jennifer Clamp will be attending.

Also this week, we have partnered with MBIE, the Ministry of Women, the National Advisory Council on the Employment for Women and NZRise to launch Return to IT in Wellington. This pilot programme will encourage women back into IT roles after taking a career break and will help promote greater diversity in the tech sector. Stay tuned for more details following Wednesday’s launch.

Friday finds me back in Wellington with ITP, NZRise and MBIE to review the work of the Digital Skills Forum and look at how to accelerate its impact. Progress this year has been encouraging with the Digital Skills Survey, (results are currently being processed), the Return to IT project launched, better immigration pathways introduced, a national skills framework selected and we have begun work on improving internship pathways. However, we could still do more, so it’s time for a review.

I met with Incredible Skys last week. They are a cool new firm that has New Zealand’s only CAA approved commercial beyond line of sight drone test area and is piloting remote medicine delivery in rural Northland. They have stacks of space (800sq km) so if you are developing a cool drone product or service, look them up.

Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech

Register to attend next month

Missed the Digital Futures debate? Watch it here.

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CONNECT

Join NZSA on 12 September in Auckland for their monthly event featuring Promapp‘s Ivan Seselj who will share his debt-free startup story.

Interested in Blockchain or cryptocurrencies? Do you have an idea or project you would like to share? Join the next BANZ networking event on 14 September in Auckland.

Register for the FinTechNZ Connect spring event series in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The series focuses on the burgeoning InsurTech sector.

PROMOTE

Calling all hi-tech companies ready for investment. Meet next month’s visiting Chinese delegation. Register for the China New Zealand Hi-Tech Summit on 16 October in Auckland. Learn more here.

Canterbury Tech’s next event is 3 October. Speakers include Myovolt founder Steven Leftly and Ara Institute‘s Ian Williamson on medical wearable tech and renewable energy.

Join the AmCham’s next Women in Business event on 27 September in Auckland. Learn how businesses are countering the challenge of disruption.

ADVANCE

This year’s NZ Cloud Computing Summit is being held on 31 October in Auckland. For a 10% discount use the NZTech promo code: MSPL4N.

Applications for the Edmund Hillary Fellowship‘s second cohort close on 1 October. For more information on how to apply click here.

Attend the NZBio Annual Conference 12-13 October in Wellington. Meanwhile, the ACPA is 16-18 October in Hamilton.

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