NZTech Update – Improving digital skills for the future of work

Kia Ora,

In January, I was in Hong Kong building connections with their tech sector and investors as there is growing interest in the market from New Zealand tech firms.  With a separate legal system to China, good intellectual property protection and a tough anti-corruption force, Hong Kong provides a safe entry point into North Asia for Kiwi tech firms.  The Hong Kong government has also committed NZD$10 billion investment into supporting the growth of their local tech sector and New Zealand businesses can access some of this funding to help set up and grow from Hong Kong.  Plus, it is an amazing place to visit, check out my helicopter ride courtesy of the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO).  If you are interested in Hong Kong and considering doing business in China or North Asia, please contact me as I have made numerous contacts with investors, government agencies, universities, cyberport and the science park.

Back in New Zealand, this month we have a few of the world leading tech marketers arriving in town to support the 2019 Tech Marketing Conference.  If you’d like to know how to get more from your social media efforts come and meet Viveka von Rosen, Forbes Top 50 Social Media Influencer and Top 10 Women in Social Media.  Also speaking are Rupert Deans, immersive reality pioneer, Savannah Peterson and Andy Lark, digital leader and now best selling author.  I’m looking forward to learning from all of them.

As part of the Digital Skills Forum, with MBIE, DIA, Ministry of Education, TEC, NZRise and IT Professionals, I am currently working on helping bring together 400 stakeholders from throughout New Zealand for a Digital Skills Hui.  This day long event will be workshop focused to share the learnings of the Digital Skills Forum as it works to help improve the flow of people with the digital skills they need for driving the tech ecosystem and for the future of work.  This event has been designed to focus on driving policy, programmes and investment towards three major areas for improvement – diversity, retraining workers hit by automation, and improving the flow of digital tech students from university to employment.

Is your organisation able to help?  The Digital Skills Hui is being funded by crowdsourcing. We have a few $1500 or $5000 sponsorship opportunities available that provide additional benefits. Is your organisation able to help? Please let me know if you can assist, as every little bit helps.  

Meanwhile, I hope you are easing into 2019, already it looks like it is going to be a great year!

Nga mihi
Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech

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Join AI-Day next month

Event submissions open tomorrow!

CONNECT

Create connections in the AI and FinTech ecosystems at the first joint event of the Tech Alliance 2019 event series.  Join us on 14 February in Wellington, 21 February in Auckland and 27 February in Christchurch.

Register for the TechMarketers 2019 Conference on 28 February in Auckland, or forward to your Marketing colleagues. Email now to get your NZ Tech community discount code.

Join the NZSA’s monthly networking event on 12 February in Auckland and meet AskNicely’s Aaron Ward who will discuss the experience economy.  Join Canterbury Tech on 14 February.

PROMOTE

Considering entering the 2019 Hi-Tech Awards?  Here’s six reasons why you should enter.  Entries close 4 March and  finalists will be announced on 27 March.  Save the date for the  Gala Dinner, 24 May in Auckland, during Techweek19.

What does the future of New Zealand’s public sector look like?  Register to attend the Future Government Summit, 26-27 February, 2019 and help create a roadmap for the future.  Includes GovTech, tech trends and innovation.

Save the date for the T-Tech, New Zealand’s Future Transport Conference, 6-7 May 2019 in Christchurch. Submissions are now open for presentations. Registrations are open for 2019 Export Essentials workshops throughout New Zealand.

ADVANCE

Lightning Lab Tourism and the Edmund Hillary Fellowship are now accepting applications. In case you missed it, here’s CERT’s 2019 list of ten critical controls for organisations.

If you would like to join the New Zealand delegation to the Select USA Investment Summit 10-12 June in Washington, please contact Janet Coulthart  for further information.

World changing ideas are born in New Zealand!  Meet the UpStarters and learn more about New Zealand’s tech and innovation story. Watch videos and download the showcase booklet.

Safer Internet Day is tomorrow.  No matter how tech savvy you are, here’s three things you can do to make the Internet safer for family and friends.