EPIC NZ Conference Wellington 2014

Diversity is a cornerstone of New Zealand's present and future economy - a taonga (treasure) to be nurtured, celebrated and leveraged. The EPIC NZ Wellington conference for 2014 will bring together the capital's dynamic ethnic, Maori and wider business community to network, connect and share knowledge. The conference will highlight the potential of increased collaboration between this community and its inherent diversity. Success stories will be featured with a special focus on Grow Wellington priority sectors, including high-value manufacturing and services, ICT and digital.

Programme

12.15pm – Registration opens

1:00pm – MC Alison Mau opens conference

1.05pm – Minister for Ethnic Affairs, Hon Judith Collins speaks

1.20pm – Keynote interview: Jonathan Allan, Xero General Manager, Global Marketing Services

1.40pm – Audience Q&A

1.50pm – Small + Global: & Panel Q&A

Norman Markgraff, Chief Executive, KiwiYo

Nathan Li, EDUCA - Retooling Pre-Schooling

Other Speakers (T.B.C)

It’s easy to fall into the following trap: ‘SMEs are synonymous with being small, local, and independent’; ‘the future of the New Zealand economy lies in the hands of the big name companies and big budgets’. On the contrary, speakers in this session will demonstrate that SMEs do amazing things locally and internationally. SMEs make up 92% of New Zealand’s businesses. However, the diversity of people and businesses in the SME sector still present significant untapped potential. Better connections, relationships and collaboration from this diversity remain a golden opportunity. Speakers in this session will share their stories of success and failure, inspire participants to think bigger plus share practical and ‘tough’ tips.

2.40pm – Afternoon Tea

3.15pm – Berlinda Chin, Director, Office of Ethnic Affairs

3:30pm – The EPIC Spotlight

Richard Ede, BNZ Head of Corporate Banking

Ivy Joe, The Coffee Club, Bethlehem (near Tauranga)

Nick Churchouse, Creative HQ, Head of Customer Engagment

Other Speakers (T.B.C)

So often, it’s not 'what you know' but 'who you know' that can grow a business from strength to strength. Whether you're focussed on making it here at home or growing internationally, no SME can operate in isolation. Friends, networks, social contacts and connections can make all the difference.
In this fast-paced session, four speakers will highlight the range of different ways in which 'who you know' can help grow your business - in franchising, raising capital, tapping into Maori & ethnic communities, and support for digital entrepreneurs. These speakers will then facilitate a cluster networking session directly with participants and dialogue on themes raised in the Spotlight session and to ‘jump start’ new relationships at the EPIC NZ conference.

4.00pm – Cluster Networking

Franchising, Raising Capital, Maori and Ethnic Collaboration, and Digital Entrepreneurs.

5:00pm – Conference closes, networking to follow.