Explore the future of finance transformation and innovation at Finance Transformation Summit NZ 2026, connecting leaders driving change through technology, data, and automation.
Delegates
Speakers
Sessions
Supporting the evolving needs of the business in times of constant change
This summit is bringing together senior leaders to connect and explore best practices for finance transformation in controllership, reporting, planning and forecasting.
As finance leaders continue to manage risk in today’s challenging economic market, resilience, change and strategic decision-making sit at the centre of business continuity.
This event will address top priorities for shaping the next phase of finance leadership. Focusing on innovative case studies and real life examples that help support businesses to achieve operational excellence in a world of constant change.
Meet our Speakers
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Economist
Head of Finance Transformation & Systems
General Manager Finance
Head of Finance
Head of Finance - Planning, Performance, Governance
Chief Financial Officer
Head of Finance
Featured Topics for the Day
View Agenda
8:30 am
Registration & Refreshments
9:00 am
Welcome Remarks
9:10 am
Attendee Spotlight
Attendee Spotlight
Discussing top strategies to navigate persistant inflation, tax compliance and global market shocks
9:40 am
Panel Discussion
Opening Panel Discussion
Finance Leadership Priorities: Driving Strategic Growth and Building Business Resilience
Discussing top strategies for problem‑solving and strategic decision‑making in the current financial landscape
From crunching numbers to finance business partnering: Building board’s trust and strenghtening cross-functional relationships
Performing whilst transforming: Leading modern finance teams on a transformation journey
Upskilling and reskilling finance talent to thrive in Future AI‑driven and data‑enabled roles
Michelle Davis
Chief Financial Officer
Phoenix Recycling Group
Rachel Foster
Chief Financial Officer
DHL
Aman Charan
Chief Financial Officer
PPCS
Katrina Smidt
General Manager Finance
Watercare NZ
10:20 am
Case Study
Presentation
Finance Transformation as a Key Driver of Efficiency and Growth
10:40 am
Morning Tea & Networking
11:10 am
Interactive Scenario
Interactive Scenario
Finance Tool of the Future: Black Mirror Pitch: If We Can Build It... Should We?
11:40 am
Panel Discussion
Strengthening Financial Controls & Reporting Accuracy to Support Operational Excellence
Building more robust internal controls in a fast‑evolving digital business environment
Boosting resilience to the evolving regulatory standards, audit compliance expectations, and ESG reporting requirements
Reducing systems complexity for more timely and accurate reporting
Maintaining clean balance sheets and improving processes across month‑end close activities
Gillian Urquhart
Financial Controller NZ
JDE Peet's
Natasha Fison
GM Group Finance & Controller
SkyCity Entertainment
Michelle Caldwell
Financial Controller
Bapcor NZ
Tracy Gers
Group Financial Controller
Auckland Council
Jo Sawden
Head of Finance and Controls
Metlifecare
12:20 pm
Presentation
AI in Finance: Redefining Finance, FP&A, and Strategic Decision-Making
12:40 pm
Lunch & Networking
1:20 pm
Interactive Workshops
Interactive Workshops
From discovery to control: A zero trust approach to securing agentic AI
Cyber resilience in the AI era: When threat velocity outpaces change capacity
Shadow AI is the new Shadow IT, discover how unified identity security fabric secures the AI era
From Detection to Recovery in the Age of AI and Nation-State Threats
From Breach to Business Survival: Uplifting visibility and unifying response in the chaos
Autonomous threats and adaptive security: Embedding definsible networks without stifling enterprise innovation
2:00 pm
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Evolving Role of FP&A: From Historical to Forward-Looking Insights
Aligning increasing business expectations with current FP&A capabilities: How is the role shifting and changing?
Improving forecasting agility in a highly disruptive and rapidly-changing landscape
Identifying new ways of adding more value through scenario planning from 2027 onwards
Using actionable data to enable smarter, faster and more accurate decision‑making:
Emmett Geoghegan
Head of Finance Transformation and Systems
Westpac
Chris Minto
Head of Finance
AA Insurance
Katrina Florence
Head of Finance
Port of Auckland
Chun Leung
Head of Finance, Planning, Pefromance and Governance
Goodman Fielder
2:40 pm
Presentation
Beyond Borders, Beyond Control: Navigating AI Driven fraud and global payment risk
3:00 pm
Afternoon Tea & Networking
3:20 pm
Keynote
Closing Keynote
A Snapshot Into the Future of New Zealand’s Economy in a Local and International Market
Jarrod Kerr
Chief Economist
Kiwibank.
