CIO Summit stacked with drawcards for 2017

Media release
16 March 2017

CIO Summit stacked with drawcards for 2017

Conferenz & IDC have released the full agenda for the upcoming CIO Summit and Awards 2017 event. As the foremost gathering of CIOs and Senior IT executives in New Zealand, the CIO Summit and Awards taking place in Auckland on June 14-15 has attracted a compelling lineup of international and local speakers to share their perspectives on the rapidly evolving intersection of business, technology and society.

This year’s event focuses on the changing role of the CIO as companies strive to innovate and adapt in the digital environment.

Jointly organised by Conferenz and IDC New Zealand, the CIO Summit attracts over 800 senior technology executives to connect, collaborate and be inspired, and is the ‘must attend’ event on the calendar for good reason. In addition to the keynote speakers, the fixture provides unmatched opportunities for networking in formal and informal settings including multiple roundtable discussions, masterclasses and an exposition of top vendors and solution providers.

Headlining the event are keynote speakers Frank Gens, Senior Vice President & Chief Analyst at market analyst firm IDC; Dr Jonathan Reichental, CIO of the City of Palo Alto; and Leo Minervini, CIO and VP at Carlo's Bakery (of The Cake Boss fame). Other speakers include Michael Cooper, CTO at BT Radianz and Kea Word Class New Zealander; and Government CTO Tim Occleshaw.

The ‘unconference’ is a new concept being introduced at this year’s Summit. The ‘Industry Unconference’ sessions are attendee-driven meetings where participants decide on the agenda and discussion topics for the session. These sessions are limited to 20 participants per unconference, with a broad theme and a neutral facilitator, intended to drive conversations that are specific to particular industries.

The culmination of the event is the Gala Dinner at which the CIO Awards are announced in six categories. The coveted CIO of the Year Award, most recently won by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s Winston Fong, is the top prize; other categories are Emerging ICT Leader of the Year, Business Transformation through Digital and IT, Engaging Youth in ICT and Best ICT Team Culture. The judges will also announce the recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Technology and Business in New Zealand Award.

IDC Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Ullrich Loeffler explains why the CIO’s role is changing: “Technology is a transversal discipline in business today. No matter the vertical industry or sector of the economy, IT touches it and increasingly defines the winners. That means the CIO is more relevant and has to be more engaged with the business than ever before.”

He adds that the CIO Summit, with its high calibre keynote speakers and the attendance of top IT talent from across the country, is an ideal platform for engaging with and learning from peers.

Alongside the CIO Summit, the New Zealand CIO Awards Gala Dinner is a unique opportunity to recognise and celebrate the leadership, innovation and contributions of New Zealand’s IT leaders and teams.

Nominations for the Awards are open until 24 March with entries and submissions closing on 3 April; Conferenz Managing Director Steve Scott urges New Zealand businesses to consider their ICT successes, emerging leaders and innovative products and enter for one or more of the award categories. “These awards are coveted for good reason; they are widely recognised as a notable professional achievement for the winning individuals or teams. New Zealand has proven itself globally as a hotbed of innovation and ICT achievement, and the CIO Awards are an opportunity for acclaim for you or your business.”

The CIO Summit takes place on 14 and 15 June at SkyCity in Auckland.

REGISTRATION DETAILS:

www.ciosummit.co.nz

+64 9 912 3616

register@conferenz.co.nz

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