Place Visioning: From Grounded Reality to Transformation 

Most place visions fail because they start with aspiration, not reality. In this session, Sydney-based Andrew Hoyne explores how to anchor vision in the physical, commercial and cultural truths of a site, then extend it toward something more ambitious. He will outline a practical approach to place visioning that aligns stakeholders, unlocks value and guides decision making from concept to delivery, showing how grounded thinking is what ultimately enables genuine transformation.

AI as your Superpower - The Exponential Opportunity to do Things Differently 

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Something extraordinary is underway. The exponential force now reshaping every industry is in your hands, not as a distant technology that you should fear, but as a creative co-collaborator. Drawing on a decade working at AI's global frontier, Greg Cross explores how leaders can move from incremental improvement to genuine reinvention: questioning sacred assumptions, amplifying human curiosity, and achieving things previously out of reach. This is not about doing things faster. It is about doing things differently.

NZICC: The Full Story, from Design to Delivery

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NZICC has been presented to ADNZ at key moments in its journey—during construction and again following the 2019 fire. This session returns to the project now complete and occupied, reflecting on its architectural intent, key design features, and the complex technical and regulatory challenges of the post‑fire rebuild. Presented within the convention centre itself, the talk offers insight into resilience, collaboration, and delivery under extraordinary conditions.

NZICC: The Full Story, from Design to Delivery ​

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Edwin joins Ilona in the story telling of the New Zealand International Convention Centre. 

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Edwin Ipsen is a registered architect at Warren and Mahoney, with a focus on the delivery of complex, large-scale civic architecture. He played a key role in the New Zealand International Convention Centre, leading the coordination and resolution of the building envelope. Working at the critical intersection of design intent and technical delivery, Edwin specialises in translating architectural ambition into precise, buildable outcomes.

Unbeaten 

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A lifelong adventure enthusiast, Nathan is one of New Zealand's most respected figures in adventure racing, captaining the world's most successful team and being appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2023. ​

In this session, he will take you through the key things that enabled his adventure racing team to dominate the world stage for a decade unbeaten, and how the principles can be used by everyone, everyday. 

Hon Simon Watts is the Minister for Building and Construction, Minister of Climate Change, Minister of Local Government, Minister of Revenue and Minister for Auckland. He was elected as the MP for the North Shore in 2022.

Simon studied Accounting and Finance at Waikato University and has worked in investment banking in Asia, Europe, and the United Kingdom.

Simon has also completed a Health Science degree at Auckland University of Technology. He continues to volunteer with St John as an ambulance officer and is a registered Paramedic alongside his duties as a Member of Parliament.

Economic Update 

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Economic conditions are expected to improve gradually in 2026, but the recovery remains slow and uneven. Lower interest rates are providing some relief for households and businesses, although many remain cautious after several tough years – and a false start in 2025. The economy might be seeing some upward trends, but momentum is fragile, with mixed outcomes across different industries and regions. Even as the domestic economy looks to pick up in 2026, global risks and geopolitical uncertainty are full throttle – setting up an improving, but cautious, recovery through the year.

MP for Manurewa

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Arena Williams is of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tūhoe descent. 
She stood for Parliament to make New Zealand a decent, fair place where all can thrive –  that means fighting for families to have warm dry homes, our young people to be in world-class education, our workers to be paid a decent wage, and an environment that we care for as kaitiaki. 
Arena holds the Youth, Building and Construction, and Commerce & Consumer Affairs portfolios for the Labour Party. 

Design Thinking Challenge ​

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Design Thinking is a human centred process used for problem solving and innovation, by organisations that fall outside of traditional design practices. In this session you’ll take part in a Design Thinking challenge , working through the key stages of discover – define – develop – deliver to improve a common human experience you’ll be familiar with. This is an opportunity to apply the design skills used in architecture, to solve other challenges and improve customer experiences. 

CGF - Creating Impact for the Construction Sector  

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The Construction Growth Foundation, supports growth and capability in New Zealand’s construction sector. Representing 17 industry associations, 10,000 employers, and 16,000 learners, CGF drives sector-wide development through strategic partnerships and funding. This session highlights CGF’s initiatives, including governance training, scholarships, and leadership development - offering insight into how CGF fosters collaboration, builds capability, and invests in a sustainable construction workforce for the future. 

Our Whare, Our Fale 

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The Central Pacific Collective is a Pasefika-led organisation focused on enabling thriving, resilient and prosperous Pasefika communities. Our Whare Our Fale is at the heart of that vision where the project is grounded in anoafale– where the true value lies not in the house itself but in the relationships that bind it together - and vā, the sacred relational space between people, place and environment.  
Today’s story is shared by CEO and visionary leader Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira (MNZM) who brings over 30 years’ experience turning policy and advocacy into practical outcomes for Pasefika families; joined by Elyjana Roach and Jason Leung Wai. 

Our Whare, Our Fale ​

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Joining CEO Fa'amatuainu Tino Pereira, architectural designer and urban designer Elyjana Roach - a Porirua local and Harvard scholar, is the lead designer and 'translator' of the Pasefika values into the built form of the village. 

Our Whare Our Fale (OWOF) is a community-led living environment project in Porirua that is envisioned, designed, and built by Pasefika for Pasefika, in partnership with local iwi Ngati Toa Rangtira, and the Ministry of Pacific Peoples representing the government, to deliver up to 300 affordable homes.

Our Whare, Our Fale 
 

Joining the panel of speakers is economist and GM of Community Outcomes - Jason Leung-Wai who draws on two decades in economic and regional development to shape the project's affordability, shared equity and long-term wealth-creation model. Together the trio  show that Our Whare Our Fale is not a western, individualised model, but a genuinely collective, Pasefika-led approach to the transformation of communities where the benefits are held and grown for future generations.

Delivering a City of Dreams

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How do we make our cities the best places possible for our future?
We currently have a government that denigrates design and wishes to control how our future cities and neighbourhoods will be shaped. Is this really what we want? How much say will we have? These are important issues facing all of us. 
Which cities manage growth and future planning well? What can we learn from them? 
Julie Stout will discuss this, particularly in relation to her home city, Tāmaki Makaurau, and suggest possibilities for our future. 

Māori Hi-Tech

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Anthony Hōete is a Professor of Architecture (Māori) and is of Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Ranana descent. Mīmiro refers to a traditional Māori construction technique based on lashing and post-tensioning timber elements, while Rūaumoko (Rū) is the atua of earthquakes. Mīmirū synthesises these ideas as a seismic design paradigm, recontextualising Indigenous structural knowledge within contemporary timber engineering. It demonstrates the capacity of indigenous building systems to meet modern code requirements and suggests new possibilities for resilient, open-span architectures here in Aotearoa.

Design in Focus | Four Stories 

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Forming one of four stories in this design focused session is Nikki McNeil - ADNZ Professional member and Director of CT Architecture. Her story traces a design journey shaped by the people and communities she has had the privilege to work with and learn from. Through these exchanges, she has come to see architecture as an act of listening—one that celebrates shared ideas and reflects the lived experiences, stories, and identities that make each place unique.

Design in Focus | Four Stories 

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Also sharing his story is Tim Wernham from Constructive Architecture.  From licensed builder to designer, Tim's path to architecture has been shaped by craftsmanship, lived building experience, and a deep interest in sustainable and socially responsive architecture.

Design in Focus | Four Stories 

Joining the panel of ADNZ members is Dian Tang of X Studio Architects. After completing her studies, Dian took her talents to Beijing, China, where she joined a multicultural design studio. Over the course of two years, she worked on several extensive commercial projects, where she honed her skills in architectural construction and client communications. Dian joined X Studio Architect in 2018, where she fully expressed her design capabilities and talents across all sorts of architecture qualities. 

Design in Focus | Four Stories 

Forming the fourth story in this session is Mitchell Coll. Mitchell is an award-winning registered architect and Director at Fabric, bringing over two decades of experience across residential, mixed-use and commercial architecture. Having led more than 2,500 projects, he is widely recognised for his industry leadership, board involvement, educational contributions, and numerous design accolades.

A favourite to the ADNZ whānau is our MC, Te Radar, who will be looking after us over two fantastic days at Conference. Taking years of comedy and improv experience and bringing that together with his love for documentary making, Te Radar brings a sense of joy to his keynotes with a delicate dance between irreverence and creating a safe and comfortable space.