James Laughlin has spent his career in the company of champions and not just in the pipe band world, where he’s a seven-time world champion drummer or his award-winning podcast. As a high-performance coach, he’s worked with elite athletes, CEOs, founders, world-class musicians, and leaders at the very top of their game. These are people […]
Greg Montgomery, Principal Consultant at ClearPoint, delivered a keynote aimed at helping business leaders navigate the rapid changes AI is bringing, not through abstract forecasts, but through practical examples and actionable strategies. His message was clear: AI is not something to fear or admire from a distance, it’s something to use, test, and integrate into […]
Ryan Johnson-Hunt explored how finance is undergoing a structural transformation driven by technologies like blockchain, tokenisation, and artificial intelligence. Rather than focusing on digital currencies or retail speculation, his session focused on how programmable infrastructure is being used to streamline core financial processes such as settlement, compliance, and customer engagement. These technologies are not just […]
Dr Peter Catt, Chair and Director of Virtual Blue, presented a practical framework for how organisations can respond to uncertainty through applied AI and predictive modelling. Rather than focusing on hype or emerging technologies still in development, his session centred on tools that businesses can use now to reduce risk and improve planning. He opened […]
Simon Jordon, cybersecurity consultant at Resilient IT, gave the audience a mild panic attack with his talk on how AI is accelerating both the sophistication and scale of cyber threats. He described a shift in the threat landscape, where generative tools are no longer theoretical risks but active enablers of fraud, phishing, and impersonation. What […]
Raffaella del Prete tackled a crucial, often overlooked question in the race to adopt AI: what are the operational risks, and how can they be managed without slowing innovation? Her keynote explored the realities of AI implementation, where the speed of experimentation often outpaces governance. She pointed out that innovation only works when organisations are […]
Bindi Norwell, Group Chief Executive of ProCare, shared the real-world experience of bringing AI into one of New Zealand’s largest primary healthcare networks. Rather than starting with technology, her team began with people. “We created a leadership playbook. That’s how we started.” For Norwell, the core challenge was not about access to innovation but building […]
Dermot Butterfield, CEO and Founder of Wych, delivered a focused and timely presentation on how artificial intelligence is intersecting with regulation, privacy, and the ownership of personal data. His talk emphasised that the rise of generative AI is not just a technological shift, but a regulatory and ethical one, particularly as new laws around consent […]
In a wide-ranging fireside discussion, Mark Bregman explored the growing tension between the accelerating pace of technological change and the organisational structures that struggle to adapt to it. Drawing on decades of executive leadership at companies like IBM, Symantec, and Veritas, Bregman brought a systems-level view of innovation, offering insight into how business leaders can […]
As Chair and Director at Virtual Blue, Dr. Peter Catt is not just talking about the future, he’s building it. With a doctorate in applied computing, a private pilot’s licence, and a curiosity that spans everything from machine learning to cosmology, he blends deep domain technical knowledge with big-picture vision. We talk to Peter about […]
When Igor Matich arrived in New Zealand as a 14-year-old immigrant from war-torn Croatia, he didn’t speak English, didn’t know anyone, and had no idea what the future held. But what he did have was perspective, an understanding of risk, resilience, and what really matters. It’s that same clarity that’s guided him from navigating a […]
Chris Matthews wears: Emil Navy Long Sleeve Knitted Polo $299 (KPMI004) Dougie Chocolate Chino $199 (PCW005) From Working Style AI mania has swept its way through every sector and has quickly become one of the defining technologies of the 21st century, already apparently reshaping industries and redefining how businesses operate globally. Amidst all the buzz, […]
As Chief Technology & Information Officer at 2degrees, Stephen Kurzeja is helping shape the digital infrastructure that underpins how New Zealand connects. With AI rapidly moving from hype to implementation, Kurzeja sees more than just a technical shift, he sees an inflection point. One that has the potential to reshape not only how 2degrees operates, […]
Tim Boyne didn’t grow up dreaming of IPOs and founder exits. He wasn’t raised in a house where startup valuations were casual conversation. Instead, he grew up in Tauranga, raised by a solo mother who, he would later realise, was performing daily acts of heroism just to keep the family afloat. There were no lectures […]
Nikhil Ramrakhiani, the Chief Technology Officer at PieFunds, gave us an update on just how quickly the world of AI is moving. “AI is at the forefront of change,” Ramrakhiani began. “It’s rapidly transforming technology and innovation, impacting both our personal lives and complex business operations.” The past 18 months have seen a dramatic acceleration […]
Mining veteran Bill Haylock delivered a keynote that delved into the intertwined connection between AI and the mining industry. “AI is science, right? It’s part of the science gig,” Haylock began, drawing parallels between past scientific breakthroughs and today’s AI innovations. He emphasised that while AI is pushing many industries forward, it all relies on […]
Leighton Roberts, the co-founder and co-CEO of Sharesies, took the stage at the M2 AI Summit with a mix of humility and humour, a style befitting a man whose mission is to democratise financial opportunities for everyone. His journey, from cleaning a butchery to playing the trumpet in the New Zealand Army Band, to his […]
The legal uncertainties surrounding artificial intelligence are vast and complex, so to help work through this we brought in Hudson Gavin Martin partner, Andrew Dentice to help us get a handle on the evolving legal landscape of AI. “We’re a tech law firm first and foremost,” Dentice began, highlighting the subtle yet profound integration of […]
Anna Mowbray, co-founder of Zuru and current CEO and founder of the job marketplace startup ZEIL has gone from being at the top of a sector to a startup. When asked why she didn’t choose to relax on a beach after her success with Zuru, she quipped, “I’m not good with holidays. I have like […]
AI expert, Tim Warren, focused his keynote on the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the future of work. With over 25 years of experience in strategy, executive management, and technology, Warren’s insights addressed both the opportunities and challenges that AI presents. Warren began with a light-hearted take on his own […]
Dr. Alia Bojilova, a renowned performance coach for SAS soldiers and Olympic athletes, shared her unique perspective on the essential interplay between AI and human elements. Her experience includes a harrowing episode as a UN negotiator in Syria, where she successfully negotiated her team’s release after being taken hostage. Bojilova’s keynote was not just about […]
Bede Cammock-Elliott, founder of seeo.ai and seedigital Limited, used his keynote to showcase how AI is revolutionising risk management, real-time monitoring, and training in various sectors. Cammock-Elliott, whose company protects $5.5 billion worth of assets across New Zealand, emphasised AI’s role in predictive analytics. “AI’s ability to analyse vast amounts of data allows us to […]
David McDonald, co-founder and CEO of Being AI, took the stage at the M2 AI Summit, with a clear message: AI is not just another tool; it’s the linchpin of the next industrial revolution. “Three years of AI madness and what it means to business,” McDonald began, “At the rate things are changing, three years […]
Paul Roseman, the General Manager of Strategic Development at ProCare, took the stage to share his three-decade-long journey of driving innovation within the healthcare sector. In a fireside chat, Paul shed light on how AI and machine learning are not just buzzwords but essential tools that are reshaping healthcare productivity. Paul began by acknowledging the […]
Mantel Group’s Adam Durbin and Natalie Rouse tackled the intricate relationship between AI and cybersecurity, blending reality checks with strategic insights. Durbin, the CTO of Mantel Group, kicked off the keynote with a call to action. “We’re here to educate you on AI, but more importantly, on AI security,” he announced. Durbin didn’t sugarcoat the […]
Jovan Pavlicevic, co-founder of SquareOne and Emerge, began his keynote by drawing a parallel between the current technological revolution and historic innovations. “Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I shall move the Earth,” he quoted Archimedes, setting the stage for a discussion on the immense potential of AI. He […]
At the M2 AI Summit, Asa Cox, the founder and CEO of Arcanum, delivered a keynote that cut through the hype and laid out a pragmatic roadmap for business leaders eager to harness the power of AI. Arcanum, a leader in AI integration, is one of only 20 companies globally to have secured a Strategic […]
