associationX 2027 (ax27)

associationX

Discover better ways to run your association.
35+ exhibitors. Practical learning. Real conversations. All in one place.

Tuesday 23 February 2027 | Tākina, Wellington

Your CRM. Your website. AI. Automation. Member engagement. Events. Data. Systems.

associationX is a full day for association professionals to explore what is changing, see what is available and have proper conversations about what could work for their organisation.

This isn't a traditional conference where you sit in a room all day.

It isn't a trade show where you wander past rows of stands collecting brochures.

It's both — deliberately brought together.

Short, focused learning happens right in the heart of the exhibition, surrounded by more than 35 exhibitors bringing technology, services, ideas and solutions specifically relevant to associations.

Your day. Your choice. Free to attend.

Stay for the whole day, drop in for a session that interests you, spend a couple of hours exploring the exhibitors, or join us over lunch and catch up with colleagues.

associationX is free to attend for association executives and people employed in not-for-profit organisations. There’s no need to commit to a full day — come along for the conversations, ideas and connections that matter to you.

See it. Hear about it.

Ask the questions.

Every hour, associationX puts a new issue on the table.

Spend 15 minutes hearing the key thinking on the Main Stage.

Then go deeper.

Put on your headphones and continue the conversation in the Deep Dive area, ask questions, see demonstrations and talk about what it could mean for your association.

Or head out into the exhibition and find the people and solutions that can help.

Then we do it again.

No 45-minute presentations. No sitting in the same chair all day.

Just short bursts of learning, exploration and conversation.

35+ exhibitors. One room. A lot to explore.

You could spend months researching systems, suppliers and new ideas for your association.

Or you could meet more than 35 of them in one day.

Talk directly with organisations working across technology, membership, events, communications, digital, destinations, venues and the wider association sector.

Compare approaches. Ask questions. See what others are doing. Find out what could make a difference back at work.

You don't need to be buying anything. You just need to be curious about what could be better.

What could your association be doing better?

Maybe your CRM is frustrating everybody.

Perhaps your website needs a rethink.

You know AI is going to matter, but you're still working out where.

Your team is doing too much manually.

Your systems don't talk to each other.

Or maybe nothing is particularly broken — you simply don't want your association standing still while everything around it changes.

Bring that challenge to associationX.

Hear what others are doing. See what's available. Talk it through with people who understand the association environment.

The aim isn't to leave wanting every shiny new tool in the room.

It's to leave knowing what deserves another look — and what doesn't.

Our Speakers are leaders of their respective industries bringing expertise to get the most out of your association.

Start with an idea. Take it further.

Hear a focused 15-minute talk in the main presentation area, then follow the speaker to the Deep Dive area for 30 minutes or more of conversation. Ask questions, bring your own challenges and explore what the ideas could mean for your association.

Join the sessions that interest you, with time between talks to explore the exhibition and connect with others.

Nic Blakeley Chief Executive of MBIE session will run for 30 minutes in the main presentation area.

9:30 - associationX opens

10:00 - From Member Management to Member Engagement

From Member Management to Member Engagement
Lisa Metcalfe | Gecco

Your association management system (AMS) should do more than store data and manage administration. It should help you build stronger relationships with your members.

Lisa explores how the right technology can improve member experiences, reduce administration and free your team to focus on the relationships that matter. She’ll also challenge how associations choose technology: stop prescribing the solution and start with the problem.

10: 20 Continue the conversation in the deep dive area

Bring a member engagement challenge, a frustrating process or a question about your current system. Join Lisa to explore how starting with your challenges, goals and member needs can lead to better technology decisions and better outcomes for your members.

10:20 - AM Tea available | Exhibition time | Speaker deep dive: Member engagement and AMS challenges

11:00 - Nic Blakeley, Chief Executive of MBIE

Nic Blakeley's MBIE session will run for 30 minutes in the main presentation area.

11:30 - Exhibition time | Connect with MBIE starts

12:00 - One Star Googles Reviews and Other Complaints – How to stop them from destroying your or your members’ business.

One-Star Google Reviews and Other Complaints: Protecting Your Reputation

Trevor Slater Mast. Conf. Res | Manager Dispute Resolution Services

A one-star review or a poorly handled complaint can quickly damage trust in your organisation or your members’ businesses. But responding well can turn a difficult situation into an opportunity.

This session explores how to assess the risk, respond constructively and minimise escalation and reputational damage. Learn where to turn for help and how to use feedback to improve your business and strengthen customer relationships.

12:20 | Lunch available | Exhibition time | Speaker deep dive: Complaints

1:00 - Speaker — to be confirmed

Lunch continues until 1:30 | Exhibition time | Speaker deep dive:

2:00 - Speaker and Topic — to be confirmed

3:20 - Exhibition time | Speaker deep dive:

3:30 - Networking | Exhibition time

4:30 - associationX closes for the day

Connect with the people behind New Zealand’s associations.

Exhibiting at associationX puts you face to face with association chief executives, event organisers and membership professionals looking for ideas, services and practical solutions.

With 35+ exhibitors, the exhibition is at the heart of the day — a place to demonstrate what you offer, have meaningful conversations and build relationships with the people making decisions for their organisations.

Interested in exhibiting?

Expo booths are available by application. To discuss availability and apply for a booth, please contact Brett Jeffery at brett@nzsae.org.nz or phone 027 249 8677.

1 Team

Auck Convent Venues & Events

Azeus Convene

Bonnici Ltd

Business Events Wellington

ChristchurchNZ Business Events

Claudelands

Conference Innovators

Congress Rental New Zealand

Entegy

Exhibition Hire Services

ForumPoint2 Conference Partners

Gecco Software Ltd

Grand Chancellor Hotels NZ

Greg Ward MC

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

Intense Productions

Intuto Ltd

Livewire AV // Vidcom

Lower Hutt Events Centre

Membes AMS

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels

Naumi Hotels Wellington Pty Ltd

Our Cat Herder Board Portal

Parliamentary - Huihui Venues

RotoruaNZ

Simply Resolution

SnapInsight / Ceade

Sojourn Hotels

Sudima Hotels

Suncourt

Takina Events

Te Pae CHCH Convention Centre

Tourism Bay of Plenty

Venues Ōtautahi

Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre

Wave CRM

Meet one-to-one with MBIE at associationX

As part of associationX 2027, association CEOs and senior advocacy leaders will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with MBIE’s Deputy Secretaries and key staff.

Save the date: Tuesday 23 February 2027, 11.00 am–1.00 pm at Tākina, Wellington.

These meetings will provide a practical opportunity to build relationships, discuss sector priorities and connect with the right people within MBIE. Participating associations will be able to request multiple meetings, matched to their sector’s needs.

For now, we are inviting expressions of interest. You do not need to provide details of the issues you would like to discuss at this stage. We will contact interested associations in early November with portfolio information and the next steps, including an opportunity to outline your priorities.

Places will be limited, with meeting schedules confirmed closer to the event.

Interested in meeting with MBIE? Register your interest below and save the date.

This opportunity is exclusively available to NZSAE members. If you are not yet a member, now is a great time to join and access opportunities like this to strengthen your association’s connections and support your work on behalf of members.

Interested in joining? Contact Brett at brett@nzsae.org.nz.

Tuesday 23 February 2027
Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre

Doors open 9.30am | First learning session 10.00am

One day could save you months of looking.