Associations Matter 2026 begins with an honest and future-focused conversation about the state of our sector. 

Through live data, sector insight and the voices of three association CEOs, this opening will set the scene for the two days ahead — challenging us to look beyond business as usual and consider what associations must do now to remain relevant, resilient and valued beyond 2030.

Gen Z is asking big questions about work, purpose, loyalty and belonging. In this keynote, Jehan Casinader will challenge the stereotypes and explore how association leaders can better attract, understand and retain younger staff.

Through powerful storytelling and practical insight, Jehan will help delegates think differently about communication, workplace culture and the future of talent.

About Jehan
Jehan Casinader is an award-winning journalist, keynote speaker and mental health advocate. One of New Zealand’s most-booked speakers and MCs, he is a respected voice in wellbeing, leadership and workplace culture.

In a environment, leading a member voice has never been more complex — or more important. In this short provocation presentation, Katherine Rich of BusinessNZ will challenge association leaders to think about how they represent diverse member views, maintain credibility, and influence decision-making when public debate is increasingly polarised. This session will set up an honest conversation about advocacy, trust, courage, and the responsibility associations carry when speaking on behalf of their sectors.

About Katherine
She is currently Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s peak business advocacy organisation. Her background is particularly relevant because she has worked across both sides of the table — as a former Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2008, and as a long-serving association leader, including as Chief Executive of the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council from 2009 to 2022.

Stream A

Governance That Actually Works: Turning Strategy, Performance and People Into Boardroom Action

John McKeefry is Director Business Development at Govn365.

Good governance is not about adding more papers, more process, or longer board meetings. At its best, governance helps an organisation stay focused on the right priorities, make better decisions, and keep strategy, performance and people firmly connected. In this practical session, John McKeefry will explore what effective governance looks like in a modern association environment — where boards and chief executives need clarity, trust, good information and a shared understanding of their respective roles. The session will look at how governance can move beyond compliance and become a real driver of organisational performance, leadership and long-term sustainability.

About John

John McKeefry is Director Business Development at Govn365. He brings a strong background in business development, sales, and people and culture, including senior HR leadership experience across the public, health and finance sectors. Prior to joining Govn365, John worked with AskYourTeam, supporting organisations to better understand and unlock the potential of their people. John is a strong advocate for good governance, with a particular interest in the important connection between strategy, performance, people and culture. His experience gives him a practical understanding of how boards and leadership teams can work more effectively together to support stronger organisational outcomes.

Stream B

Beyond the Brochure Website: Building Association Websites That Work With Your AMS

George Bonnici-Carter is the Founder and Technical Lead of Bonnici

For many associations, the website is still treated as a shopfront — a place for information, events and member updates. But a modern association website should do far more than look good. It should work with your AMS, support member journeys, reduce manual administration, improve data flow, and make it easier for members to engage with the organisation. In this practical session, George Bonnici-Carter will explore how associations can move beyond the traditional brochure website and start thinking about their website as a connected digital platform that supports membership, events, communications and long-term organisational growth.

About George

George Bonnici-Carter is the Founder and Technical Lead of Bonnici, a New Zealand-based web development company that builds digital platforms, websites, apps, portals and APIs designed to grow with an organisation. George has more than 10 years’ enterprise web development experience across government, financial services and the nonprofit sector, with a strong focus on scalable, reliable and well-integrated systems. Bonnici’s approach is built around honest advice, clear communication and code that is built to last — with no offshore handoffs and direct access to the people doing the work

Stream A

How to Write a Submission That Actually Gets Read
Daniel Paul, Managing Director, The PR Company

Submissions are one of the most important tools associations have to influence policy, regulation and public decision-making — but not all submissions land well. In a crowded and politically complex environment, it is not enough to simply state a position. A strong submission needs to be clear, credible, well-structured, evidence-based and written in a way that makes it easy for decision-makers to understand the issue and act on it. In this practical session, Daniel Paul will share how associations can write submissions that cut through, strengthen their advocacy voice, and improve their chances of being heard by government, officials and those shaping public policy.

About Daniel

Daniel Paul FPRINZ is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand and Managing Director of The PR Company. He specialises in advocacy relations, helping NGOs, not-for-profits and membership organisations turn important causes into influence. Daniel works with organisations to build credibility with government, increase their visibility in the media, and develop lasting relationships with the people who shape public policy and public opinion. His work focuses on helping organisations communicate with clarity, authority and purpose — particularly when the stakes are high and the message needs to be heard.

Stream B

Running Better Webinars, Newsletters and Digital Touchpoints
Maire Smith, Learning Design Lead / Kaiārahi Hoahoa Ako, Synapsys NZ

Webinars, newsletters and digital updates are now core parts of how associations connect with members. But too often they are treated as tasks to get out the door, rather than as carefully designed touchpoints that build engagement, learning and value over time.

In this practical session, Maire Smith will explore how associations can make their digital communications more useful, more accessible and more engaging. Drawing on her experience in learning design, Maire will look at how to structure online content, improve member participation, design better learning moments, and create digital touchpoints that help members feel informed, connected and supported.

This session is ideal for anyone involved in member communications, webinars, online learning, newsletters, events, engagement or professional development.

About Maire

Maire Smith is Learning Design Lead / Kaiārahi Hoahoa Ako at Synapsys NZ and a member of the New Zealand Association for Training and Development. She is passionate about designing learning that creates real change and was recognised as the 2025 NZATD L&D Consultant Award Winner.

Maire brings practical experience in learning design, digital learning, accessibility and online engagement. Her work focuses on helping organisations create learning and communication experiences that are clear, useful and accessible, with a strong understanding of how people engage with information in real-world settings.

Stream A

Technology and AI in the Real World

Daniel Watson, Managing Director and Owner, Vertech IT Services

Technology and AI are moving quickly, but for many associations the real challenge is not knowing that change is coming — it is knowing what to do with it. Beyond the headlines, organisations need practical, secure and realistic ways to use technology that support their people, improve productivity, protect data, and strengthen the way they operate. In this session, Daniel Watson will bring a grounded, real-world perspective on technology, AI, cybersecurity and cloud capability, helping association leaders think clearly about what matters, what to prioritise, and how to make smarter technology decisions without getting caught up in the hype.

About Daniel

Daniel Watson is the Managing Director and Owner of Vertech IT Services, a business he has led since 2010. His areas of focus include building a best-in-class managed services and security provider, advising organisations on security and regulatory compliance, and supporting clients with scalable, resilient cloud solutions.

Daniel enjoys working directly with clients to develop creative IT strategies that make a practical difference to their organisation. He is also instrumental in shaping Vertech’s growth strategy and supporting his team to deliver strong, reliable and future-focused solutions for clients.

Outside of work, Daniel is married with two teenage children and is actively involved in the community. He volunteers as a Watch Assistant with the Spirit of Adventure Trust, is a leader in his local Sea Scouts Troop, and has served as a Sergeant with the Royal New Zealand Engineers Army Reserve

Stream B

Staying Relevant to Grow: How Engaging the Next Generation Fuels Membership Success

How do you turn early‑career engagement into sustained membership growth? At INFINZ, the answer has been a deliberate focus on younger professionals - designing tailored communities, relevant learning opportunities, and meaningful connections that evolve with members across their careers.

By aligning purpose, programme design, and partnerships, INFINZ has created a strong pipeline of engaged members - from students through to senior leaders - ultimately tripling its membership and strengthening the wider finance ecosystem.  

This session shares the practical strategies behind that growth and what other associations can apply in their own context.

About Bernice

Bernice Archer is Chief Operating Officer at the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand (INFINZ), where she leads strategy, operations, and member engagement for one of the country’s most respected finance industry bodies. She has a strong focus on organisational direction, purpose, and ensuring programmes and partnerships deliver meaningful impact to members and the wider industry.  

Before joining INFINZ, Bernice held roles including Strategic Programmes Manager at Fairfax Media and Key Relationships Manager at the Telecommunications Users Association, following earlier experience managing large-scale exhibitions with dmg world media in Australia. Across her career, she has built deep expertise in programme design, partnerships, and delivering high-impact industry initiatives aligned to clear strategic outcomes.

One of the hardest parts of association leadership is managing the many different voices around the table. Members may share a common sector, but they do not always share the same priorities, pressures, politics or commercial realities. In a strong association, those differences need to be heard, understood and managed — without losing sight of the bigger picture.

In this practical and honest session, Sirma Karapeeva will explore what it takes to lead in a complex membership environment, where advocacy, influence and sector credibility depend on bringing diverse views together and turning them into a clear, constructive voice. Drawing on her experience as Chief Executive of the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand, and her background in trade, policy and regulation, Sirma will share insights into stakeholder management, member alignment, government engagement, and leading through competing interests.

About Sirma

Sirma Karapeeva is a highly experienced association leader, director and trade policy specialist. She was Chief Executive Officer of the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand from 2020 to 2026, following five years as the Association’s Trade and Economic Manager.

Sirma has deep experience working across complex policy, regulatory and advocacy environments. Before joining the Meat Industry Association, she held senior policy roles with the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Economic Development, where she worked on international trade negotiations, regulatory cooperation, technical barriers to trade, market access and standards.

Throughout her career, Sirma has represented New Zealand’s interests in international forums and worked closely with domestic and international stakeholders. She brings strong strategic thinking, policy expertise and practical leadership experience to the challenge of managing different voices, building consensus, and ensuring associations remain credible, focused and effective.

Associations are often at their best when others do not see the work being done. They set standards, build capability, connect sectors, support professional development, represent member interests, inform policy, respond in times of pressure, and help industries and professions move forward. But what would happen if associations were not there?

This panel will explore the real contribution associations make to New Zealand — not just to members, but to business, communities, government, the economy and society more broadly. The discussion will look at the often unseen work of associations, the risks if that work is undervalued, and why the association model still matters in a changing and increasingly fragmented world.

This will be a timely conversation about visibility, relevance, influence and impact — and a reminder that associations do not just serve sectors; they help hold sectors together.

In a world of AI, noise, declining trust and increasing disconnection, the most valuable thing any leader or organisation can build is a clear and trusted human identity. For associations, this matters more than ever. Members are looking for organisations that are relevant, visible, credible and genuinely connected to the people they serve.

In this keynote, Scott Wright will challenge association leaders to think differently about trust, value and human connection. Drawing on his work around HI — Human Identity — Scott will explore how leaders, teams and organisations can stand out in a crowded environment, build stronger relationships, and create greater impact by being more deliberate about who they are, how they show up, and the value they bring. This is a timely and energising session about the human advantage in an increasingly automated world.

About Scott

Scott Wright, known as “The HI Guy”, is a Human Identity Strategist and Founder of The HI Co. Through keynote speaking, workshops and consulting, Scott helps individuals, teams, brands and organisations define, curate and bring to life their HI — Human Identity. His work focuses on helping people and organisations become more trusted, more valuable and more human in a world shaped by AI, declining trust and increasing disconnection.

Scott’s approach combines energy, clarity and practical challenge. He encourages leaders to be braver, bolder and more deliberate about how they show up, connect and create impact. His message is especially relevant for associations, where trust, relationships, credibility and human connection sit at the heart of long-term relevance and influence.

Conference Dinner and NZSAE Associations Matter Awards

Join us for the Associations Matter Conference Dinner and the inaugural NZSAE Associations Matter Awards — an evening of connection, celebration and recognition across the association sector.

The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with cocktails, drinks and networking in the exhibition hall, giving delegates, exhibitors, partners and sponsors time to connect in a relaxed setting before dinner. The reception will include live cooking stations and substantial entrée-style food, creating a warm and social start to the evening.

At 7:15 pm, guests will move through to the Conference and Awards Dinner. Styled with a refined 1950s aesthetic, the dinner will bring a classic and elegant atmosphere to the night, while still keeping the focus where it belongs — on people, achievement and community.

A key part of the evening will be the presentation of the NZSAE Associations Matter Awards, recognising excellence and leadership across four categories:

Association Leader of the Year
Emerging Leader Award
Excellence in Member Engagement
Association Impact Award

Each award will acknowledge the people and organisations making a meaningful contribution to the association sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. Winners will be recognised on stage, with a short conversation highlighting their work, impact and lessons for the wider sector.

NZSAE gratefully acknowledges the support of our Awards sponsors and conference partners, whose contribution helps make this evening possible and supports the celebration of excellence within the association community.

This will be a special night for the sector — a chance to celebrate achievement, strengthen connections, and recognise the people and organisations helping associations matter.

Every association has ambitions. The challenge is knowing what can realistically be delivered with the money, people, systems and time available. Financial sustainability is not just about cutting costs or increasing revenue — it is about making clear choices, understanding trade-offs, and aligning activity with what the organisation can genuinely afford to sustain.

In this practical couch conversation, Angela Hunter will share perspectives on the financial and operational realities facing associations. The discussion will explore how associations can balance member expectations, service delivery, events, advocacy, projects, reserves, staffing and long-term investment — while still keeping the organisation financially sound. This will be an honest conversation about priorities, discipline and the decisions associations need to make when there is never enough capacity to do everything.

About Angela

Angela Hunter is Chief Operating Officer of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects. In her role, Angela is involved in the operational, financial and organisational management needed to support a national professional association and its members.

Angela brings a practical understanding of the pressures associations face when balancing member value, financial sustainability, staffing, systems and strategic priorities. Her perspective is grounded in the day-to-day realities of running an association well — making careful decisions, managing resources, and ensuring the organisation can continue to deliver value in a sustainable and responsible way.

Stream A

Leading a Small Association: 1–3 FTE
Facilitated CEO conversation

Leading a small association often means being close to everything — members, finances, events, governance, communications, advocacy and delivery. With limited staff and resources, small association leaders are constantly making decisions about what matters most, what can wait, and what simply cannot be done.

This stream is designed for leaders of smaller associations who want an honest and practical conversation with peers facing similar realities. The discussion will explore workload, priorities, board expectations, member service, financial pressure, systems, outsourcing, and the challenge of staying strategic when so much of the role is hands-on.

Stream B 

Leading a Larger Association: 4+ FTE
Facilitated CEO conversation

Larger associations may have more staff and infrastructure, but they also face greater complexity. Leading at this scale brings challenges around team leadership, internal communication, organisational structure, culture, governance, stakeholder management, financial sustainability and keeping the organisation aligned behind a clear strategy.

This stream is designed for leaders of larger associations who want to explore the realities of leading through others while still staying connected to members, boards and sector priorities. The conversation will focus on delegation, leadership capacity, performance, systems, decision-making, role clarity and the challenge of maintaining momentum across a growing organisation.

About the streams

Whether you lead a small association or a larger organisation, the role is demanding, complex and often lonely. These two streams recognise that association leadership is not one-size-fits-all. The pressure points are different depending on the size, structure and maturity of the organisation.

Both sessions will be practical, open and peer-led, giving delegates the opportunity to share what is working, talk honestly about what is difficult, and take away ideas from others who understand the realities of leading an association.

Stream C 

Building Influence Without the Title: How Influence Really Works in Associations

In associations, influence rarely comes from job titles alone. Progress depends on people who can build trust, communicate clearly, manage competing interests, and create momentum across boards, members, staff, volunteers, partners and government.

This session explores how influence works in real association environments — especially when authority is shared and relationships matter. Through three short perspectives and a facilitated panel conversation, speakers will share practical lessons on building credibility, managing stakeholders, influencing decisions and getting things done.

The session will look at three forms of influence:

Operational influence
How credibility, communication and consistent delivery help move work forward across teams, members, boards, sponsors and volunteers.

People influence
How trust, judgement and clear communication shape outcomes during difficult conversations, change, conflict and organisational pressure.

External influence
How associations build influence with government, industry and stakeholders through credibility, relationships and long-term engagement.

Designed for managers, advisors, coordinators, operational leaders, communications and engagement professionals, and anyone helping move an association forward from the middle of the organisation.

Back by popular demand, The Situation Room returns for Associations Matter 2026.

Delegates will be placed at the centre of a realistic association scenario and asked to work through the issue as it unfolds. There will be incomplete information, competing priorities, difficult judgement calls, and a few surprise elements along the way.

This is not a presentation. It is a practical, interactive session designed to test how association leaders think under pressure, work with others, assess risk, make decisions, and communicate when the facts are still emerging.

The scenario will be based on a real-world association challenge — the kind of issue that could affect governance, finance, operations, members, reputation or leadership. Working together, delegates will need to decide what matters most, what questions to ask, who needs to be involved, and what action should be taken.

Following the scenario, the session will move into a short expert debrief, drawing out the key lessons, warning signs and practical takeaways for association leaders and boards.

Expect discussion, pressure, curveballs and plenty of practical learning.

Stream A

Partnership, Sponsorship and Non-Dues Revenue: Part 1
Building the Right Commercial Foundations
Kayne Franich, Membership Services Manager, Property Council New Zealand

Non-dues revenue is an important part of financial sustainability for many associations, but strong commercial income does not happen by accident. It requires a clear understanding of the organisation’s value, the audience it can connect partners with, and the difference between selling sponsorship space and building meaningful partnerships.

In Part 1 of this practical stream, Kayne Franich will explore the foundations of partnership, sponsorship and non-dues revenue. The session will look at how associations can identify commercial opportunities, understand what partners are really looking for, and structure offerings that create value for the association, the partner and the membership.

This session is designed for association leaders and staff who want to think more deliberately about commercial revenue, without losing sight of member trust, organisational purpose and long-term relationships.

Stream B

Three Sectors. One Reality. Not Everyone Likes Change — Especially When They Didn’t Suggest It
Mumtaz Parker, Head of Corporate Services, Water New Zealand

Change is now a constant for associations and the sectors they serve. Whether the pressure comes from government reform, workforce shortages, regulation, technology, funding, member expectations or public trust, leaders are being asked to guide people through uncertainty while still delivering value and momentum.

In this session, Mumtaz Parker will explore the human side of change — why people resist it, what happens when change is done to people rather than with them, and how leaders can build the trust, capacity and resilience needed to move forward. Drawing on her experience across education, health and the water sector, Mumtaz will share practical lessons on leading through complexity, supporting people through transition, and keeping organisations focused when the ground keeps shifting.

About Mumtaz

Mumtaz Parker is Head of Corporate Services at Water New Zealand, where she provides strategic, operational and leadership oversight across corporate services and membership functions. She brings more than 20 years’ senior leadership experience across education, health and the water sector, with a strong focus on people, operations, change and organisational impact.

Mumtaz holds a Master’s in Professional Practice – Leadership and is a Chartered Manager. She is also the author of Betting on a Hijabi, a personal story of leadership, resilience, identity and visibility in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her leadership approach is grounded in empathy, courage and clarity, with a particular interest in helping people and organisations navigate change in a way that builds trust rather than erodes it.

Stream A

Partnership, Sponsorship and Non-Dues Revenue: Part 2
Turning Commercial Ideas Into Action
Kayne Franich, Membership Services Manager, Property Council New Zealand

Part 2 will build on the first session and focus on practical application. Delegates will explore how to turn partnership and sponsorship ideas into clear offers, stronger conversations and realistic revenue opportunities.

This session will look at what makes an offer compelling, how to price and package opportunities, how to approach potential partners, and how to manage the relationship once an agreement is in place. It will also consider the common mistakes associations make when trying to grow non-dues revenue — including undervaluing their audience, overcomplicating packages, or treating partnerships as one-off transactions.

Together, the two sessions will give delegates a practical framework for building more sustainable commercial income while protecting the credibility and purpose of the association.

Stream B

Volunteering, Capacity and the Hidden Price of Over-Commitment
Henry Cassin, Engineering New Zealand

Volunteers are at the heart of many associations, but goodwill alone is not a sustainable operating model. As expectations grow and capacity tightens, associations need to be honest about what they ask of volunteers, what support is needed, and what happens when committed people are stretched too far.

In this practical session, Henry Cassin will explore the realities of volunteer engagement, capacity and over-commitment in an association environment. The session will look at how organisations can better support volunteer networks, set clearer expectations, avoid burnout, and create structures that make volunteering more effective, rewarding and sustainable.

This is a timely conversation for any association relying on committees, branches, working groups, technical groups, regional networks or member volunteers to help deliver value.

About Henry

Henry Cassin is Engagement Manager, Technical Groups at Engineering New Zealand. In this role, he works across a national network of specialist groups, supporting engagement, connection and activity within a complex member and volunteer environment.

Henry brings practical experience in working with volunteers, technical communities and member-led networks. His perspective is grounded in the realities of helping volunteers contribute meaningfully while managing capacity, expectations and the pressure that often sits behind association delivery.

Cam Calkoen brings a powerful and uplifting message about possibility, belief and the choice to back ourselves. Born with cerebral palsy, Cam was told that walking and talking would be his greatest challenges. Instead, he chose to push beyond the expectations placed on him — becoming an athletic gold medallist, international speaker, social entrepreneur and advocate for dreaming big and achieving more.

In this keynote, Cam will challenge delegates to think differently about limits, opportunity and what it means to lead with confidence. His message is not just about overcoming adversity; it is about embracing what makes each of us unique, choosing courage over hesitation, and creating the conditions for ourselves and others to exceed expectations.

For association leaders, this is a timely reminder that our work is ultimately about people — their potential, their confidence, their contribution and their ability to achieve more than they may first believe possible.

About Cam

Cam Calkoen is an award-winning Certified Professional Speaker, inspirational speaker, social entrepreneur, charitable fundraiser and athletic gold medallist. Born with cerebral palsy, Cam chose not to be defined by the expectations others placed on him. Instead, he embraced his own version of “awesome” and built a life and career around helping others do the same.

Cam’s message has reached audiences around the world, inspiring people to dream bigger, embrace opportunity and exceed expectations. His work is grounded in lived experience, humour, courage and a genuine belief that people are capable of more than they often realise.

Through his keynote presentations, Cam encourages audiences to challenge assumptions, build belief, and take practical steps towards the future they want to create.