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Business events professionals from across New Zealand are meeting in Christchurch the week before New Zealand’s General Election for the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) annual conference and The Bizzies awards.
BEIA chief executive, Lisa Hopkins says this year’s conference on October 27-29 comes at a time when the country is evaluating its priorities, and when the business events sector is gaining profile as a strategic economic and intellectual asset for New Zealand.
“In the lead up to the election on November 7, we will be talking about the vital role business events play in growing a more productive, innovative and internationally connected economy,” she says.
“Not only do we want to attract more events to our country and across our regions, we also want to attract events aligned with national priorities to maximise the value they create for New Zealand.”
Delegates will gain valuable insights into the latest economic forces shaping New Zealand’s business environment and what they mean for the business events sector. High-profile economist Brad Olsen, sponsored by Celebrity Speakers NZ, will update delegates on the current economic landscape and lead interactive discussions tailored for individual business organisations.
Attracting and retaining talent well into the future is another strong focus for the 2026 BEIA Conference. A panel of industry leaders, educators and employers will explore how the sector attracts new talent, develops future leaders, supports workforce re-entry and ensures critical knowledge is retained.
A panel of international market experts will explore emerging international trends, market opportunities and the capabilities required to grow New Zealand’s share of the global business events market. Another panel will look at how to boost regional dispersal, helping more communities share in the economic, social and knowledge benefits generated by business events.
To round off the conference, The Christchurch Experience will reveal how the city has become one of New Zealand’s most compelling examples of vision, resilience and reinvention. Delegates will get a first-hand insight into the remarkable transformation of Ōtautahi Christchurch since 2011, the bold decisions, partnerships and long-term thinking that shaped today’s city, and how Christchurch has leveraged adversity as a catalyst for innovation, investment and growth.
“Sir Ian Taylor will be the final keynote of the conference with his trademark insight, drawing on what delegates have experienced through The Christchurch Experience, taking these learnings and translating them into meaningful ways businesses can learn, grow and thrive.
“This will be a powerful and timely session for our sector, which is often among the first to feel the impact when disruption strikes, and among the clearest signals of recovery when confidence returns,” Hopkins says.
The conference programme kicks off with a welcome function at OneNZ Stadium on Tuesday October 27. Christchurch Town Hall will be base for the two-day conference, with Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre hosting The Bizzies gala dinner.
