20 May 2019

HR Innovation & Tech Fest – What’s New for 2019?

Ian Collier

Now in its 2nd year in New Zealand HR Innovation & Tech Fest is going to be bigger and better. Our event producer Ian Collier has been busy scouring the globe over the last few months, hunting down the most innovative HR and L&D teams, out-of-the box thinkers, and inspiring change-makers. He has put together this impressive agenda for the 2019 event. We spoke to Ian ahead of the July event to get some insights into what you can expect this year.

Double the Content

We’ve built significantly on last year’s event – from two tracks to four tracks of content this year. Last year we had 250 people, this year with our Learning & Development Tech Fest running alongside it, we’re expecting close to 400 people. So it should be big!

All in all we have 55 sessions across the two days – a mix of case studies, panels, workshops and more.

Here’s a short preview of what you can expect from the Festival:

More International Speakers Than We’ve Ever Had

We’ve really gone wide with this year’s agenda – looking far and wide for the most engaging thought leaders and case studies. We have 13 international speakers on the program – from the US, Australia, UK and Germany.

One standout session for me is Deutsche Telekom’s VP of Innovation on their digital transformation. Reza Moussavian is one of the world’s most renowned speakers on HR innovation and the company has such an innovative culture – it’s going to be amazing to hear from such a huge brand from Europe.

Adidas is another brand everyone would be familiar with especially as they are the kit supplier to the All Blacks. I am looking forward to hearing how they are borrowing techniques from elite sports people and applying it to drive performance in their workforce. Read more about their innovative approach here.

Showcasing Home Grown NZ Innovation

We haven’t forgotten about all the amazing innovation happening right here in New Zealand – Xero has nailed the delicate balance between flexible working and productivity, Airways New Zealand is creating a true digital workplace, and Fonterra are doing some incredible work making the most of their people data.

We’ve also got the Head of People & Capability at New Zealand Rugby talking about their journey to transform their culture and the courage and vulnerability required in leadership to do this.

Giving a Leg Up to Local Start Ups

While the big HR tech players have the upper hand in many ways, some of the most exciting innovations are coming from the small, agile start-ups. We’re looking for emerging local HR tech start-ups to showcase their tech at the event– the winner will be judged by our expert panel and announced at the event. Entry is here.

Expanded Learning & Development Content

We received such incredible feedback from our L&D sessions at last year’s event, we decided to create a dedicated event this year. L&D Innovation & Tech Fest will run alongside the HR event – and the good news is sessions are interchangeable – meaning you can attend sessions from both events regardless of your ticket.

Vodafone will be sharing their new “Future Jobs Finder” tool. Targeted at under-25s, the tool combines psychometric testing with digital skills taxonomy to help reveal how the youth “super powers” could be applied in the digital job market. Watch this video for more.

Closer to home we’ll hear from ASB Bank on building a learning culture as a point of difference to attract top talent, Mitre 10 on how L&D can become a trusted advisor, and Spark on their award-winning L&D program that flips traditional training on its head.

Mind, Body, Spirit Connection

There’s a lot going on for your mind during the packed two days, but we haven’t forgotten your body and spirit. To start of the second day we’ll have an early morning yoga and wellness session.

We’re also proud to partner with a local charity, BabyStart, which provides expectant parents with useful items to make their early months easier and more comfortable. Read more about BabyStart here.

Bigger HR Tech Expo

We often hear from our New Zealand community that the expo is one of the most useful aspects of the event as many of the HR tech vendors don’t have a physical presence in New Zealand. This year the expo has expanded to incorporate 19 HR tech and learning vendors showcasing the latest innovative technology out there to help you select the best products for your business.

Join us at HR Innovation & Tech Fest, 29-30 July 2019, Auckland, New Zealand.

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