2026 Programme

Time	Session	Presenter
08:00–09:00	Registration, coffee, networking	Networking
09:00–09:05	Welcome	Te Radar
09:05–09:45	“Widening the Gate” – What do we mean by workplace equity Gail Pacheco, Kaihautū Ōritenga Mahi \| Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata \| New Zealand Human Rights Commission Understanding what equity really means, the current state of workplace in equity in New Zealand and why addressing it matters.	About Gail Pacheco
	Live Audience Pulse: Where Are We Still Narrowing the Gate?	Table discussion
09:55–10:35	Equity in an AI-shaped workplace: avoiding a new digital divide Explores how AI and algorithms can replicate or intensify bias (ageism, racism, exclusion) and what “good design” looks like for HR systems, policy, and decision-making in an AI-enabled environment.
10:35–11:05	Morning tea	Break
11:05–11:45	Recruitment as the first gate: designing fair selection in an algorithmic era Olivia Dyet, Founder, empathix A deep dive into recruitment as a key “gate” where inequity shows up—covering ATS filters, automated screening, and practical interventions (human review, structured criteria, bias testing, transparency).	About Olivia Dyet
11:45–12:25	Equity in the New Zealand labour market today and what this means for the future Cameron Bagrie, Bagrie Economics A closer look at NZ’s future demographic and what this means for our workplaces. How should we interpret labour market and workforce statistics, where are the current inequities and why addressing these are important to future productivity of New Zealand Inc.	About Cameron Bagrie
12:25–13:25	Lunch	Break
13:25–15:25	Design lab: rapid prototyping equity solutions Facilitated workshop with Gergana David, APAC Lead, Big Bloom Interactive workshop where participants work on real equity challenges and develop testable prototypes they can take back to their organisations.	About Gergana David
15:25–15:55	Afternoon tea	Break
15:55–16:30	Inclusion vs belonging vs diversity: getting the sequence right Unpacks terminology and practice: why “belonging” is not a buzzword, why inclusion must be designed before pursuing diversity targets, and how poorly framed initiatives can backfire by creating resistance.
16:30–17:10	Governance and accountability: keeping equity “on the table” Examines how boards and executives can set expectations, ask better questions, and prevent equity commitments from being deprioritised when they become “unfashionable.” Includes governance levers, risk, and reporting.
17:10-17:20	Closing reflections and next steps	Close