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CHRISTCHURCH | 10 AM - 5 PM | THURSDAY 23 JULY
NOVOTEL CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT, TEKAPO ROOM

INDEPENDENT TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT 2026: PRODUCTIVITY REIMAGINED

What’s actually driving productivity in enterprise today

For years, we have brought our team together for off-site learning days to step back from delivery, challenge thinking, and focus on what actually improves outcomes. In 2026, we are opening that up. The Independent Technology Summit brings together our team, our customers, and a small group of partners to share real experience, test ideas, and learn together. It reflects how we work. People-led, outcome-driven, grounded in shared knowledge.

The productivity gap
Across enterprise organisations, technology investment is higher than ever, but returns are not keeping pace. More tools, more platforms, more AI, yet productivity gains remain inconsistent. This year’s theme, Productivity Reimagined, challenges the idea that technology alone drives results. It does not. Real productivity sits at the intersection of technology, people, and culture, and that is what we are here to explore.

This event is designed for C-suite leaders and IT decision-makers responsible for setting enterprise direction. If you are making calls on where to invest, how to prioritise, and how to drive real productivity from your technology environment, this is for you.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW

Economic pressure is forcing organisations to rethink how they invest in technology. Budgets are tighter, expectations are higher, and every decision is being tested on its ability to deliver real outcomes.

At the same time, the pace of change continues to accelerate. AI is advancing quickly, platforms are evolving, and teams are expected to adapt. The challenge is clear. How do you improve productivity in a constrained environment while still investing for what comes next? This is where the agenda begins.

EVENT SCHEDULE

TIME SLOT
SESSION
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM

Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
CLOCK-IN & NETWORKING
Coffee, tea and light networking before we kick off for the day.
10:15 AM - 10:25 AM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
WELCOME ADDRESS

Why this topic, Dave Veronese, CEO, Inde
10:25 AM - 11:15 AM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION ONE: STATE OF THE ECONOMY

Brad Olsen, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION TWO: PEOPLE OVER PLATFORMS
Making productivity tools actually work, Chris Becket, Technology Strategist, Inde
11:45 AM - 12:10 PM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION THREE: GLOBAL PRODUCTIVITY TRENDS

Andrew Fox, General Manager APAC, HPE
TIME SLOT
SESSION
12:10 PM - 12:45 PM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION FOUR: AI WON'T SAVE YOUR PROJECT

Governance, leadership, and the real drivers of productivity, Mike Roberts, Director and Training Practice Lead, Millpond
1:35 PM - 2:20 PM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION FIVE: [PANEL] AI IN PRACTICE

What works and what doesn't, hosted by Royden Burt, GM Solutions, Inde

Panelists:

  • Hilary Walton, Technology Strategist, Microsoft.

  • Shane McDowell, National Manager - Agritrade, PGG Wrightson

  • Mark Leadbetter, IT Director House of Travel 
2:20 PM - 2:50 PM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION SIX: THE AI TURNING POINT HAS PASSED

Are you ready for what's next? Leadership, governance, and operating model decisions in a multi-model, AI-driven world.

Ben Johnson, General Manager Marketing & Strategy ANZ, Dicker Data
3:05 PM - 3:25 PM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION SEVEN: SECURING TOMORROW'S PRODUCTIVITY: THE POWER OF A UNIFIED PLATFORM
Vasely Sapunov, Head of Ecosystems & Enterprise, Palo Alto Networks
3:25 PM - 3:55 PM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION EIGHT: [PANEL] PRODUCTIVITY TOMORROW

Pragmatic advice for your people and your tech stack, hosted by Royden Burt, GM Solutions, Inde.

Panelists:

  • Rob Purdy, Sales Director, Westcon-Comstor New Zealand
  • Mike Smith, Independent Chair, Inde
  • Hayley Wright, GM People, Inde
3:55 - 4:25 PM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel, CHC
SESSION NINE: FASTER MACHINES, SLOWER HUMAN
Rachel Hurren, Director of Learning and Development, Inde
TIME SLOT
SESSION
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Tekapo Room, Top Floor, Airport Novotel CHC
BREAK ONE

Quick stretch and coffee break.
12:45 PM - 1:35 PM
Food Exchange Restaurant, Top Floor, Airport Novotel CHC
LUNCH
Fully catered buffet lunch.
2:50 PM - 3:05 PM

Provided by CXANZ Citrix
AFTERNOON TEA

Finger food, networking and coffee break.
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
The Square Restaurant and Bar, Ground Floor, Airport Novotel CHC
DRINKS & CANAPES
Join us in finishing off the day with some drinks, nibbles and light networking.
ALL DAY - 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Manapouri Room 3, Top Floor, Airport Novotel CHC
BREAK ROOM

If you need to step out to take a call or do some urgent work, we've booked out  Manapouri Room 3 to accommodate busy schedules. This will be available all day and will be set up with individual desks.
ALL DAY - 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Food Exchange Restaurant, Top Floor, Airport Novotel CHC
BARISTA COFFEE

Curtesy of Fortinet

SPONSORED BY

HOSTED BY INDE TECHNOLOGY