The People Factor 2026 | EQ Conference

THE PEOPLE FACTOR 2026

Leading Forward: Unlocking People, Performance & Possibility

17 September 2026

8.30 am - 5pm

Commodore Airport Hotel

Free to attend

Resilience Today. Readiness for Tomorrow.

Economic pressure, shifting customer expectations and fast-moving technology are reshaping how organisations work. The People Factor 2026 brings together including Business Owners, Leaders, Advisors, Directors and Executives across all industries for a day of practical insights into employment law, AI, workforce trends and organisational performance, helping you build the resilience and leadership needed to grow with confidence.

Get Your Free Ticket

What to Expect

This action-packed day features expert keynotes, dynamic panel discussions and practical insights across three key themes:

Understanding Change - Understanding the trends shaping tomorrow's workplaces
Building Performance - Creating organisations where people and businesses thrive
Leading Forward - Turning today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities

Meet Some of Our Incredible Confirmed Speakers:

Gareth Abdinor | Employment Lawyer, Abdinor Employment Law Limited

Garth Gallaway | Barrister, Health & Safety Specialist

Caroline Harvie-Teare | Chief Executive, Venues Ōtautahi

Sarah Munro | General Manager, Matatū Rugby

Ben Reed | Managing Director, Hamilton Jet

More exciting speakers to be announced soon. Don't miss out!

Agenda

8:30am – 9:00am - Registration & Arrival Coffee

Welcome networking and registration check-in.

9:00am – 9:10am - Welcome & Opening Remarks

An introduction to the day and the opportunities and challenges shaping New Zealand organisations in 2026 and beyond.

UNDERSTANDING CHANGE

Understanding the trends shaping tomorrow's workplaces

9:10am – 9:50am - Opening Keynote - The Future of Work: Trends, Opportunities & Possibilities

9:55am – 10:25am - Employment Law Update - What Every Employer Needs to Know in 2026

10:20am - 10:55am - Morning Tea & Networking

10:55am – 11:45am - Panel Discussion - The Workplace of Tomorrow: What We're Learning About Our Work, People and Performance

11:50am – 12:20pm - AI & The Modern Workplace - From Curiosity to Capability

12:20pm – 1:20pm - Lunch & Networking

BUILDING PERFORMANCE

Creating organisations where people and businesses thrive

1:20pm – 1:50pm - Possibility in Practice - What High-Performing Organisations Are Doing Differently

1:55pm – 2:20pm - Health & Safety: Beyond Compliance - Building Workplaces Where People Thrive

2:25pm – 2:55pm - Growth Through People - Why Great Customer Experiences Start with Great Employee Experiences

LEADING FORWARD

Turning today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities

3:00pm – 3:45pm - Panel Discussion - The Power of Possibility

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm - Conference Wrap-Up & Close

4:00pm - Networking Drinks

Continue the conversation with speakers, clients and industry peers while building valuable connections in a relaxed environment.

Get Your Free Ticket

General Manager

Testimonial from The People Factor 2025

Such an engaging event! The line-up of speakers was fantastic, I loved hearing their stories and practical advice, and took a tonne of notes along the way. From Bruce Irvine's inspiring message to the latest law updates, engagement insights and leadership advice, every session delivered real value. Loved the panels too, well done EQ Consultants!

Talent Acquisition Partner

Testimonial from The People Factor 2025

A big thank you to the team for such a well-executed event. The speakers were genuinely engaging, especially seeing those 'aha' moments across the room as recruitment insights were shared that many leaders simply don't see behind the scenes. It truly was a valuable event, and one that would have brought so much to many leaders within our own business.

Independent Chair

Testimonial from The People Factor 2025

A great morning at The People Factor, hosted by EQ Consultants. A fast-moving agenda covered everything from crisis response to employment law and staff engagement. A real highlight was Bruce Irvine's candid take on governance, especially his point that 'diversity of thought' is just as critical as values alignment and the ability to speak up. A massive thanks to the EQ team and partners for a fantastic event!