GOVIS 2026 - Courage to Deliver
Wednesday and Thursday 29-30 July 2026, at the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa in Wellington & online
Call for presentations
Our call for presentations is now open! It will run until 5pm on Thursday 12 March. If would like to present at the conference or try out an idea, please complete this form here. The form also includes additional details about presenting at a GOVIS conference. You may:
Complete a written presentation proposal, or
Pitch your presentation idea to GOVIS over a 15 minute Microsoft Teams call
So what kind of presentations are we looking for? It's all about:
Courage ~ Collaboration ~ Innovation
We want examples of courageously delivered digital solutions for New Zealand. We want to hear true stories about how you have stepped up to challenging transformation efforts, broken down silos to collaborate across agencies, and built high-performing teams that deliver with purpose. We want to hear how you have balanced being risk-aware with grabbing opportunities, how you have stayed true to principles of ethical and responsible data use, and how you have navigated complex issues like privacy, trust, and Māori data sovereignty. Make it tangible. Make it actionable. Make it memorable! And don't worry, it doesn't have to be [entirely] about AI.
We also want to hear about what courage has looked like for you personally and collectively. Public servants driving digital change must always grapple with complexity, ambiguity and pressure - what was it like for you and your team, as you climbed that mountain?
We welcome a range of formats including individual or group presentations, panels, and facilitated workshops or breakout discussions (unconference-style). We're still looking for our first ever GOVIS standup or sketch comedy act - mighty courageous, and extra points for tasteful government puns. Maybe you have a great idea for a speaker, but that person unfortunately isn't yourself. In that case why not nudge them to submit a proposal? We will consider all submissions, and even if you aren’t selected the conference we might be able to run your presentation as a separate event (e.g. as one of our lunchtime forums).
If any of the above sound interesting to you, we would love to receive your proposal. If you would like to suggest an alternative to a presentation or prefer to share your ideas directly, please contact our Conference Organiser on 027 410 6567 or email events@twelveconferences.nz.
Why present at GOVIS?
We strive to make GOVIS conferences as inclusive as possible of different topics and speakers - so we need everyone’s perspectives. Presenting is an opportunity to support your fellow public servants and develop yourself professionally:
Share your experiences and korero to help build the capability of the New Zealand government information, data and technology community
Build lasting networks with your peers
Raise the profile of your work and build your reputation as a professional
Receive a free conference registration*
Attend a complimentary professional presenter training session in early July (highly recommended)
Surprise yourself, and have a bit of fun
*Presenters receive a complementary registration to the full conference, and may also claim one additional complementary registration for a co-presenter. Registrations for any additional presenters can be purchased at a discounted rate.
About the conference
Why have a conference about courage and delivery? The Government Chief Digital Officer has received a clear mandate to lead and consolidate government digital investment and procurement, and is this year being reconstituted at the Public Service Commission as the Government Digital Delivery Agency. What will it take for agencies to emerge from their silos and support a better process – while still ensuring their unique requirements are catered for?
And look to the data side of the ledger: Stats NZ is embracing an administrative data-first approach to the census and many official statistics – gritty courage and governance will be crucial for navigating the implications around data quality, privacy, social license, and Māori data sovereignty.
That's just the tip of the incoming innovation iceberg – with large-scale digital transformation efforts continuing at places like Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Development and Health NZ, plus smaller-scale digital public infrastructure initiatives popping up everywhere. And we can’t not mention generative AI, as a growing number of agencies build their capability and move from pilots to full-scale rollouts.
This conference will also dig into what courage to deliver looks like at an individual level, as we work together in our teams, agencies and across government. What is the difference between being risk-averse and risk-aware? What does a ‘high performing team’ look like, and how do you build one?
So you are invited, come one and all to attend GOVIS 2026 Courage to Deliver – you’ll hear about exciting digital initiatives taking place across government, how they are being courageously delivered, and what motivates the public servants doing the work. There will be inspirational and technical speakers, in depth break-out sessions, and plenty of chances to connect, share and learn with your public service colleagues. You'll go away with some new tools in your toolbox to help tackle the key digital challenges facing your agency.
We are being tasked in the public sector to avoid re-inventing the wheel, so come along for a showcase of what others are already doing, and be delighted by courage, rising to the challenge.
So show this webpage to your friends and colleagues, check out our recorded 2025 presentations here for a GOVIS conference taster, and (most importantly) join our mailing list here and follow us on LinkedIn here to get our updates.
Key dates
Here are the key dates for the conference:
Milestone | Indicative date |
|---|---|
Call for presentations (CFP) opens | 16 February |
Early bird registration opens | early March |
CFP closes | 12 March |
Initial conference programme published | early April |
Early bird registration closes | 29 May |
Presenter training | early July |
Conference | 29-30 July |
Sponsorship
We welcome the sponsorship of any organisation that wants to support GOVIS's purpose of helping public servants who work in technology, information and data to connect, share and learn.
We will be releasing our sponsorship prospectus by 20 February. In the meantime if you have any questions, please contact our Conference Organiser on 027 410 6567 or email events@twelveconferences.nz.