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
Meet our presenters and the volunteer GOVIS committee
More about the conference
Why was the theme of our conference about courage and delivery? The Government Chief Digital Officer recently received a clear mandate to lead and consolidate government digital investment and procurement, and has been reconstituted at the Public Service Commission as the Government Digital Delivery Agency. But 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 also dug 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?
We heard about exciting digital initiatives taking place across government, how they are being courageously delivered, and what motivates the public servants doing the work. There were inspirational and technical speakers, in depth break-out sessions, and plenty of chances to connect, share and learn with your public service colleagues. We came away with some new tools in the toolbox to help tackle the key digital challenges facing your agency.
Featured speakers
Sir Brian Roche KNZM, Public Service Commissioner
Sir Brian is the Public Service Commissioner and Head of Service. He most recently has been Chair of the Cyclone Recovery Taskforce from 2023 to 2024 and Chair of New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi from 2019 to 2022. Sir Brian was the Chief Executive of New Zealand Post from 2010 to 2017 and prior to this was a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) from 1987 to 2009.
Chris Fechner, Chief Executive Officer, Australia's Federal Digital Transformation Agency (attending virtually)
Chris Fechner was appointed the Chief Executive Officer at the Digital Transformation Agency on 13 October 2021. Chris is also the Head of the Digital Profession.
Chris has extensive experience in state government services, focusing on large scale digital and ICT reform and transformation programs as well as implementing contemporary investment, contestability, and governance frameworks.
Before joining the Australian Public Service, Chris was the Queensland Government Chief Customer and Digital Officer throughout 2020 and 2021. Chris was previously the Chief Digital and Product Officer at Service NSW. Prior to that, Chris held a number of senior positions across the NSW and Queensland governments as well as in freight and rail organisations.
Chris holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Applied Science and Computing, both from the Queensland University of Technology.
As CEO, Chris is responsible for leading the DTA to ensure it delivers on the Government’s digital transformation agenda, in accordance with the agency’s executive order and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Colin Lynch, Government Statistician and Chief Executive
Colin Lynch was welcomed as the Government Statistician and Chief Executive of Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa in January 2026.
As Government Statistician Colin is responsible for how and when we produce statistics, authorising all statistics and data Stats NZ publishes. The Government Statistician's duties and independence are set out in the Data and Statistics Act 2022: Section 14 Duties of Government Statistician and Section 15 Independence of Government Statistician
Colin also holds the role as Government Chief Data Steward supporting government to realise the potential of data to improve wellbeing, while maintaining and building trust in its use. In this role he also leads New Zealand’s open data programme.
Colin was previously Deputy Chief Executive, Policy at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, a role he has held since June 2024. He’s held senior leadership positions in both the public and private sectors including as Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Deputy Chief Executive at the Ministry of Justice, Deputy Government Statistician roles at Stats NZ, as well as senior roles at the Treasury.
Colin holds a Master of Arts (Economics: First Class Honours) and a Joint Honours Degree in Economics and Sociology from University College Dublin. He completed executive education in Leading Change in Complex Organisations at MIT in 2013.
The Government Statistician is responsible for how and when we produce statistics. All statistics and data we publish are authorised by the Government Statistician.
Pia Andrews, Serial Public Sector Reformer (attending virtually)
Pia Andrews has 16 years in the public sector, 9 in the tech sector and is now working on government transformation in the development sector. She is a serial public sector transformer and reformer, focused on adaptive policy management, policy infrastructure, participatory governance, high trust and legitimate systems and operating models (inc AI), citizen-centric public services, and real, pragmatic continuous innovation in the public sector and beyond. Her mission is to transform public sectors to be more humane, adaptive and impactful at the speed of continuous change, public trust and perpetual urgency.
Pia was recognised in 2023 as one of the top 5 Women in Tech (leadership category) APAC, in 2018 and 2019 as one of the global top 20 most Influential in Digital Government and was awarded as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Australia for 2014.
Sponsored by Catalyst
Chris Cormack, He Māwhitiwhiti Matihiko ki te Kākahu o Hine-Raraunga, Te Kāhui Raraunga
Chris Cormack (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, nō Moeraki) contributes to the development and application of Aotearoa's Māori data and AI governance frameworks.
He represents Te Kāhui Raraunga in international Indigenous data sovereignty forums, most recently the Global Indigenous Data Alliance AI workshop in Mexico City. He sits on the Privacy Commissioner's Māori Advisory Group and works closely with iwi, government, and the public service to embed Māori data sovereignty in real systems and decisions.
Chris is the original developer of Koha, the world's first open source library management system, created in 1999 and now used by libraries in more than ninety countries. He holds a BA in Māori Studies and Mathematics and a BSc in Computer Science from Massey University.
Sponsored by Catalyst Cloud
Madeline Newman, Executive Director, AI Forum New Zealand | Te Kāhui Atamai Iahiko o Aotearoa
Madeline joined the AI Forum as Executive Director four years ago. She has extensive experience in strategy, transformational change, building and helping people to see the potential that innovative technologies bring.
Originally from New Zealand, Madeline spent 20 years working with people, process and new technologies including AI in the mental health, financial services and regulatory sectors in the UK. Her more recent work included helping to shape and deliver the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority’s internationally renowned RegTech innovation programme; and as Head of Innovation and Product for a science based digital mental health platform.
Madeline is also an AI industry representative on a number of AI Advisory Boards, a mentor for the University of Auckland’s Kupe Leadership programme and regular participant in national discussions on AI.
Ellen Twiss, Team Leader Data/Development, Tertiary Education Commission
Ellen leads a team of data engineers and data analysts to deliver practical outcomes in complex environments. She is passionate about bridging the gap between technical teams and business users, bringing teams together to get work delivered, and setting high delivery standards. With experience across both the public and private sectors, and as an athlete, Ellen brings practical insights and real-world stories about leadership, resilience, and delivering under pressure.
GOVIS wishes to acknowledge and thank our conference sponsors for their support
