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
Register to attend
Registrations are now open for GOVIS 2026 - Courage to Deliver!
You can register here.
Below are our registration options. Prices are in New Zealand dollars and include GST.
Registration type | Early bird price (until 29 May) | Full price (from 30 May) |
|---|---|---|
Attend in person (GOVIS members) | $500 | $600 |
Attend in person (non-members) | $900 | $1000 |
Attend in person (low wage) * | $150 | no change |
Attend online (GOVIS members) | $150 | no change |
Attend online (non-members) | $300 | no change |
A range of discounts and offers are available:
GOVIS membership. You may apply for agency-based membership on behalf of your agency ($325/year + GST) or individual-based membership for yourself ($60/year + GST) in order to take advantage of the member price. In addition to the conference discount, membership gives you preferential access to our free events and lets you stand for the GOVIS committee. Check our website here for more information on how to become a member, or here to see whether your agency is already a member.
*Low wage discount. We want this conference to remain accessible to any public servants who have been finding it difficult to secure work. This category is available to:
Anyone who was employed in the public service at some time between 2020 and 2026, who is 1) undergoing an 'expressions of interest' process, 2) serving out a notice period, or 3) has not yet started any other work (contract or permanent) - at the time when they register for the conference. Includes people currently studying.
Anyone whose primary work activity between 2020 and 2026 was on contract to the public service, who has since completed that contract (or whose contract has been ended), and has not yet started any other work (contract or permanent) - at the time when they register for the conference. Includes people currently studying.
Group offers. Purchase 3-4 registrations for your organisation, and get 10% off. Or purchase 5 or more registrations for your organisation, and get 20% off. GOVIS will proactively apply this discount to registrations in cases where an organisation's earlier registrations mean that it qualifies for one of these group offers - but note that we cannot also retrospectively apply the discount to those earlier registrations. So be sure to coordinate with your colleagues if you want to make best use of these group offers.
Ticket sharing. Not able to attend the full conference? Then this option could be for you - where you may share your ticket with a nominated colleague. This means the two of you can swap in and out of the conference at your convenience. Note that:
The two of you will not be able to attend any part of the the conference at the same time.
This option is not available in conjunction with the low wage discount.
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.
Speaker announcements
Chris Fechner, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Transformation Agency (Australia)
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.
Dr Amanda Williamson, Director, Deloitte New Zealand AI Institute
Dr Amanda has advised six corporate boards on AI governance and investment, led enterprise AI deployment to 2,000 staff, and delivered AI solutions with up to 76% productivity gains across multiple sectors.
Her foundation is technical: a PhD using AI-driven analytics and certifications across five major AI platforms.
Amanda is a TEDx speaker, a regular commentator on AI in New Zealand media (RNZ, NZ Herald, Business Desk), and a Senior Lecturer in Innovation and Strategy at the University of Waikato. She is based in Wellington.
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.
Key dates
Here are the key dates for the conference:
Milestone | Indicative date |
|---|---|
Initial conference programme published | mid April |
Early bird registration closes | 29 May |
Presenter training | 25 June |
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.
You can read about options for sponsoring the conference in our sponsorship prospectus below. If you have any questions, please contact our Conference Organiser on 027 410 6567 or email events@twelveconferences.nz.