NZIIH Leaders' Luncheon 2026

🌍 Brave conversations. Global connections. Shared prosperity.🌍

We're incredibly pleased to announce the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub Leaders' Luncheon 2026, an afternoon of honest dialogue on the questions shaping New Zealand's future as a small, innovation-driven economy entering the AI era.

Themes for the day include closing the gap between university labs and global markets, building a national innovation strategy that outlasts political cycles, and becoming the "Startup Nation" of the Pacific.

We're so excited to bring together some of the most respected voices across science, technology, governance, and business to find out:

The people we've asked to lead that conversation:

Sir Peter Gluckman ONZ KNZM - President, International Science Council; former Chief Science Advisor to three Prime Ministers

David Thodey AO - Chancellor, University of Sydney; Chair of Xero & Ramsay Health Care; former CEO of Telstra

Henri Eliot LLB MBA CPA CFInstD - Founder & CEO, Board Dynamics; Israel's Honorary Consul in Auckland

Sharron Lloyd (MC) - Chief Executive NZ, Trans-Tasman Business Circle

Simon Bridges - Former leader of the National Party, now CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber

More influential and respected names to be announced shortly.

📅 Wednesday, 26 August 2026

🕧 12:30 PM

📍 Viaduct Harbour, Auckland - Address to be revealed following registration.

Premium waterfront dining and the kind of room where business, science, tech and government leaders from New Zealand and Israel actually talk to each other.

🎟️ Early bird: 40% off until 6 July — use code OFF40 at checkout.