BCA LEADERS FORUM


SHARING & SUPPORTING IN CHALLENGING TIMES

Monday 4th May - Tuesday 5th May 2026

Stay ahead in a changing industry. 


The Forum is your opportunity to connect with peers, share insights, and strengthen your leadership as we navigate the ongoing changes and challenges shaping the built environment.

The BCA Leaders Forum will be followed by the BOINZ Symposium.

Your registration includes: 

  • Welcome Function on the Sunday evening (3rd May), 
  • Full Day Forum (Monday 4th May), 
  • Excellence Awards Dinner (Monday evening 4th May), 
  • Half Day Tuesday (5th May) including Field Trips and ending after lunch. 
  • BOINZ and Resene branded Moana Road Marlborough overnight bag (valued at $89.99) - collect from Registration Desk


We also invite you to attend the full Symposium, and participate in both events across the three days. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

Sunday 3rd May 

5.30pm

Registration & Welcome Function 

7.30pm 

Ends 

Monday 4th May 

8.00am

Registration & Exhibition Opens 

9.00am - Keynote speaker Sponsored by Heaney & Partners

Generation Z:  Movers, Shakers, Action Takers – Inside the Minds of Generation Z in the Building Sector 
Alexia Hilbertidou (Girlboss CEO) 
Advocate, entrepreneur, and GirlBoss founder Alexia Hilbertidou delivers an interactive, and surprising deep dive into the expectations and behaviours of the next generation of construction talent. How will Gen Z shape the future of the sector, our staff and our customers?

9.40am

The Invisible Code: Conquering Imposter Syndrome in Building Surveying 
Emelia Lukins (South Wairarapa District Council) 
Building officials and surveyors operate under immense pressure, where every technical decision impacts life safety and carries significant professional liability. This high-stakes environment is a perfect breeding ground for professional self-doubt, commonly known as Imposter Syndrome (IS). This talk can help with some practical tools to enhance decision-making clarity, reduce professional stress, and foster a more resilient community.

10.20am

Morning Tea & Trade Exhibitions 
10.50am MBIE Updates 
Micheal Warren (Manager Systems and Markets Policy)
This session will provide Building Consent Authorities with a practical overview of the Building System Performance work programme, with a focus on the areas that most directly affect BCA roles and responsibilities. We will cover current and priority work across the building consent system, system performance monitoring and implementation of some of our recent regulatory change.
11.10am AI, Risk and Regulation: Lessons from Across Sectors
Keynote Dr Colin Kennedy (Creative HQ)
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering knowledge-based professions, but its implications for complex regulatory systems are still emerging. This keynote explores how organisations across sectors are adopting AI in practice, what outcomes - both positive and unintended - are appearing, and how these technologies are reshaping workflows, capability, and governance.

Drawing on examples from government, law, and infrastructure, the session will reflect on what these lessons may mean for the building regulatory environment, where professional judgement, risk management, and public trust remain central. Participants will gain practical insights into how AI can support professionals working in complex, information-intensive regulatory systems.

This presentation is followed by an AI Panel Discussion with Karel Boakes (Objective), Dave Gittings (MBIE), Wade Morris (MC) and Cory Lang (Hamilton City Council). 
12.20pm
Lunch & Trade Exhibition 
1.20pm Economic Update 
Brad Olsen (Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics)
A window on the future of NZ’s economy
2.00pm The future of compliance and enforcement in the building sector: A joint approach between MBIE and Councils? 
Wade Morris (Meredith Connell)
Changes in legislation with bring more risk, which will require a more cohesive joint approach between MBIE and councils to continue to deliver safe and compliant buildings.

This presentation is followed by an Enforcement Panel Discussion with Jayson Ellis (Timaru District Council), Jeff Fahrensohn, Malcolm Fleming (NZ Certified Builders), Simon Thomas (MBIE)


BCA Leaders Forum & BOINZ Symposium (Combined) 

2.50pm

Afternoon Tea & Trade Exhibition 

3.15pm 

Lessons from Grenfel Tower 
Richard Mills - Former Deputy Commissioner London Fire Brigade 
This powerful session draws on the lessons from the Grenfell tragedy.  Attendees will gain insights into the real-world consequences for communities, residents, and building professionals, and explore how these lessons can inform better practices in New Zealand. This session encourages reflection and discussion, helping delegates understand the critical importance of building responsibly for people, not just structures.

4.05pm

Proportional Liability
Paul Robertson (Heaney & Partners) and Prof Kim Lovegrove 
Who will be the last man standing now?  This presentation will cover the current law (joint & several), proportionate liability, who will pay the missing share, fishhooks and unintended consequences, what will happen in terms of insurance.  How much further ahead is proportional liability overseas and suggestions as to how to accelerate NZ into this.

5.10pm

Day 1 Ends 

Excellence Awards Dinner 

6.30pm

Pre Dinner Drinks - Shed 10 Waterfront 

7.00pm

Excellence Awards - Sponsored by Future Skills 
The Captain's Gala Dinner: Harbour Lights

11.00pm

Dinner Ends 

Tuesday 5th May 
8.00am

Expo Opens 

9.00am 

Welcome & Housekeeping 

9.05am

Satisfied on Reasonable Grounds
Charlotta Harpur (Rice Speir) 
This session will explore the legal concept of “satisfied on reasonable grounds” and its critical role within the New Zealand Building Code. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of what this standard means in practice from a legal perspective and it’s implications for compliance, risk management, and professional accountability.

9.35am

Perspectives on EPB Changes
- Panel Chair Dave Brunsdon will provide a brief recap on the proposed changes to the earthquake-prone buildings system. This will lead into a panel discussion and audience Q&A, where real-world issues and perspectives can be shared to support those working in this area.

The Panel will include Cory Lang (Hamilton City Council), Jeff Fahrensohn (Fahrensohn Building Consultants), Jeff Farrell (Whakatane District Council) Karel Boakes (Objective)
10.10am Applied Practice in Training – Building Competence Through Progressive Independence
Kirsty Wallace (BOINZ Professional Development Manager) and Kerry Walsh (Hurunui District Council Building and Property Manager and BOINZ Trainer)
- As we navigate challenging times and significant change, our ability to adapt, progress and thrive is in a large part reliant on how well we learn as well as what we learn. Kirsty will introduce some aspects of learning theory, involving memory and cognitive load, while Kerry will share how learning activity can work well in practice for building surveyors in an interactive session aimed at supporting BCA leaders as they work to enhance learning and expertise in their teams. 
10.30am An insight into current and future legislative issues
- Hon Chris Penk, Minister for Building and Construction

Ministerial Address and Panel Discussion – Building Consent Authorities
Following the Ministerial address from Hon Chris Penk recognising the critical role BCAs play in delivering a high‑performing building system and outlining the upcoming Building System Reforms work programme, the Minister will be joined on stage by David Hall (General Manager Building Performance), Michael Warren (Manager System and Markets Policy) and Suzannah  Toulmin, Manager (Consenting and Practitioners Policy) for a panel discussion.

This session provides BCAs with a valuable opportunity to hear directly from senior MBIE leaders and the Minister, gain insight into upcoming system priorities, and ask practical, face‑to‑face questions about what this means for BCA operations and the sector more broadly.
11.15am Morning Tea - Sponsored by James Hardie 
11.30am - Field Trips
  • New Zealand International Convention Centre - Fully booked 
    Led by the General Manager of Capital Projects – who spearheaded the creation of this transformational landmark – this field trip offers delegates a rare opportunity to explore the vision, innovation, and engineering behind one of New Zealand’s most significant event facilities.
  • Walking Tour - University Recreation Centre, Engineering Building, Owen Glenn Building, Fale Building, Arts Building, Auckland Art Gallery 
    Led by Auckland Council tour guides who were directly involved in these landmark projects, this walking tour of the Auckland university precinct, showcases a collection of recently completed, award-winning buildings that are redefining modern New Zealand architecture.
  • Waiatarua: Simplicity Living’s 330 home Build-to-Rent development in Remuera
    Led by Shane Brealey, Managing Director at Simplicity Living, this tour will provide an overview of how Simplicity Living is approaching large-scale residential development.
1.20pm  Lunch - Sponsored by James Hardie
2.10pm  Ends 

For more information or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at admin@boinz.org.nz or events@boinz.org.nz.

We look forward to offering a programme that will strategically enhance your work environment and deepen your team's expertise.









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