If you're a leader looking for tangible strategies to improve your team’s productivity, this is the webinar for you

Webinar Event: Unlocking NZ's Productivity Potential - Practical Steps For Leaders

Despite working nearly 20% more hours, New Zealand's output per hour is 25% lower than the OECD average. Productivity growth has stalled at just 0.2% per year, leaving us 24% behind Australia and 33% behind the US.

So, how do we tackle this productivity challenge?

We’d be delighted for you to join us for an insightful webinar with Ian Walsh from Argon & Co, where we’ll be deep diving into the heart of New Zealand’s productivity puzzle - and what we can do about it.

We'll be exploring:
💡 The key factors behind New Zealand’s productivity challenge.
💡 Lessons from high-productivity countries.
💡 The critical role of leadership.
💡 The impact of technology and AI.
💡 Future opportunities for progress.

If you're a leader looking for tangible strategies to improve your team’s productivity, this is the webinar for you!

Wednesday 21st May 2025, 10:00am-11:00am (NZT).

Secure your spot here 👇
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4b9bzkoyRZOABjOfP-foHw#/registration

Can't make it? Register for the event to receive a recording of the webinar to watch at your convenience.

"Unlocking NZ's Productivity Potential: Practical Steps For Leaders"

If you're a leader seeking practical insights to drive productivity, this webinar is for you!

Another fantastic day on the green - full of fun, friendly competition, and fantastic company

The 2025 Convergence Bowls&Bites Event

Another great day on the green for our annual Convergence Bowls&Bites event yesterday!

Laughter, friendly competition, and great company made for the perfect afternoon get-together. But beyond the game, it was a chance to acknowledge and celebrate some of our incredible clients for their ongoing partnership and support.

Thank you to the Remuera Bowling Club for being terrific hosts once again, and to their dedicated volunteers who kept the games rolling smoothly. Our thanks also to Catherine at The Platter Collective for serving up some amazing food for us!

And of course, big congratulations to our 2025 Bowls&Bites champions 🏆 Pie Funds - Tilly Liebenberg, Anne Kleyn, Tanja Ritson and Mandy Zhang.

Maximise your profile's full potential with these two simple strategies from Erin Kirk

Is your LinkedIn profile helping or hindering you?

By: Erin Kirk, Partner - Sales & Marketing

I've noticed a growing trend of stripped-back, minimalist LinkedIn profiles, and while I understand the appeal (think: SEO visibility and highlighting core skills), in today's ultra-competitive job market, standing out from the crowd is more important than ever.

Personally, when I’m reviewing profiles, I’m looking for more than just a list of responsibilities - I want to see clear achievements that demonstrate impact. You don’t need to write a novel - but showing top-line results makes a real difference.

A well-crafted LinkedIn profile and CV are essential tools to showcase your unique value proposition. If you can convey what you've achieved - not just what you've done - you'll make a stronger, more memorable impression.

Here are two simple ways to elevate your profile and get noticed:

Focus on Achievements, Not Just Responsibilities

Employers care about the impact you’ve made.

Instead of saying, "Managed a sales team," say: "Led a team of 10, driving a 25% revenue increase in 12 months."

Listing skills like "leadership" or "strategic planning" isn’t enough without context.

Show how you applied them: "Used strategic planning to enter new markets, growing our client base by 15% year over year."

By implementing these two simple strategies, you'll instantly improve your visibility and appeal - and make it easier for the right opportunities to find you.

Is your LinkedIn profile helping or hindering you? 

Maximise your profile's full potential with these two simple strategies...

An insightful deep dive into NZ’s economic landscape, tackling recent challenges, emerging trends, and what’s ahead on the road to recovery

Will 2025 bring a brighter economic outlook? Watch our webinar with Jarrod Kerr, Chief Economist at Kiwibank

Wow - what an incredible turnout for our economic update webinar yesterday!

Kiwibank’s Chief Economist, Jarrod Kerr, delivered an insightful deep dive into New Zealand’s economic landscape, tackling recent challenges, emerging trends, and what’s ahead on the road to recovery.

The session focused on New Zealand’s recent economic challenges, key trends, and prospects for recovery, with Jarrod sharing valuable insights on:

Factors contributing to economic difficulties, including inflation, interest rates, and global uncertainties.

Reserve Bank decisions and their impact on businesses and households.

Price pressures, wage growth, and consumer spending.

Property prices, mortgage rates, and investment opportunities.

Predictions for GDP growth, employment trends, and when conditions may improve.

An overview of AI interest and trends in New Zealand compared to global developments, with case studies of local success.

Practical advice for organisations starting their AI journey, overcoming barriers, and ensuring readiness.

Watch the webinar recording below [1:15:05] to hear Jarrod's valuable perspectives 👇

Expert Analysis from Jarrod Kerr, Chief Economist at Kiwibank

Our specialist Convergence FMCG recruitment team share observations they're seeing right now within NZ's FMCG talent landscape

What's happening in recruitment within the New Zealand FMCG sector? Insights & Talent Trends for 2025

We're in a unique position to have a bird’s eye view of what’s happening out there on the current FMCG talent acquisition and retention landscape. Here's what we're seeing:

Erin Kirk, Partner - Sales & Marketing
Michelle Elsley, Partner - Supply Chain & Operations
Claire Ellis, Partner - Finance & Accounting
Claire Gibson, Partner - Technology, Transformation & Change

It is currently a challenging time for recruitment and difficult to forecast while interest rates and inflation remain at the current level; but within the industry there are still high performers experiencing growth. Some of our clients are feeling confident, some have seen an upturn in business, yet others are understandably guarded.

With unemployment on the rise, there is currently a surge of candidates seeking new opportunities; yet job ads are now at their lowest level since April 2016.

With the number of applications per ad dramatically increasing, we're seeing candidates applying for roles that don't necessarily align with the required skillset. Fewer candidates have the appropriate experience or qualifications, thus driving the need for a broader market search and proactive approaching to find the highly skilled FMCG candidates our clients need.

On the flipside, while there are a lot of job seekers on the market, many candidates are showing caution when offered a position, taking their time to ensure the offer is aligned with their needs. Job security and company stability are paramount right now and, in some instances, candidates are opting to stay in their current role rather than moving to a riskier, albeit high paying, alternative.

We are also seeing more sideways movements, with highly skilled/tenured FMCG talent moving for a change of pace or a different environment/location, rather than compensation.

Salary expectations are proving to be misaligned with the current market rates, with some candidates demanding higher salaries due to inflation and the cost of living; however, paying more is often unrealistic and unsustainable for struggling businesses who are facing increasing costs or changes in employment laws.

With many companies finding the market and economy challenging, we've noted a preference for some employers to only want to look at candidates with strong existing skillsets, and are not open to looking at suitable candidates that might need some skill development.

While the contracting market is stagnant at the moment, there are pockets of demand for consulting and project-based roles, particularly where people can consult with businesses, identify where profits have diminished, and optimise ways for businesses to return to profitability.

What's happening in recruitment within the New Zealand FMCG sector?

Upskilling in digital technologies, sustainability, and data analytics is crucial for businesses to boost productivity and stay competitive

The Future of Supply Chain in New Zealand: Why Upskilling is Essential

By: Michelle Elsley, Partner - Supply Chain & Operations

In New Zealand's supply chain sector, there's a growing need for forward-thinking skills to tackle emerging challenges. Despite this, many businesses and professionals lack the tools and knowledge necessary to stay competitive, especially as supply chains become more tech-driven. Upskilling is essential to bridging this gap and preparing for the future.

New Zealand companies are under pressure to increase productivity due to rising costs, changing customer expectations, and global disruptions. However, there's a clear skills gap in advanced planning, technology, and adaptability, which could affect our global competitiveness.

Digital Transformation: Technologies like AI, Machine Learning, and IoT are transforming supply chain operations. Professionals need skills in advanced planning systems and data analytics.

Sustainability: Companies are increasingly focused on eco-friendly supply chains, requiring knowledge in sustainable sourcing and reducing environmental impact.

Globalisation and Resilience: The pandemic revealed gaps in global supply chains, emphasising the need for resilience and risk management.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Data analysis is becoming a core skill, with tools like various ERPs, Tableau, and Power BI being essential for modern supply chain professionals.

As a specialist in supply chain recruitment, I often see clients looking for skills that are difficult to find locally in the New Zealand market. To bridge this gap, companies need to invest in developing their existing workforce or hire individuals who can be trained. This approach is crucial for closing the skills gap, and many candidates are eager to learn and grow.

New Zealand’s supply chain sector has the opportunity to lead in productivity and innovation. To make this happen, businesses need to focus on upskilling their workforce through initiatives like membership bodies, certifications, tertiary education, and mentoring. This investment will not only shape the industry's future but also create a more resilient and competitive workforce.

In my experience, companies should take the time to train their employees to develop the capabilities needed to meet emerging demands.

If you’d like to discuss supply chain trends, what other companies are focusing on, or where the biggest needs for upskilling are in the market, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to share insights and help you stay ahead in this evolving field.

Get in touch with me: michelle@convergencepartners.co.nz

The Future of Supply Chain in New Zealand:

Since 2018, we’ve been proud to support The Salvation Army in their 'Adopt a Family for Christmas Programme'

Adopt A Family Initiative - Christmas 2024

Convergence is delighted to once again partner with The Salvation Army for their annual Adopt a Family for Christmas Programme.

Since 2018, we’ve been proud to support this incredible initiative, assisting families with gifts, vouchers, food, and essential supplies, who otherwise wouldn't have the resources to celebrate the holiday season.

A big thank you to our team and our generous business for giving so generously. And a special shoutout to The Salvation Army for their tireless efforts in offering vital aid to those facing difficult times.

We wish our wonderful adopted families a safe, healthy and enjoyable Christmas ❤

For more information on this initiative or if you are interesting in participating, click here

Insights into how NZ businesses within the Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics, and FMCG sectors can successfully navigate AI adoption

Are You AI Future Ready? Watch our webinar with Gavin Sharkey, Managing Director of Kōwhai AI

Last Thursday morning, we had the pleasure of hosting a fascinating webinar featuring Gavin Sharkey, Managing Director of Kōwhai AI, who delved into the evolving landscape of AI adoption in New Zealand.

Specifically tailored for senior leaders and decision-makers in the Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics, and FMCG sectors, the event attracted an engaged and interactive audience and explored a broad spectrum of topics, including:

AI in operations vs customer-racing roles.

Considerations for integrating AI with complex systems like SAP and improving master data reliability.

How AI is transforming supply chain efficiency, demand forecasting, and stock automation.

AI-driven innovations reshaping the retail and FMCG sectors.

Predictions for AI’s future and its effects on the workforce, along with common pitfalls and mitigation strategies.

Watch the webinar recording below [56:07] to hear Gavin's insights 👇

Insights from Gavin Sharkey, Managing Director of Kōwhai AI

What an incredible morning hosting an engaging executive leadership breakfast discussion, with a panel of accomplished C-suite leaders

'Navigating your Executive Leadership Journey' with Anna Scott, Jeff McDowall, Jo Hilson and Tim Poonan

What an incredible morning hosting our Executive Edge panel discussion!

With a room full of aspiring and emerging executive leaders, along with a live streaming audience, this event offered a fantastic opportunity to delve into the realities of C-suite roles.

Our guest speakers, Anna Scott (CEO, Smart), Jeff McDowall (Non-Executive Director, Syft Technologies and former CFO, Air New Zealand), Jo Hilson (CTO, Tourism Holdings Limited), and Tim Poonan (CFO, Airways New Zealand) shared invaluable insights from their own journeys in executive leadership, discussing:

Key turning points, promotions, and bold career moves that paved their paths to the executive level.

The distinctions in responsibilities and expectations between executive and non-executive roles.

Major challenges encountered when transitioning from senior leadership to executive positions.

Essential skills and traits for success at the executive level.

Key differences in decision-making processes at the executive tier.

Strategies for managing pressure and building resilience.

Insights into emerging leadership trends and how aspiring leaders can prepare.

Thank you to everyone who attended and joined us online. We’re proud to provide these events and contribute to shaping the future of tomorrow’s leaders.

Navigating your Executive Leadership Journey:

Insights from Anna Scott, Jeff McDowall, Jo Hilson and Tim Poonan

This will be a fantastic opportunity for aspiring executive leaders to gain invaluable insights from a panel of accomplished C-suite leaders

Free Live Feed Event: 'The Executive Edge - Charting your path to Executive Leadership'

Convergence is delighted to invite you to the live feed of our upcoming leadership event: The Executive Edge - Charting your path to Executive Leadership.

This will be a fantastic opportunity for aspiring executive leaders to gain invaluable insights from a panel of accomplished C-suite leaders across various industries, and hear about their experiences of successfully navigating this executive leadership journey.

Here from our expert panel:
Anna Scott - CEO of Smart
Jeff McDowall - Non-Executive Director at Syft Technologies and former CFO of Air New Zealand
Jo Hilson - CTO of Tourism Holdings Limited
Tim Poonan - CFO of Airways New Zealand

Learn about their career pathways, lessons learned, how exec roles differ, and how to effectively prepare and position yourself for executive leadership.

The discussion will be led by Alexander Hyndman.

This event promises to provide aspiring senior leaders with actionable advice and practical strategies to help inform and inspire your own career path towards executive leadership.

Duration: 1-hour panel discussion followed by a 15-minute Q&A session.

"The Executive Edge - Charting your path to Executive Leadership"

Expert insights to help you safely and productively harness the power of AI for maximum impact and innovation in your organisation

[Watch] Putting AI To Work - Insights from Steve Naudé

Last Thursday morning, we had an exceptional turnout for our webinar featuring Steve Naudé, Chief AI Officer at SmartSpace.ai and AI Transformation Lead at Fonterra, hosted by our own Dave Rees.

This engaging session provided invaluable insights drawn from Steve's extensive experience in AI, technology, and innovation. Attendees explored how to safely and effectively harness the power of Generative AI for maximum impact within their organizations.

Data is the Foundation for Effective AI: Fine-tuning generative AI models involves unique complexities. It’s crucial to understand and prepare your data before embarking on this journey.

Quality Source Data Validation: Ensuring the integrity of your source data is essential for successful AI implementation.

Crafting Effective Prompts: Focus on creating clear, specific, and context-rich prompts to fully leverage the capabilities of generative AI models across various applications.

Addressing AI Risks: Implementing AI systems involves navigating technical, ethical, and social risks that must be recognized and addressed.

Understanding International AI Governance: Familiarise yourself with the regulations in each jurisdiction where your business operates and plans to deploy AI solutions.

Content Consumption Awareness: Be mindful of who is consuming your content and ensure it is age-appropriate.

If you missed the live session or want to revisit Steve’s insights, you can view the full webinar recording (1:02:20) on our Convergence YouTube Channel below.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this insightful discussion, and a special thanks to Steve for collaborating with us on this important conversation!

We are delighted to be sponsoring and presenting the coveted HR Professional of the Year Award

2025 NZ HR Awards

Convergence are thrilled to be an award sponsor for the 2025 NZ HR Awards, organised by HRNZ.

We are passionate about the transformational role that a high-performing HR function plays in building exceptional organisations. This sponsorship underscores our commitment to recognising and celebrating achievements and innovations in the HR field, as well as the leaders who are reshaping the future of work.

We are honoured to sponsor and present the prestigious HR Professional of the Year Award. This accolade recognises an individual who has made significant contributions to their organisation and exemplifies outstanding achievement within the HR profession.

If you’re an HR professional making amazing strides towards HR excellence, this is a fantastic platform to reflect on your work and your achievements, and share your success with NZ's HR community.

We encourage you to submit your entry for the 2025 NZ HR Awards here 👇

A session of practical strategies and immediate, actionable advice on how engage and influence, and ultimately transform your candidate experience

[Watch] Crafting An Exceptional Candidate Experience - Insights from Candice Payne

Yesterday morning we hosted our 'Crafting An Exceptional Candidate Experience' webinar with People & Talent Strategist and former Global Head of Talent @ Xero, Candice Payne... and what a hugely valuable and informative session it was!

Candice delved deep into the micro-experiences that shape a candidate's journey throughout the hiring process.

She highlighted critical touchpoints where organisations can engage, influence, and ultimately enhance the candidate experience.

She also shared practical strategies, actionable tips, and expert advice on transforming recruitment processes.

If you missed the live session or would like to revisit Candice’s valuable insights, you can watch the full webinar recording (52:31 minutes) on our Convergence YouTube channel below.

Thank you to everyone who attended, and a special thanks to Candice for sharing her brilliant insights into creating exceptional candidate experiences.

"Crafting An Exceptional Candidate Experience"

Our client breakfast event today explored how to leverage AI for maximum impact and innovation in your
organisation

Breakfast with Being AI: Practical AI Implementations In Business

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we work, live, and interact. The pressing question is: how can we maximise its potential?

This topic was the focus of our recent breakfast session at Hotel Britomart, featuring guest speakers Nyssa Waters, CEO & Co-Founder of Being AI Group, and Sean Muller, Head of Technology Consulting. They shared invaluable insights on leveraging AI to drive meaningful and lasting business transformation.

Building an AI Strategy: Nyssa and Sean guided senior leaders through the essential steps for developing a comprehensive AI strategy tailored to their business needs.

Effective Governance Frameworks: Learn how to establish governance structures that ensure responsible and ethical AI usage within your organisation.

Real-World Use Cases: Discover practical AI implementations that have delivered tangible results for businesses, showcasing the transformative power of AI.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who shared their morning with us!

Stay tuned for more events focused on unlocking the potential of AI in business.

"Practical AI Implementations In Business"

What are the best practices for conducting bias-free interviews?

DEI Hiring: Standardising your Interview Process

Interviews are essential tools for employee selection and assessment, but they often come with risks such as unconscious biases and inconsistent evaluations. By standardizing the interview process, organizations can create a transparent, engaging experience and establish a level playing field for all candidates.

Best Practices for Conducting Bias-Free Interviews

We've taken our DEI learnings and experiences as a recruitment organisation, and produced a DEI hiring resource that will help to guide you in standardising your interview framework. In addition to this, inside you'll find valuable initiatives, practical strategies and tools to help kickstart DEI conversations into your recruitment processes, including:

Exploring Your 'Why': Understand the rationale behind your DEI initiatives to drive meaningful change.

Auditing Current Recruiting Practices: Review and assess your existing interview processes for inclusivity and fairness.

Getting Buy-In from Senior Leaders: Engage leadership to prioritize DEI efforts and foster an inclusive hiring culture.

Crafting Inclusive Job Descriptions: Write job descriptions that attract diverse candidates and reflect your organization's values.

Mitigating Unconscious Biases in Hiring: Implement training and strategies to recognize and reduce biases throughout the hiring process.

Diversifying Candidate Sourcing: Broaden your recruitment strategies to connect with a wider range of candidates.

To request your copy of our DEI hiring resource, send an email to insights@convergencepartners.co.nz

What are the best practices for writing inclusive job descriptions?

DEI Hiring: Crafting Inclusive Job Descriptions

Job descriptions are usually the first touchpoint in the candidate experience and play a pivotal role in the recruitment process. They serve not only as outlines of job responsibilities but also as reflections of an organisation’s culture, values, and expectations. When crafted thoughtfully, inclusive job descriptions can attract, embrace, and support candidates from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and identities.

Best Practices for Writing Inclusive Job Descriptions:

Drawing on our DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) insights as a recruitment organisation, we’ve developed a comprehensive DEI hiring resource designed to help you write inclusive job descriptions. In addition, this guide offers valuable initiatives, practical strategies, and tools to kickstart DEI conversations within your recruitment processes, including:

Exploring Your 'Why': Understand the motivations behind your DEI initiatives.

Auditing Current Recruiting Practices: Evaluate your existing job descriptions and recruitment methods for inclusivity.

Getting Buy-In from Senior Leaders: Engage leadership to support and prioritize DEI efforts in hiring.

Conducting Bias-Free Interviews: Implement structured interview techniques to minimize bias.

Mitigating Unconscious Biases in Hiring: Train your team to recognize and reduce biases in the hiring process.

Diversifying Candidate Sourcing: Expand your sourcing strategies to reach a wider range of candidates.

An informative session with valuable insights and practical strategies that can help to transform your organisation's approach to hiring.

[Watch] How To Build Your DEI Hiring Strategy - Insights from Robin Davies

In today’s dynamic business environment, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace cannot be overstated. Integrating DEI into core talent acquisition processes is essential and has become a top priority for many business and People & Culture leaders.

Last week, DEI expert and change champion Robin Davies, alongside our Convergence Managing Partner, Dave Rees, presented an informative webinar that explored essential DEI concepts and practical steps to embed in your organisation’s recruiting DNA.

If you missed the webinar or want to revisit the valuable insights shared by Robin and Dave, you can watch the full recording (45:54 minutes) on our Convergence YouTube channel below:

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this insightful webinar. Our next online event will take place in the coming months - stay tuned for more details!

Stay tuned for a comprehensive DEI hiring resource we’ll be showcasing soon. This guide is designed to serve as a launchpad for transforming your organisation’s approach to hiring and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

The Mindful Money Awards are back for 2024 to celebrate those at the forefront of best practices in making money a force for good in Aotearoa

We're delighted to be a sponsor of the 2024 Mindful Money Awards

Each year, Mindful Money, the leading public voice for ethical investing in New Zealand, do a fantastic job of raising awareness and celebrating funds and individuals who are at the forefront of ethical and impact investing 🌱

On Wednesday 12th June 2024, they will be hosting their fourth annual Ethical and Impact Investment Awards, and Convergence is delighted to be returning as a sponsor of this exciting event.

Our congratulations and best wishes to the recently announced finalists 👏 All are being recognised as outstanding investors and individuals, having demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting sustainability and impact through their investment practices. Read more about the impressive finalists in each category here 👉 https://mindfulmoney.nz/learn/mindful-money-announces-finalists-for-4th-annual-ethical-impact-investment-awards/

Tickets to these Awards are limited, so get in quick 👉 https://events.humanitix.com/mindful-money-conference-and-awards-2024

This will be an informative session for business and HR leaders in helping them build inclusive cultures and diverse teams.

Webinar Event: How To Build Your DEI Hiring Strategy - Presented by Robin Davies

Are you looking to develop a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring strategy but unsure where to start? Do you need guidance on securing buy-in and achieving your DEI goals? Are you facing challenges in advancing your DEI recruitment strategy?

We are delighted to partner with DEI expert and change champion Robin Davies for our upcoming webinar, "How To Build Your DEI Hiring Strategy." In conversation with our Convergence Managing Partner, Dave Rees, Robin will provide valuable insights and practical strategies that business and HR leaders can leverage to transform their organisation’s approach to hiring.

The Changing DEI Landscape: Understand the current trends and shifts in DEI.

What Organizations Are Doing Well: Learn about successful practices and common pitfalls.

Best Starting Points for DEI Implementation: Discover where to begin if you haven’t yet implemented DEI practices.

Influencing DEI at the Board or Executive Level: Tips for gaining support and driving change.

Best Practices for DEI Hiring Processes: Effective strategies for inclusive hiring.

Addressing DEI Challenges and Roadblocks: Identify and overcome common obstacles.

Duration: 45-minute discussion followed by a 15-minute Q&A session.

Engagement: Have questions ready for Robin when you register.

A morning of great mahi at KiwiHarvest - the largest food rescue organisation in Aotearoa