How businesses within the Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics, and FMCG sectors can successfully navigate the complexities of AI adoption

[Watch] Are You AI Future Ready - Insights from 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:

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.

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.

If you missed out on attending this webinar or you want to revisit the insights Gavin discussed, you can view the full webinar recording [56:07] on our Convergence YouTube Channel below.

That’s a wrap on our events for 2024! 🎉 We’ve got an exciting lineup of online and in-person events coming in 2025, so make sure you are following us on our Convergence LinkedIn page to stay updated.

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

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"

Considering AI adoption within Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics and FMCG? Find out how you can better prepare your organisation

Webinar Event: Are You AI Future Ready - Presented by Gavin Sharkey from Kōwhai AI

💻 Webinar Event: "Are You AI Future Ready"

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionise processes and unlock new possibilities in Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics and FMCG. But AI is not a silver bullet that you can simply plug and play - it requires careful planning, preparation, and implementation.

Fortunately, strategic partners like Kōwhai AI are helping NZ businesses to discover the possibilities of AI, and leverage it's power to unlock growth, unparalleled efficiency, and a competitive advantage. We are delighted to have their Managing Director, Gavin Sharkey, join us for an engaging and insightful session delving into NZ’s current state of AI adoption, the use cases, challenges, and future AI trends and predictions.

In a conversation with Dave Rees, Managing Partner here at Convergence, Gavin will cover:

Real-World Use Cases: Discover Kiwi success stories that showcase AI in action.

Impact Areas: Identify the sectors where AI is making the most significant difference.

Market Insights: Gain understanding of current market interest and adoption rates within New Zealand.

Organisational Readiness: Learn the key factors that influence a company's preparedness for AI.

Overcoming Resistance: Strategies to address challenges and resistance to AI adoption.

Getting Started: Practical advice for initiating your AI journey.

Future Outlook: Insights into the evolving landscape of AI and its implications for the workforce.

This webinar is tailored for senior leaders in Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics, and FMCG considering AI investments. Join us for a comprehensive discussion on preparing your organisation for successful AI adoption.

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

Engagement: Have questions ready for Gavin when you register.

Presented by Gavin Sharkey from Kōwhai AI

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 👇

Join us for expert insights using real world examples, to help you leverage AI for maximum impact and innovation for your organisation

Webinar Event: Putting AI To Work - Presented by Steve Naudé

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize the way we work, bringing about changes that were once unimaginable. From automation to augmentation, AI is becoming an integral part of our lives, transforming various industries and reshaping how we communicate and interact with technology.

As AI continues to evolve, understanding its implications for the future of work is crucial.

We are excited to partner with Steve Naudé, Chief AI Officer at SmartSpace.ai and AI Transformation Lead at Fonterra, to explore how you can safely and effectively harness the extraordinary capabilities of AI. In a dynamic discussion with Dave Rees, Managing Partner at Convergence, Steve will provide expert insights and practical experience through real-world examples.

The Recent Surge in AI Interest: Understand why AI is garnering so much attention in today’s tech landscape.

Opportunities Ahead: Explore the exciting possibilities that AI presents for businesses and industries.

Commoditisation of Technology: Learn how AI will change the value of technology in the marketplace.

Understanding Truth in AI Models: Discover how AI models address the concept of truth and accuracy.

The Critical Role of Data: Understand why data is essential for successful AI implementation.

Risks of Implementing Generative AI: Gain insights into the potential risks associated with adopting Generative AI technologies.

This session promises to equip you with the knowledge needed to leverage AI for maximum impact and innovation in your organisation. Join us for this informative discussion and take the first step towards integrating AI into your business strategy.

It will be a fantastic opportunity for senior leaders to unlock the potential of AI and gain a competitive edge in today's dynamic market.

Engagement: Have questions ready for Steve when you register.

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

This will be an informative session for HR & Talent Acquisition leaders to optimise and transform your candidate experience

Webinar Event: Crafting An Exceptional Candidate Experience - Presented by Candice Payne

💻 Webinar Event: "Crafting An Exceptional Candidate Experience"

In today’s competitive talent acquisition landscape, creating a meaningful and memorable candidate journey from start to finish is more crucial than ever. Yet, it is often overlooked or underestimated.

An exceptional candidate experience has the power to attract and retain top talent, establishing your organisation as an employer of choice. It serves as a vital indicator of how candidates perceive your hiring process - and your company. Achieving this requires a strategic approach, empathy, and a commitment to delivering a seamless, engaging process.

We are thrilled to partner with Candice Payne, People & Talent Strategist and former Global Head of Talent at Xero, to bring you a free online session packed with practical strategies and actionable advice for creating an outstanding candidate experience.

In this session, Candice will discuss the micro-experiences of a candidate’s journey throughout the hiring process, alongside our Managing Partner, Dave Rees. You’ll learn how to engage and influence candidates at multiple touchpoints, including:

This will be a really informative session for HR & Talent Acquisition leaders to gain valuable insights for optimising and transforming your candidate experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business! We look forward to you joining us.

Engagement: Have questions ready for Candice when you register.

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.

Engagement: Have questions ready for Robin when you register.

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

Lending a helping hand to KiwiHarvest

What a great morning, rolling up our sleeves and lending a helping hand to KiwiHarvest - the largest food rescue organisation in Aotearoa, and an incredible bunch of people who are dedicated to nourishing communities and families in need.

It was hugely educating and a real eye-opener to see first-hand the magnitude of the perfectly good food items that would go to waste (landfill) were it not for this amazing food rescue service.

Thank you to the amazing KiwiHarvest team for letting Convergence be part of your morning; and special thanks to Angela Calver for welcoming us. Small actions can lead to big change, and we were very grateful to be a part of it today 💚

KiwiHarvest are currently running an urgent appeal for support to get food to where it's needed most. A $5 donation can feed an entire family of 4 people, 3 meals for an entire day - a feat that far surpasses what the average person would achieve by buying groceries at a supermarket. Donate here - https://www.kiwiharvest.org.nz/donate

They're always looking for people to join their volunteer army, so get involved and find out about the various solo and group/team volunteering options available. Click here - https://www.kiwiharvest.org.nz/get-involved

A very fun get-together and a great opportunity to acknowledge our clients for their continued partnership and support

The Inaugural Convergence Bowls&Bites Event

It was an afternoon well spent testing skill, precision and teamwork at our inaugural Convergence Bowls&Bites event yesterday.

A very fun get-together and a great opportunity to acknowledge our clients for their continued partnership and support which we are tremendously grateful for.

A big thank you to the Remuera Bowling Club for hosting us, and especially to their volunteers for organising our games and their awesome bowling tips!

Congratulations to the Bowls&Bites tournament winners 🏆

Andrew Nicholls (The Comfort Group), David Rhead (The Comfort Group), Dave Lovegrove (PBT) & Mark Davis (PBT)

We had a terrific turn out and a productive session on the interplay between talent acquisition and culture

[Watch] Building Adaptive Cultures - Insights from Teresa Collis

Last week, we had a fantastic turnout for our "Building Adaptive Cultures" webinar. Presented by Teresa Collis, Director and Practice Lead at Adaptive Cultures, and hosted by our Managing Partner, Dave Rees, the session explored how organisations can actively cultivate adaptive capacity and evolve towards a more adaptive culture, highlighting the crucial role of talent acquisition.

Understanding Adaptive Culture: What defines culture, and what characteristics make a culture 'adaptive'?

Stages of Cultural Evolution: Learn how to identify the current stage of your organisation's culture and the steps to advance it.

Culture Diagnostic Questions: Tailored questions for assessing cultural alignment within talent acquisition.

Three Levers for Building Adaptive Capacity: Explore the individual, structural, and social levers that drive cultural adaptability.

Impact of Talent Acquisition on Culture Change: Discover how talent acquisition teams can leverage these three levers to foster cultural transformation.

If you missed the live session or want to revisit Teresa's insights, you can view the full webinar recording (52:00) on our Convergence YouTube Channel below.

Our specialist FMCG recruitment team share their observations and the current trends they're seeing right now within NZ's FMCG talent landscape

FMCG Recruitment Insights & Talent Trends for 2024

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

As featured in the latest issue of FMCG Business our specialist FMCG recruitment team share some insights, observations, emerging trends, and the influences that we’ll see in play in regards to talent and jobs in the coming year.

Read online in the February/March 2024 issue of FMCG Business HERE

How can you create a workplace that adapts to the changing needs of your organisation and its people?

Webinar Event: Building Adaptive Cultures with Teresa Collis

In today’s ever-changing, unpredictable business landscape, the concept of an adaptive organisation has gone from being a buzzword to a crucial factor in bolstering resilience and determining long term success.

To become ‘future fit’, organisations must actively build adaptive capacity and purposefully seek evolution toward an adaptive culture... and talent acquisition has an essential part to play!

Teresa Collis (Director and Practice Lead at Adaptive Cultures) is spearheading a future where organisations are thriving and work is meaningful, and we are delighted to have her join us for this 45-minute webinar session. In discussion with Dave Rees (Managing Partner at Convergence), Teresa will cover:

•	What an adaptive culture really looks like

•	The relationship between talent acquisition and culture

•	Evolving the culture - how recruitment can move the needle

This will be a fascinating conversation and we would love you to attend this event. It will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A, so feel free to put your questions directly to us when registering below, or email directly to dave@convergencepartners.co.nz

Our team is getting ready to down tools and take a well-deserved Christmas break

Merry Christmas!

Our team is getting ready to down tools and take a well-deserved Christmas break, but before we go, we'd like to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful clients and candidates for your partnership and support throughout 2023.

Technology, Transformation & Change Recruitment

Optimising business technology has never been more important.

We recruit leadership, senior and specialist Business Transformation roles across the following areas: