NZ's Ultimate Success Event for Women
1 Day to Level Up your Business and Career
Ready to take your ambition to the next level?
Join Girls in Business for NZ's premier women's business and career event - packed with expert-led sessions across public speaking, branding, paid ads, social media, communication and resilience. Walk away with the tools and mindset to get ahead faster.
2026 Event Information
Date: 5th of September 2026
Venue: NZICC, 101 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Dress Code: Formal/Busines
2026 PROGRAMME
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9:00am | Doors Open
Arrive early, grab a coffee, and connect with like-minded women. This is your time to meet, mingle, and start building powerful relationships before the day officially begins.
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10:00am | Welcome
Opening remarks, housekeeping, and a warm welcome as we set the tone for an inspiring and high-energy day.
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10:05am | Networking Session
Break the ice with an interactive activity designed to spark conversation, build confidence, and get you connected with the room.
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10:15am | Keynote: How to Become a Confident, Compelling Speaker
Toni Street, Broadcaster and Author
If public speaking makes your stomach drop - you're not alone. In this session you'll walk away with the mindset shift that separates nervous speakers from magnetic ones, how to structure what you say so people actually listen, body language habits that build instant credibility, how to turn your personal story into your most powerful tool, and practical techniques to manage nerves in any room.
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10:55am | Panel: How to Build a Brand People Actually Remember
Erin Carroll of The Social Lab has generated $700M+ for brands through paid advertising. Jenny-May Clarkson has built one of NZ's most trusted and recognisable personal brands over two decades in the spotlight. Sarah Robb has helped hundreds of high-performing women break through self-doubt, silence their inner critic, and build businesses and lives they're proud of.
Three experts with real, unfiltered insights on personal branding, paid advertising, and the mindset it takes to show up, stand out, and back yourself in business.
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11:30am | Keynote: You Don’t Have a Marketing Problem. You Have a Branding Problem.
Kristy Campbell, three-time Adobe MAX speaker and founder of Pink Pony Creative, has built bold brand identities for clients worldwide and she knows exactly what separates the brands people remember from the ones they scroll past. Kristy breaks down what branding actually means and how to create a visual identity that attracts the right customers, builds instant trust, and stands out in a crowded market.
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11:50am | Lunch Break + Networking
Refuel, recharge, and continue networking with attendees, speakers, and industry leaders.
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1:05pm | Gold Sponsor Address: Fujifilm Instax
Hear from the team behind one of the world's most iconic camera brands as they share how Fujifilm Instax is championing women in business and what that support looks like in action.
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1:15pm | Turn Followers Into Buyers: The Content Strategy That Actually Sells
Jony Lee, Short Form Strategist, Clueless
With 636K Instagram followers and 1M+ on TikTok, Jony Lee doesn't just teach content strategy, she lives it. Learn the exact strategies behind turning attention into revenue using short-form content. Jony shares what's actually working right now to convert followers into paying customers. -

1:45pm | NZ Business Awards
The Girls in Business Awards recognise the resilience, growth, and achievements of women in business across New Zealand.
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2:00pm | Panel: From Idea to Empire
Caitlin Crisp built her namesake fashion label from scratch at 24 and grew it into one of NZ's most sought-after brands. Lara Henderson founded Pure Mama in 2021 and scaled it into the #1 premium pregnancy skincare brand in NZ and Australia, now stocked at MECCA, Nordstrom, and Erewhon. Lisa Perese-Cullen turned a TikTok account into 612K followers and NZ TikTok Creator of the Year, then used that audience to build a fashion brand Harper James with a fiercely loyal customer base.
Three founders, three very different product businesses, one honest conversation about what it actually takes to grow.
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2:45pm | Networking Activity
This is your chance to make genuine connections, spark unexpected collaborations, and turn a conversation into your next opportunity. Come ready to meet your future business partner, mentor, or biggest cheerleader.
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3:00pm | Short Break
Take a breath, stretch your legs… because what's coming next is worth showing up refreshed for.
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3:15pm | Interview: Dame Valerie Adams
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Dame Valerie Adams, two-time Olympic gold medallist and four-time World Champion sits down for an exclusive interview on what it truly takes to perform at the highest level, year after year. Hear her unfiltered story of resilience, discipline, and mental toughness, and walk away with the tools to apply those same principles to your business and your life.
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3:50pm | Closing Remarks
Final reflections, key takeaways, and a powerful close to an inspiring day.
Kristy Campbell
Pink Pony Creative
Founder of Pink Pony Creative and three-time Adobe MAX speaker, headlining the 2024 conference in Miami. Kristy builds bold, boundary-pushing brand identities for clients worldwide.
Erin Carroll
The Social Lab
Former Facebook global team lead turned agency founder, The Social Lab has generated $700M+ for brands and manages $20M+ in annual ad spend across APAC.
Sarah Robb
Spring with Sarah
Certified NLP Master Practitioner, psychologist, author, and keynote speaker helping high-performing women break through self-doubt, rewire limiting beliefs, and unlock their potential.
Lisa Perese-Cullen
Harper James
NZ TikTok Creator of the Year 2024 and Founder of Harper James, a standout New Zealand fashion brand built around helping women feel powerful in what they wear.
Lara Henderson
Pure Mama
Founded in 2021 and turned into the #1 premium pregnancy skincare brand in NZ and Australia now stocked at MECCA, Nordstrom, Revolve, Goop, and Erewhon, where it became the second-best-selling body care brand within weeks of hitting shelves.
Caitlin Crisp
Caitlin Crisp
Started her namesake label at 24, building it from one-off custom pieces into one of New Zealand's most sought-after fashion brands known for timeless designs that sell out season after season.
Jenny-May Clarkson
Television Presenter
Former Silver Ferns netball captain turned one of NZ's most recognised broadcasters, best known as co-host of TVNZ's Breakfast. A champion athlete and trusted on-screen presence with a career spanning both courts and cameras.
Courtenay Louise
NZ Actor (Shortland Street)
Best known as Monique on Shortland Street and a Season 3 finalist on Celebrity Treasure Island, Courtenay is a trained actor within NZ and Australia.
The 2026 Lineup
Dame Valerie Adams
Olympic Champion
Two-time Olympic gold medallist, four-time World Champion, and one of the greatest athletes New Zealand has ever produced.
Iyia Liu (Host)
Make It Happen
Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker, TV personality, and founder of Make It Happen, a business mentorship and training program with 4,000+ students.
Toni Street
Broadcaster & Author
TVNZ Breakfast and Seven Sharp co-host turned Coast Breakfast presenter, NZTV Awards Television Personality of the Year, and bestselling author of memoir Lost & Found. One of NZ's most recognised faces in broadcasting.
Jony Lee
Clueless
With 636K Instagram followers and 1M+ on TikTok, Jony has built one of NZ's most engaged audiences and helps brands and founders do the same.
2026 EVENT PARTNERS
Career Development
Hearing stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving success can inspire you to aim higher and approach your career with fresh energy.
By attending, you’ll gain exclusive insights from industry leaders through presentations, panel discussions, and interactive Q&A sessions.
Networking
The networking event of the year: Meet the industry elite and network with 800+ other delegates - including marketers, ecommerce brands, entrepreneurs and founders.
Experience the Power of Connection
At Girls in Business, our events are curated to be immersive experiences that go beyond the ordinary.
We understand that success often hinges on meaningful connections and staying informed about the latest industry insights.
That's why our events are carefully designed to provide inspiration, learning, and valuable networking opportunities.
FAQs
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We recommend for you to come on your own - that is the best way to meet new people!
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This conference is black tie or formal - think power suits or a gown, we any occasion to dress up! Come in your
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Yes, we have multiple options:
Showcase your business with a stall
Become a sponsor and receive benefits
Provide product(s) or services for the event
Placement in Goodie Bags (promotion to social media + email database)
Email info@girlsinbusiness.org.nz for more information on how to get involved (enquire ASAP due to limited availability).
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Yes - there is a Q&A session after each speaker & panel to answer questions from the audience, you may also liaise with speakers during the break or before and after the conference.
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Yes, you absolutely can - men are able to attend if they wish and several have in the past!
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While we understand the desire to accommodate all attendees, unfortunately, due to the nature of the conference and its activities, we are unable to accommodate infants or young children.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
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Each year the event sells out and we have a waitlist of people that have missed out on tickets,
You may list your ticket on a ticket resale website like https://tixel.com/nz/ and we will direct the waitlist to purchase your ticket if you can no longer attend.
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Yes - a light lunch is provided. At the venue there are also a variety of food options and outlets outside.
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Seating is unreserved in each ticket class. Arrive early to secure the best seat & increase the chances of your group sitting together.
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Past Speakers