Authentic leadership: Building trust currency

Join the Tech New Zealand Sustainability Board for this Techweek26 event, bringing Aotearoa New Zealand’s technology and innovation community together to accelerate the energy and clean tech transition for the benefit of our people and place. 

Tech New Zealand is Aotearoa New Zealand’s united voice for technology. This conversation is about turning ambition into action: the practical leadership, trusted relationships, and cross-sector collaboration we need to build resilient businesses and a cleaner future.

Our panel will explore what effective leadership looks like across energy, clean tech, and resilient business-building, and how diverse networks, mentoring, and practical collaboration can help New Zealand move faster.

The panel will cover three areas:

Why energy and clean tech now?
The transition underway; growing energy demand (including from data and AI); infrastructure needs; circularity; resilience - and New Zealand’s opportunity to be a proving ground for solutions the world needs.

Why diverse leadership matters
Better decision-making; stronger culture and trust; long-term value; experimentation and the resilience that comes from more perspectives at the table.

What New Zealand’s energy sector is doing well
Mentoring and sponsorship in practice; building real connections across the sector; and strengthening links with wider leadership and women-in-tech networks to grow capability and confidence.

Panelists will be representing some of the following companies leading the world’s energy transformation:

• Kiri Lenagh-Glue, OpenStar Technologies
  Kiri Lenagh-Glue is the Senior Commercial Analyst at OpenStar Technologies. She brings her background in deep tech venture capital investment, developing early-stage technology companies, to supporting OpenStar’s technology maturation pathway with a critical lens on commercialisation and market alignment.

• Sophie Braggins, Ara Ake
  Sophie brings a combination of strategic clarity and genuine people leadership to the role of chief executive at Ara Ake, New Zealand's energy innovation centre. With a background spanning strategy, governance, and leadership, she has held senior roles in the legal, professional services and philanthropy sectors.

• Auriga Martin, Tech New Zealand

• Jane Henley, Aurecon

• Kat Lintott, Supa Energy

  Kat Lintott (Ngāi Tahu) brings a background in storytelling and strategic communications to driving systemic change in New Zealand's energy transition. Working across government and start-ups to accelerate the shift toward renewable energy, she channels a deep belief in authentic relationships and intergenerational thinking into her current work with SUPA and SEANZ.

Thanks to Ara Ake’s generous support, nibbles and drinks will be on offer for the afternoon.  Please arrive at 3pm for a 3:15pm start.