NZ Tech Rally × Summer of Tech: Growing junior tech talent in the age of AI
Description
Join NZ Tech Rally and Summer of Tech for an inspiring evening as we bring together diverse industry voices from Aotearoa for a panel discussion on how to grow and support junior tech talent in the age of AI.
Date: Thursday, 23 April 2026
Venue: Creative HQ, 7 Dixon Street, Wellington CBD, NZ
Time: 4.30 pm - 7.00 pm
Panel moderator: Ruth McDavitt
Panellists: Khushi Chauhan, Evan Wilson, and Joshua Vial
Programme
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Arrival & networking
5:00 pm – 6:15 pm
Welcome notes - Stuart Whitehead
Panel discussion - Ruth McDavitt
Audience Q&A
Closing notes - Camy Bhandari
6:15 pm – 7:00 pm
Community mingling & networking
Event entry
This is a free event for our tech community. Everyone is welcome. Please grab your free ticket, as we have limited seating space.
Please save your email with the ticket QR code as we will digitally check-in on arrival at the venue.
For any enquiries, please email info@nztechrally.nz.
Panellists
Khushi Chauhan
Khushi Chauhan is a Technical Product Owner at NZ Police, working with the Data and Analytics product team to support technology that enables frontline policing and better community outcomes. With strong Agile and data foundations, her career spans working on data platforms and leading product delivery for cloud data platforms in banking sector , progressing from developer, data analyst and business analyst roles to product leadership. An ex–Summer of Tech intern herself, Khushi is passionate about supporting emerging talent and contributed significantly to the Summer of Tech internship programme at NZ Police. She is known for bringing people together, supporting teams, young talent and product communities, and creating spaces where people feel valued and thrive. Khushi was recently recognised with an ICT Award for Culture Building and Team Spirit for her contribution to ICT communities at NZ Police.
Evan Wilson
Evan Wilson is a technology enthusiast with 25+ years in data and AI. As VP at DataTorque, he harnesses data and AI to design a smarter future, solving "wicked" problems through data-centric innovation. A fierce advocate for equity, Evan champions talent pathways ensuring diverse voices lead New Zealand’s technological evolution.
Joshua Vial
Joshua is a software developer, educator, and founder who has spent two decades at the intersection of technology and talent development. He co-founded Dev Academy Aotearoa in 2013 and spent ten years training junior developers as tech lead. He founded Enspiral in 2010, building one of New Zealand's longest-running experiments in distributed collaboration. Today he runs Code With JV, where his team builds AI applications and delivers education programmes focused on helping professionals adapt to AI. He also co-founded Fundsorter, which helps charities find and manage funding opportunities.
Ruth McDavitt
Ruth McDavitt is the CEO of Summer of Tech, connecting emerging tech talent with industry across Aotearoa. She champions pathways for graduates into meaningful careers, supports employers to grow diverse teams, and is a strong advocate for building a sustainable, inclusive tech ecosystem in New Zealand today nationwide.
FAQs
- Is this a free event?
Yes, it is a free community event and everyone is welcome. Please grab your free ticket as seating space is limited.
- Is this an in-person or online event?
This is an in-person only event in Wellington Central.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
