WELLINGTON - Governance Conference 2025

Christian Savings is excited to be hosting our annual Governance Conference!

• Christchurch on Wed, 27 Aug (location to be announced)
• Auckland on Wed, 3 Sept (location to be announced)
• Wellington on Wed, 10 Sept (location to be announced)

“If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” (Prov. 29:18 MSG)

This year the theme is "A Clear Vision for Confident Governance," reflecting the evolving landscape of the New Zealand Church. Our mission is to equip those serving in governance roles with practical governance skills, Gospel inspiration, and a humble understanding of the challenges that lie ahead.

Join us for a lineup of sessions that will tackle crucial issues facing the New Zealand Church and Charities, from leadership and succession planning to asset management and enhancing governance capabilities. Learn from interviews and interactive sessions led by esteemed keynote speakers and hosts, including Chris Clarke, Richard Black, Strahan Wallis, and Steven Moe.

As well as the opportunity to learn from leaders in this field, you will also be able to meet a diverse range of other people involved in Christian governance.



We encourage you to make the most our early bird discount. Get 20% off tickets until the end of May.

Ticket Info:

Day Session Only (9am-5pm)

Ticket includes sessions from our speakers, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea.

Evening Session Only (6pm-9pm)

Ticket includes dinner and an evening Masterclass.

Day & Evening (9am-9pm)
Ticket includes sessions from our speakers, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and tea and coffee, dinner, and evening Masterclass.

Evening Masterclass:

We're thrilled to be hosting an enhanced evening Masterclass, a unique and interactive workshop tailored to give a demonstration of good governance in practice. Building on the success of last year's feedback, this session promises a fun and informative experience, especially for those unable to attend the day session. Immerse yourself in valuable insights in an intimate setting, complete with dinner included in your ticket for added convenience.

We look forward to welcoming leaders, trustees, directors, officers, and elders of churches and Christian charities dedicated to governing with excellence. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the event date - we can't wait to welcome you!

SOME OF OUR GUEST SPEAKERS

Chris Clarke brings over 30 years of leadership experience, including 20 years as a CEO, across public policy, health care, humanitarian development, and philanthropy. Currently, he serves as CEO of the Wilberforce Foundation and chairs two boards: The Emergency Alliance, and Arrow Leadership Global. His past roles include CEO of World Vision New Zealand and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, with additional experience at the World Health Organisation and NHS. A law and commerce graduate from Canterbury University, Chris has been the Praxis Visiting Scholar at Green Templeton College, Oxford University, since 2009.



Steven Moe is a partner at Parry Field Lawyers with a focus on governance and legal structures for purpose driven groups including Churches and Charities. He has 24 years of experience as a lawyer and is on several boards including Christian Savings. He is also the Chair of Community Finance, which has raised more than $163 million for social housing. He is a member of the Charities Services sector group, the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, the XRB Advisory Panel and is a facilitator on governance for the Institute of Directors and hosts their podcast ‘Board Matters’ on governance. He also is the host of Seeds - a podcast with 395+ long-form conversations on governance, leadership and entrepreneurship. He is coordinating the Christian Lawyers Conference in September in Auckland for about 150 lawyers.



Richard is the founder and director of Thriving Churches HQ, an organisation empowering churches and church leaders to make a greater Kingdom difference. He has always had a heart for the growth and wellbeing of churches, their leaders, and their people.

An ordained minister, qualified counsellor, and experienced communicator, Richard has been involved in people work for over 25 years. He founded the counselling and wellbeing organisation, Mind Health, and holds a BA, Bachelor of Divinity, Bachelor of Theology (First Class Hons), Masters in Counselling (Distinction) and is a Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. His research has explored key saboteurs undermining church leaders and strategic factors that enhance pastoral effectiveness and wellbeing.

Richard has developed three significant transformation courses for the church and leaders and is a regular voice on Radio Rhema. He is passionate about seeing churches fulfil their purpose in God. Richard is an excellent communicator with the knack of being able to communicate complex issues in a way that is practical and easy to understand.

He is the author of Centred: Knowing who you are in an off-balanced world and a children's book, There’s a Happy Moon in My Side. Richard is married to Jennifer, and they have three adult children.



Strahan is one of New Zealand’s most experienced and recognised Public Relations leaders. With more than 25 years-experience he has led and delivered internationally awarded communications campaigns as well as orchestrating some the highest profile issues and crisis management responses for a range of clients around the world. Strahan was a Board Director and CEO of the Clemenger Group, New Zealand’s largest and most awarded marketing services company, up until March 2024 and is now an independent board director and consultant. He is currently senior counsel at WALLIS&CO and takes on a limited number of clients.

Raised on a farm in Raglan, he lives at Red Beach with his wife Racheal, their three children and Poppy, their wee Maltese-Shitsu.

He is a Fellow (nominated by peers) and an Accredited Member of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) and a Certified Member of the Institute of Directors (IOD).