Programme
Please note - timings will remain the same, however programme sessions may be subject to change.
Reunion MC
Jackie Clarke
Jackie Clarke is renowned for her maverick entertainment style, whether it’s treading the boards, making music with her friends or as a comedic raconteur at glittering events, or bringing energy and spice to conferences as an MC.
She’s been captivating audiences for over 40 years and is looking forward to bringing her energy and spice to Reunion 25 as our MC.
The Keynotes
Becki Butler
Co-CEO | Tax Traders
Hidden in plain sight: The untapped goldmine
What if one of the most powerful drivers of business performance, innovation, and resilience was right in front of us—and yet consistently overlooked? In this thought-provoking keynote, Becki challenges audiences to rethink what truly drives competitive advantage. Drawing on global research and real-world examples, she reveals the unseen opportunity shaping the future of business—and why those who spot it early will lead the next era of growth.
Mark Jenkins
Co-Founder & CEO | The Gap
Embrace the pace: Thriving in the era of change
Change is no longer a distant wave - it’s a relentless tide shaping the future of accounting and bookkeeping. In a world where technology accelerates progress and disrupts industries, professionals must ask: is the world truly speeding up, or are we simply losing focus on what matters most? This keynote explores the evolving landscape, tackling the impact of digital transformation, the rise of automation, and the dangers of misinformation. Are accountants and bookkeepers on the verge of redundancy, or are they poised to become the most indispensable advisors of the modern era?
Mike Merry
CTO | The Gap
Fast lane thinking: Building better by driving smarter
Over the past year, our product team’s been testing, tuning, and occasionally taking a few sharp corners. Not every pit stop has been perfect, but every lap has brought us closer to building a smarter, faster, and more resilient engine for your advisory success. We’ll break down what the "fast lane" means to us: Quick iterations instead of long pit stops, tighter feedback loops for smarter steering and small, consistent improvements that keep the momentum.
Kaila Colbin
Founder / CEO | Boma, Building a world of intentional, intelligent,
courageous leaders
Riding the exponential wave of change
What do nanotechnology, solar power, artificial intelligence, and robotics have in common, and, more importantly, what do they have to do with you? Join Kaila Colbin for a startling look at the dramatic implications of exponential technologies, and some insight into how we might better prepare ourselves to adapt and thrive in a dynamically changing world.
Saurav Bansal
CEO | GAIT Global
AI in action: Transforming accounting workflows for the modern firm
The accounting industry stands at a technological inflection point where artificial intelligence and deep learning are creating unprecedented opportunities to reimagine how firms work. This presentation explores how emerging automation technologies are enabling accounting professionals to focus on higher-value advisory work while maintaining compliance precision, featuring real-world examples that have successfully embraced these innovations to transform their practices.
Brad Turville & Amy Vincent
Head of Growth & Team Leader Member Success APAC | The Gap
Pit stop perspectives
Most accounting firms want to move faster, grow advisory, and create a better business but few ever pull over to check if they’re heading in the right direction. In this candid session, we’ll challenge the head-down-bum-up approach and show why the highest-performing firms make space for pitstops. You’ll explore the common breakdowns that stall firms and learn what it really looks like to build a modern advisory practice with “with or without you” momentum. Expect practical tools, sharp truths, and a reminder that now is the time to “Embrace the Space.”
Patrick Gower
News journalist, former political editor, television presenter and radio broadcaster
This is the f#$%ing news!
A journalist that is focused on positive news and solutions. Paddy has recently released his biography This Is The F#$%ing News: My Story and completed a book tour around Aotearoa. He produces positive stories on Stuff, and his award-winning television current affairs series Paddy Gower Has Issues will return in 2025.
Rob Waddell
Olympian. Leader. Legend.
Quality across sport, life and business
Join Rob as he shares powerful lessons from the water to the boardroom—revealing the common threads between high-performance sport and business success.
Client panel
Where the rubber hit's the road
Hear directly from Trish, Jo and Emily - business owners who’ve experienced the real impact of working with their accountant beyond compliance. In this panel, clients share how advisory support has helped them make better decisions, improve cashflow, and plan with confidence. A fresh perspective on the value of advisory, from the people who benefit most: your clients.
Breakout Sessions
Tom Bilton & Brad Turville
Data-driven advisory: Conversations that convert the right clients
Knowing who to engage, when and why is an important first step in unlocking advisory success. Learn practical ways to quickly and easily identify which clients to focus on, confidently engage them, demonstrate value from the first meeting and naturally grow recurring revenue.
Cathy Hendry
Aligning your reward policy to support your business strategy
Gain a solid grounding in the whys and how’s of developing remuneration systems to suit your organisation. This workshop covers why you need a remuneration system, how to develop it, what underpins it and how you can use it to reward performance.
Angela Fisher
Taming the messy middle: Smart AI tools for data, debtors & cashflow
Unlock the power of AI and automation to strengthen Xero data integrity, improve debtor days, and give clients real cashflow clarity.
This session shares the smart tools that can fix the messy middle! Boosting your advisory impact without adding to your team’s workload. Walk away with practical strategies to streamline the layer that can make or break your advice.
Simonne Liley
Staying steady when the pressure's on
A practical session on how to find personal balance in a role defined by deadlines, precision, and client expectations, and understand how that impacts performance and leadership.
Matthias Hipp
Business planning success from scratch: Unlocking advisory with confidence
Business planning doesn’t have to be complex or intimidating.
Matthias shares how simple conversations can lead to powerful planning engagements. Learn how to overcome common barriers, build confidence, and start small, using the tools you already have. Walk away with practical steps to turn business planning into a valuable, growth-focused service your clients will love.
John Gibson & Blair Evans
Advisory that grows: Helping agri clients thrive
Learn how to use existing data to create meaningful management reports, forecasts, and budgets tailored to the unique rhythms of farming businesses. Positioning services such as business planning, coaching and accountability support, and succession planning conversations that ensure long-term sustainability.
Brad Turville
Selling with speed, confidence and control
Sales doesn’t have to feel pushy or awkward. This practical, fast-paced session will show you how to build sales into everyday client conversations, without the pressure. You’ll learn simple frameworks, powerful language, and confidence-boosting tactics to help you offer more, price better, and grow your firm. Perfect for accountants who want to sell by helping, not hustling.
Manoli Aerakis & guest
Succession planning: Buy, sell, merge
What makes a firm more valuable, and what holds it back? Explore the essentials of succession planning in a shifting landscape. Whether you're looking to sell, merge, or grow, you’ll get practical advice on boosting firm value, avoiding common pitfalls, and getting your house in order. Ideal for anyone wanting to future-proof their business or prepare for a successful transition.
Liz Eveleigh & Tarryn Powell
Mastering practice management success
Practical tips, real-world experiences, and thought-provoking dialogue on navigating challenges such as workplace culture, reporting, cash flow management, and systemisation. Our panel experts discuss the critical components that contribute to a successful accounting practice, highlighting strategies that foster a positive workplace culture and enhance collaboration among teams.