Speakers - Education Workshops
Finance
Peter Harris, CEO, Maisey Harris & CO
Peter Harris co-founded the award-winning accountancy and advisory firm Maisey Harris & Co in 2015. As CEO, Peter has successfully grown the firm to include two offices across Hamilton and Tauranga, employing 21 highly skilled and motivated team members. Each year, Maisey Harris & Co assists hundreds of businesses in achieving greater success. Peter is dedicated to helping his clients attain financial, time, and mind freedom. Outside of work, Peter stays active by participating in events like Ironman and enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two beautiful daughters.
New to Business
Friday 6 June, 11:45am
Building a Strong financial Foundation: Essential Skills for New Business Owners
This session will cover the fundamental financial skills and strategies needed to establish and grow a successful business. Key areas of focus will include:
Advanced Business Leadership
Friday 6 June, 1:45pm
Innovative Strategies for Business Growth and Sustainability
This session will delve into advanced strategies and innovations that can help established business owners take their businesses to the next level. Key areas of focus will include:
Peter Harris, CEO, Maisey Harris & CO
Peter Harris co-founded the award-winning accountancy and advisory firm Maisey Harris & Co in 2015. As CEO, Peter has successfully grown the firm to include two offices across Hamilton and Tauranga, employing 21 highly skilled and motivated team members. Each year, Maisey Harris & Co assists hundreds of businesses in achieving greater success. Peter is dedicated to helping his clients attain financial, time, and mind freedom. Outside of work, Peter stays active by participating in events like Ironman and enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two beautiful daughters.
New to Business
Friday 6 June, 11:45am
Building a Strong financial Foundation: Essential Skills for New Business Owners
This session will cover the fundamental financial skills and strategies needed to establish and grow a successful business. Key areas of focus will include:
- Cashflow management:
- The difference between profit and cash
- The cash conversion cycle
- Your plan to improve cashflow
- Seven causes of poor cashflow
- Budgeting 101
- Setting and reporting your key performance indicators
- Pricing for profit
Advanced Business Leadership
Friday 6 June, 1:45pm
Innovative Strategies for Business Growth and Sustainability
This session will delve into advanced strategies and innovations that can help established business owners take their businesses to the next level. Key areas of focus will include:
- Leadership and Management: Advanced leadership techniques and management practices to inspire and motivate your team.
- Strategic Planning: Developing long-term strategies for growth and sustainability.
- Reclaim your time: Strategies to focus on what’s important and get your time back
- Financial Health: In-depth financial strategies, including advanced budgeting and investment planning.
Legal
Geoff Hardy
After 48 years as a lawyer, Geoff Hardy is recognised as one of the leading construction lawyers in New Zealand. He now operates as a company director, adjudicator, and consultant to the construction industry. As an honorary member of NZCB, he is passionate about the organisation and its members. He wrote the majority of NZCB’s standard-form contracts, and he fronted the legal helpline for almost 20 years. At this year’s Conference he will provide guidance on how to avoid legal disputes, or if one is unavoidable, how to ensure that the outcome is a fair one, and you are not taken advantage of.
New to Business
Saturday 7 June, 11:35am
How to Avoid Making Legal F***ups
You are in an industry where you create new builds or renovations that cost a lot of money and take a long time. It’s likely to be the biggest investment your customers are going to make, and it’s stressful both to them and to you. Plus, whatever you build directly affects their enjoyment of life and their health and safety, so it’s heavily regulated by the Government. For all those reasons, it’s a minefield out there, and you are at risk. The income that you earn pays your mortgage and feeds your family, so it’s critical that you remain on the right side of the law. Geoff is going to give you some basic tips that will keep you out of trouble and stand you in good stead for your entire career.
Advanced Business Leadership
Friday 6 June, 2:50pm
How to Use the Law to Your Advantage
You’ve been in the game for a while now. You’ve learned some lessons, either the hard way or the easy way, but you’ve survived so far and you’ve got a basic understanding of how to keep yourself out of trouble. This is all about finessing your knowledge, doing it slightly better than before, minimising the risks you are still exposed to. Because a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. You can make your contracts more watertight. You can improve your client management and your staff management skills. You can keep your suppliers and your subcontractors honest. You can leverage off the Halo guarantee. You can fend off your stroppy creditors and leave your bad debtors no room to move. And above all, forewarned is forearmed. When you know the law, you can avoid inadvertently breaking it.
Geoff Hardy
After 48 years as a lawyer, Geoff Hardy is recognised as one of the leading construction lawyers in New Zealand. He now operates as a company director, adjudicator, and consultant to the construction industry. As an honorary member of NZCB, he is passionate about the organisation and its members. He wrote the majority of NZCB’s standard-form contracts, and he fronted the legal helpline for almost 20 years. At this year’s Conference he will provide guidance on how to avoid legal disputes, or if one is unavoidable, how to ensure that the outcome is a fair one, and you are not taken advantage of.
New to Business
Saturday 7 June, 11:35am
How to Avoid Making Legal F***ups
You are in an industry where you create new builds or renovations that cost a lot of money and take a long time. It’s likely to be the biggest investment your customers are going to make, and it’s stressful both to them and to you. Plus, whatever you build directly affects their enjoyment of life and their health and safety, so it’s heavily regulated by the Government. For all those reasons, it’s a minefield out there, and you are at risk. The income that you earn pays your mortgage and feeds your family, so it’s critical that you remain on the right side of the law. Geoff is going to give you some basic tips that will keep you out of trouble and stand you in good stead for your entire career.
Advanced Business Leadership
Friday 6 June, 2:50pm
How to Use the Law to Your Advantage
You’ve been in the game for a while now. You’ve learned some lessons, either the hard way or the easy way, but you’ve survived so far and you’ve got a basic understanding of how to keep yourself out of trouble. This is all about finessing your knowledge, doing it slightly better than before, minimising the risks you are still exposed to. Because a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. You can make your contracts more watertight. You can improve your client management and your staff management skills. You can keep your suppliers and your subcontractors honest. You can leverage off the Halo guarantee. You can fend off your stroppy creditors and leave your bad debtors no room to move. And above all, forewarned is forearmed. When you know the law, you can avoid inadvertently breaking it.
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Marketing
Ryan Newton & Nathan Chambers, Stanley Street |
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For over 20 years, Nathan has helped businesses define who they are through effective brand communications. With a strong track record of creating lasting brands and results-driven creative work, his experience spans transport, FMCG, government, hospitality, product design, and event branding. He has influenced many of New Zealand’s top brand leaders and supported his team in becoming some of the most effective designers in the industry. Nathan’s work has earned numerous local and international awards across all types of brand communication and has been featured in global publications. He is an active member of the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ).
Ryan leads a team of social and digital media specialists who work with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to large organisations, helping them grow through effective digital marketing. With 15 years of experience, he’s helped some of New Zealand’s biggest brands stay relevant and connect with their audiences, including Coca-Cola, Briscoes, Rebel Sport, and KFC. Ryan’s approach is practical and results-driven, focused on proven digital strategies that deliver real growth for the businesses he works with.
New to Business
Friday 6 June, 1:45pm
How Marketing Can Help Grow Your Business
Starting a business is tough and finding time to promote your business can feel overwhelming - but it doesn't have to be.
This session breaks down the essentials: how to use social media effectively, building a consistent brand presence, and creating meaningful customer relationships. You’ll walk away with practical tips to grow your business, attract more customers, and stand out in a crowded market.
Advanced Business Leadership
Friday 6 June, 11:45am
Taking Your Business To The Next Level Through Increased Marketing Activity
You’ve built a business, but how do you take it to the next level? This session dives into strategies for leveraging digital and social media platforms, refining how you get your business out there, and deepening customer relationships. Learn how to stay relevant and grow your business.
Ryan leads a team of social and digital media specialists who work with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to large organisations, helping them grow through effective digital marketing. With 15 years of experience, he’s helped some of New Zealand’s biggest brands stay relevant and connect with their audiences, including Coca-Cola, Briscoes, Rebel Sport, and KFC. Ryan’s approach is practical and results-driven, focused on proven digital strategies that deliver real growth for the businesses he works with.
New to Business
Friday 6 June, 1:45pm
How Marketing Can Help Grow Your Business
Starting a business is tough and finding time to promote your business can feel overwhelming - but it doesn't have to be.
This session breaks down the essentials: how to use social media effectively, building a consistent brand presence, and creating meaningful customer relationships. You’ll walk away with practical tips to grow your business, attract more customers, and stand out in a crowded market.
Advanced Business Leadership
Friday 6 June, 11:45am
Taking Your Business To The Next Level Through Increased Marketing Activity
You’ve built a business, but how do you take it to the next level? This session dives into strategies for leveraging digital and social media platforms, refining how you get your business out there, and deepening customer relationships. Learn how to stay relevant and grow your business.
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Sustainability
Julie Roberts, Head of Sustainability, Mitre10 & Steve Nicholls, Innovation Project Lead, 3R |
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Julie leads sustainability across Mitre 10’s 84 stores and a support centre provided shared services. She is passionate about co-creating real solutions and initiatives that span strategy development and frameworks, circularity and product stewardships, carbon management, emergency resilience, sustainable procurement, and ethical sourcing. With over 20 years of professional experience in health, safety, and sustainability, Julie has worked across various industries, including manufacturing, retail, warehousing, and product management. Her expertise ensures legislative compliance while aligning with broader company strategies and initiatives. She builds strong relationships, drives for excellence using a practical and creative approach to inspire collaboration from the boardroom to the shop floor to drive real and lasting sustainable impacts.
Steve has been with 3R Group for six years – first as Operations Manager and later as Innovation Project Lead. Steve and the Innovation team are vital in exploring and developing commercial opportunities from materials 3R's clients typically consider waste. For innovators like Steve, one person’s trash really can be another’s treasure.
New to Business
Saturday 7 June, 10:30am
Building for Better - What's in your sustainability toolbox?
New to sustainability? Half of the waste in our landfills is estimated to come from construction and demolition, so you play a vital role in building a more sustainable future for Aotearoa New Zealand. Learn how to put everyday sustainable practices into your business, how to reduce waste on your building site, along with practical tips and tools to help you drive real, impactful sustainable change. This session will feature an interactive Q&A, so bring all your tough sustainability questions for our industry experts.
Advanced Business Leadership
Saturday 7 June, 1:05pm
Building for Better - What's in your sustainability toolbox?
Half of the waste in our landfills estimated to come from construction and demolition, you and your teams play a vital role in creating a more sustainable future for Aotearoa New Zealand. Build on your existing business practices, with practical tips and tools to help drive real and impactful change and use sustainability to gain a competitive advantage. This session will feature an interactive Q&A, so bring all your tough sustainability questions for our industry experts.
Steve has been with 3R Group for six years – first as Operations Manager and later as Innovation Project Lead. Steve and the Innovation team are vital in exploring and developing commercial opportunities from materials 3R's clients typically consider waste. For innovators like Steve, one person’s trash really can be another’s treasure.
New to Business
Saturday 7 June, 10:30am
Building for Better - What's in your sustainability toolbox?
New to sustainability? Half of the waste in our landfills is estimated to come from construction and demolition, so you play a vital role in building a more sustainable future for Aotearoa New Zealand. Learn how to put everyday sustainable practices into your business, how to reduce waste on your building site, along with practical tips and tools to help you drive real, impactful sustainable change. This session will feature an interactive Q&A, so bring all your tough sustainability questions for our industry experts.
Advanced Business Leadership
Saturday 7 June, 1:05pm
Building for Better - What's in your sustainability toolbox?
Half of the waste in our landfills estimated to come from construction and demolition, you and your teams play a vital role in creating a more sustainable future for Aotearoa New Zealand. Build on your existing business practices, with practical tips and tools to help drive real and impactful change and use sustainability to gain a competitive advantage. This session will feature an interactive Q&A, so bring all your tough sustainability questions for our industry experts.
HR
Jason Ennor, Co Founder & CEO, MyHR
Jason Ennor is one of NZ’s preeminent Human Resources (HR) thinkers and leaders. Believing there was a more intuitive way to deliver core HR services, Jason left a 15-year-long career in corporate HR and co-founded MyHR.
New to Business
Saturday 7 June, 1:05pm
How to Manage the Awkward Stuff: Under Performing, Letting People Go
Advanced Business Leadership
Saturday 7 June, 10:30am
How to Manage the Awkward Stuff: Under Performing, Letting People Go
Jason Ennor, Co Founder & CEO, MyHR
Jason Ennor is one of NZ’s preeminent Human Resources (HR) thinkers and leaders. Believing there was a more intuitive way to deliver core HR services, Jason left a 15-year-long career in corporate HR and co-founded MyHR.
New to Business
Saturday 7 June, 1:05pm
How to Manage the Awkward Stuff: Under Performing, Letting People Go
Advanced Business Leadership
Saturday 7 June, 10:30am
How to Manage the Awkward Stuff: Under Performing, Letting People Go
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Wellbeing
Rafael Caso, Live Well Build Well & Chris Polaczuk, CHASNZ |
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We’re proud to introduce Rafael Caso as the Engagement and Program Lead for LIVE WELL BUILD WELL. Rafael brings serious boots-on-the-ground experience to the team, having worked as both a Health & Safety Manager and Civil Works Project Manager. He knows the pressures of the job firsthand—and more importantly, he knows how to connect with tradies in a real, relatable way.
What sets Rafael apart is his passion for creating safer, healthier, and more connected work sites. He’s all about building trust, sparking meaningful conversations, and helping teams prioritise their mental and physical well-being.
Outside of work, Rafael’s just as committed—he’s a family man raising teenagers, and you’ll often find him training at the gym with his kids. He lives and breathes the values of LIVE WELL BUILD WELL, making him the perfect person to lead our program from the front.
Chris Polaczuk is manager of the Ergonomics team at Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ). CHASNZs Work Should Not Hurt Programme aims to reduce physical and mental wear on tear on New Zealand tradespeople with a world leading approach that is guided by Tradies themselves. The programme offers simple and practical ways that we can reduce musculoskeletal injuries -the leading cause of lost time in the Construction industry.
New to Business - Friday 6 June, 2:50pm
Advanced Business Leadership - Saturday 7 June, 11:35am
Boosting Tradies’ Health, Resilience, and Performance in Construction
With years of experience in residential construction, spanning site management, health and safety, and well-being, I’ve seen firsthand the physical and mental toll that demanding work can take on tradies. My passion lies in supporting construction workers to become more resilient, physically stronger, less prone to accidents, and ultimately, to thrive—both on-site and in life.
LIVE WELL BUILD WELL: A Tradesman-Led Mental Fitness Program
Traditional mental health programs often focus on problems. LIVE WELL BUILD WELL takes a different approach—it’s strengths-based, practical, and driven by tradies themselves. Instead of a top-down approach, the program creates space for builders to share their own solutions for resilience and robust mental fitness, making it relatable, real, and highly effective.
5S: Boost Your Mental Fitness Training
This practical framework helps tradies build mental fitness the same way they build physical strength—through small, consistent improvements. The interactive training covers:
Free Digital Resources & Expert Support
To make mental fitness accessible to all, we provide free resources across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, featuring tradesmen’s success stories and practical tips. Plus, we’re launching a SiteSafe mental fitness module, presented by Professor of Health Grant Schofield, offering expert insights tailored for the construction industry.
Through practical training, peer-led learning, and expert guidance, LIVE WELL BUILD WELL is empowering tradies to take charge of their health, safety, and success.
What sets Rafael apart is his passion for creating safer, healthier, and more connected work sites. He’s all about building trust, sparking meaningful conversations, and helping teams prioritise their mental and physical well-being.
Outside of work, Rafael’s just as committed—he’s a family man raising teenagers, and you’ll often find him training at the gym with his kids. He lives and breathes the values of LIVE WELL BUILD WELL, making him the perfect person to lead our program from the front.
Chris Polaczuk is manager of the Ergonomics team at Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ). CHASNZs Work Should Not Hurt Programme aims to reduce physical and mental wear on tear on New Zealand tradespeople with a world leading approach that is guided by Tradies themselves. The programme offers simple and practical ways that we can reduce musculoskeletal injuries -the leading cause of lost time in the Construction industry.
New to Business - Friday 6 June, 2:50pm
Advanced Business Leadership - Saturday 7 June, 11:35am
Boosting Tradies’ Health, Resilience, and Performance in Construction
With years of experience in residential construction, spanning site management, health and safety, and well-being, I’ve seen firsthand the physical and mental toll that demanding work can take on tradies. My passion lies in supporting construction workers to become more resilient, physically stronger, less prone to accidents, and ultimately, to thrive—both on-site and in life.
LIVE WELL BUILD WELL: A Tradesman-Led Mental Fitness Program
Traditional mental health programs often focus on problems. LIVE WELL BUILD WELL takes a different approach—it’s strengths-based, practical, and driven by tradies themselves. Instead of a top-down approach, the program creates space for builders to share their own solutions for resilience and robust mental fitness, making it relatable, real, and highly effective.
5S: Boost Your Mental Fitness Training
This practical framework helps tradies build mental fitness the same way they build physical strength—through small, consistent improvements. The interactive training covers:
- Sleep – Rest and recovery are essential for peak performance.
- Start the day with strong Intention – Beginning the day with a plan sets the tone for success.
- Sustain Energy – Healthy food and breaks keep energy levels high.
- Stopping Work and being present with loved ones – A clear work-life balance prevents burnout.
- Social Connection – Quality time with friends and family strengthens well-being.
Free Digital Resources & Expert Support
To make mental fitness accessible to all, we provide free resources across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, featuring tradesmen’s success stories and practical tips. Plus, we’re launching a SiteSafe mental fitness module, presented by Professor of Health Grant Schofield, offering expert insights tailored for the construction industry.
Through practical training, peer-led learning, and expert guidance, LIVE WELL BUILD WELL is empowering tradies to take charge of their health, safety, and success.
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We'd love to hear from you
P. +64 27 410 6567
E. [email protected] Privacy Policy | New Zealand Certified Builders (nzcb.nz) NZCB Conference 2025 6-7 June 2025 Claudelands, Hamilton |
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