What does the future of work look like for supply chain professionals?
We are entering a period of significant change with AI, digitisation and automation driving both excitement and fear within our ranks. Excitement in that many of our pain points and challenges, our tedious and administrative tasks, will disappear, and fear in that many are worried about their skills and job security along with wanting to better to understand, “what’s in it for me” (WIFM).
The presentation will predict how this will play out, and moreover how we should prepare our teams and ourselves for the future.
Event details
Date: Thursday, 16 April 2026 Time: 5-6 pm followed by networking drinks. Venue: Room 310, Level 3, Sir Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland 1010 (pay parking available beneath the building).
About Richard Marshall
Rich Marshall joined Air New Zealand in March 2023, as the General Manager Supply Chain overseeing the Supply Chain & Procurement teams in Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson, and Supply Chain and Ground Support Equipment operations across the Group.
Rich spent 25 years in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), predominantly on No 40 and 42 Squadrons as a Navigator. Rich was a project manager for both the C-130 Hercules Avionics upgrade and the acquisition of the Boeing 757s. After a diplomatic posting to Washington DC, USA, Richard was appointed the Base Commander at RNZAF Base Auckland.
Prior to joining Air New Zealand, Rich was the General Manager of Supply Chain at Douglas Pharmaceuticals and prior to this, was the Head of Supply Chain and Procurement at SKYCITY.
Richard holds a BCom (Management) from Massey University, a Certificate in Sustainability Strategy from Cambridge University and a Certificate in Digital Supply Chain from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and attended the University of Auckland’s Strategic Supply Chain Programme, and NZPICS’ CPIM course. In 2025, Richard was awarded the Safeguard Safety Leader of the Year Award.
Richard is married to Melissa who is a lawyer and IR/ER Specialist and has two adult children, Hugh who is a lawyer in Sydney and Rosa who is on the DHL Supply Chain Graduate programme. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, biking and swimming. He also mentors several up-and-coming Supply Chain practitioners.
This event is proudly sponsored by More Optimal: