Leadership, Innovation and Productivity Take Centre Stage at the 2026 CILT NZ Forum
This year’s Forum is built around three themes that matter right across the sector:
Leadership • Innovation • Productivity
The programme brings together perspectives from government, infrastructure, ports, freight, retail, logistics and business — with dedicated time for Q&A, discussion and networking throughout the day.
Leadership: what does strong leadership look like now?
The Forum opens with a focus on Leadership, chaired by Robin Dunlop.
Speakers include Hon Judith Collins KC, now President of the New Zealand Law Commission, following a career spanning legal practice, Parliament and a wide range of ministerial portfolios.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown will also speak during the Leadership session at a time when Auckland is working through significant transport, infrastructure and governance changes.
They will be joined by Ken Harris of ContainerCo and Dame Jo Brosnahan, bringing perspectives from business and leadership development.
The session concludes with a Leadership Q&A before delegates break for lunch and networking.
Innovation: ideas being put into practice
The afternoon moves into Innovation, chaired by Dean Eggers of Symons Transport.
The session brings together speakers from across the transport, logistics and supply chain landscape, including:
- Grant Doull and Shane O’Grady, TR Group
- Lyle Brady, The Warehouse Group
- Anita Brown and Dave Christie, Tainui Group
- Andrew Clark, Port of Auckland
- David Kriel, Napier Port
- Simon Craddock, Port Taranaki
It is a strong cross-section of organisations working with freight, transport assets, infrastructure, retail supply chains and major investment.
The session finishes with an Innovation Q&A, giving delegates the opportunity to explore the ideas and experiences raised during the afternoon.
Productivity: how do we lift performance?
The final Forum theme is Productivity, chaired by Simon Court MP.
Economist Cameron Bagrie will look at productivity in logistics, followed by Dom Kalasih of Transporting New Zealand on productivity in freight transport.
Patrick Brockie, CEO of City Rail Link, will then bring a major infrastructure perspective to the discussion with a session on City Rail productivity experiences.
A final Productivity Q&A brings the day’s Forum programme together before closing at 5:00pm.
More than the sessions
The day has deliberately been structured to give delegates time to connect as well as listen.
Registration opens at 9:00am, with coffee and networking through to 10:20am before the Forum begins at 10:30am.
There are further opportunities to talk with speakers, colleagues and people from across the profession over lunch, breaks and the transition into the evening programme.
Then it’s time to celebrate
Following the Forum, Cocktail Hour runs from 5:30pm–6:30pm, before the CILT NZ Awards Dinner from 6:30pm–10:00pm.
Hosted by Wendy Petrie, the Awards Dinner will recognise people, organisations, projects, research and ideas making an impact across transport, logistics and supply chain.
With live jazz setting the mood and MIX IT DJ taking the evening through later in the night, it is a chance to finish the day by celebrating achievement across the profession.
You can attend the Forum, Awards Dinner, or both.
Friday 20 November 2026
JetPark Auckland Airport Hotel & Conference Centre, Auckland
Early Bird pricing is available until 11:00pm Tuesday 20 October 2026.
See the full event details, view ticket options and book:
https://ciltevents.co.nz/event?id=4857