Growth in 2026 looks different. Ready to Rise spotlights the businesses making it happen now – sharing honest insights, smart strategies, and real-world lessons on building momentum in a changing market.
After several years defined by caution, cost control, and uncertainty, many New Zealand businesses have entered 2026 with a different mindset – one that’s more focused on traction than survival – albeit within the context of global uncertainty. Not every business is booming, but there are clear signals of progress, and for those willing to adapt, real opportunities are emerging.
Ready to Rise returns in 2026 as a business breakfast series focused on what it actually takes to move forward in this environment. Less about hype, more about practical growth.
This May, the focus turns to the businesses that are gaining momentum right now. Not in theory, but in practice. You’ll hear directly from founders and leaders who are navigating today’s conditions and finding ways to grow – what they’re doing differently, where they’re placing their bets, and how they’re managing risk along the way.
Join us for an energising morning of practical insight, honest conversation, and forward-thinking strategy. We’ll unpack:
- How New Zealand businesses are finding pockets of growth in a still-challenging market
- The decisions and trade-offs shaping stronger performance
- Where the most immediate opportunities for growth lie in 2026
- What it takes to shift from steady to scalable in the current climate
- How new tech and AI is powering a new type of growth for small business
Whether you’re looking to unlock your next phase of growth, sense-check your strategy, or learn from those already making progress, this event will leave you better equipped to move forward with clarity and confidence.
In 2026, it’s not just about staying the course – it’s about how you rise.
Speakers
Throughout the morning you’ll hear from inspiring founders with different but equally compelling growth stories. Including, a candid conversation with James Fuller during which he’ll discuss building one of Australasia’s fastest-growing fintechs, scaling through shifting market conditions, and what founders should prioritise as growth accelerates. Vicky Cullinane will share insights from launching Lemon & Beaker into the Korean beauty market, including export lessons, common misconceptions around international growth, and the importance of maintaining momentum locally. And, Shyr Godfrey will unpack how Forty Thieves continues to achieve strong growth in the often challenging FMCG space through practical decisions around product, pricing, and market expansion across New Zealand, Australia, and Asia.
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- James Fuller is Co-founder and CEO of Hnry, a fintech platform simplifying tax and financial admin for sole traders. After early roles in technology, strategy, and consulting with Thomson Reuters and Deloitte, James experienced firsthand the challenges of self-employment — leading him to co-create Hnry in 2017. Since launch, Hnry has grown to become New Zealand’s largest and Australasia’s fastest-growing accounting service, processing billions in payments and supporting thousands of self-employed individuals. The company’s mission is to make self-employment simple, affordable, and accessible, freeing up time for people to focus on what they do best.
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- Vicky Cullinane is Co-Founder of Lemon & Beaker, a skincare brand bridging native New Zealand botanicals with advanced Korean skin technology. Her leadership has taken the brand to the global stage, launching into South Korea in 2025 – one of the world’s most saturated beauty markets with over 33,000 competing brands – where Lemon & Beaker generated $1.9M in sales within three hours of going live on local channels. In the US, Vicky led a spa-first rollout strategy that has driven significant commercial momentum, including a multi-year distribution agreement valued at NZD $20 million. Today, she continues to lead Lemon & Beaker’s international expansion.
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- Shyr Godfrey is the Co-owner and Co-founder of Forty Thieves Nut Butters. Together with her husband Brent, Shyr has built Forty Thieves into one of New Zealand’s leading premium nut butter brands. Their multi-award-winning range is now stocked in 500+ supermarkets nationwide and exported to Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong with Australia coming onboard in June. Shyr is a problem solver and true hustler with a creative approach to business. She has focused on shaping their family business into a values-driven brand with a strong identity. Through a community-focused marketing strategy, Forty Thieves has established itself as a trusted brand for adventure, performance, and everyday wellness. Shyr has built strong connections with key FMCG decision-makers and plays an integral part in the Forty Thieves expansion strategy globally. Most recently, Shyr launched a podcast – Smashing PBs, where she chats with inspiring Kiwis who are consistently showing up as their Personal Bests.
Panel
Growth, rewired: AI, automation & the future of business
AI is rapidly changing how businesses operate, compete, and grow. In this panel discussion, Dave Howden (SupaHuman), Andrew Fairgray (2degrees), and Ana Ivanovic-Tongue (academyEX) will explore how SMEs can move beyond the hype and start thinking strategically about AI, automation, workforce capability, and what business leadership looks like in an AI-enabled future.
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- Dave Howden is the CEO and Co-Founder at SupaHuman, leading a team building the first AI-operating system for vocational education and regulated industries across Australia and New Zealand. Dave is a seasoned technology leader and creative engineer with over 20 years in emerging tech. SupaHuman works with trades training providers, polytechnics, geotechnical consultants, commercial providers to make job development more effective, accessible, and more connected to what employers actually need.
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- Andrew Fairgray was appointed Chief Business Officer at 2degrees in September 2019. Andrew is an industry veteran, having formally run his own business JETA Group. Previous to that was the head of corporate and government sales at Vodafone. He has also held a range of executive roles in New Zealand and overseas with multi-national operators such as Alcatel Lucent, Nokia, and IBM. He currently is also an Independent Director of New Zealand Racing Board. Andrew joined 2degrees in their 10th year, with a strong brand and a significant opportunity to grow market share and Fight for Fair for Kiwi Businesses. Most recently through the merger with Vocus, he continues to lead the 2degrees Business team to improve the overall productivity of New Zealand Inc. through leveraging 2degrees world class mobile and fixed networks.
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- Ana Ivanovic-Tongue is Chief Delivery Officer at academyEX, where she helps New Zealand businesses and government organisations build AI fluency and skills for the future. With 25 years in arts and culture and a decade in digital transformation, she champions the enduring human skills of creativity, critical thinking, curiosity that define an agent-native future.
Event sponsor
