Pictured above: Sir John Key.
New Zealand’s path to a high-performing economy starts with bold ideas and collaboration. On May 6, the Icehouse’s Ignite ‘25 Growth Summit at Auckland Museum brings together top business minds – including Sir John Key, Jamie Beaton, Chelsea Lane, and John Wikstrom – to tackle the big questions on productivity, investment, and talent retention.
Accelerating growth in our economy – how do we do it? What are the levers we can pull that will drive productivity? How do we create a culture and an energy that will put the brakes on the brain drain of skilled workers exiting stage left for Australia? How can we create opportunities to attract investment?
On May 6, the Icehouse is hosting the Ignite ‘25 Growth Summit at the Auckland Museum – Under the Dome. Bringing together New Zealand’s leading business minds, this is an opportunity to be part of the conversation as we collaboratively drive forward towards the return of a high performing economy.
Being inspired and connecting with other highly motivated business leaders has never been more important, as is learning from those who have been there before.
Headlining the event is the Rt Hon Sir John Key, 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand. Sir John’s experience taking the reins of New Zealand’s economy in the GFC and his continued involvement at the forefront of global business, positions him well to share his opinions on the current economic situation and how the world’s economy will create both challenges and opportunities for New Zealand business.
Out of adversity came opportunity for Alumni speaker John Wikstrom from Magic Memories. John completed the Icehouse Owner Manager Programme in 2008 at a time when the tourism-focused photography business was scaling up. The business was decimated by Covid-19 when all of the 175 attractions it operated at, across ten countries, stopped operating. Almost all the 1,850 staff were stood down leaving just developers and relationship managers. From those dark days, the business has risen from the ashes to now operating in 16 countries across 220 attractions.
Last year the business recapitalised and raised $25.5 million from investors. John’s ability to think outside the square and put in the hard work has paid off – the chance to chat with John and hear his story will be unmissable.
Bringing together New Zealand’s best business brains is highlighted by Crimson Education’s Jamie Beaton. Jamie was educated at Kings College in Auckland and went on to study at Harvard, starting his Crimson Education business in 2013 from his dorm room. Now at the age of 30, Jamie leads one of New Zealand’s rare “unicorn” businesses – the slang term for a privately owned billion-dollar growth company.
Joining the line-up of speakers is rugby legend Sir Wayne Smith, Chelsea Lane, and Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk with more speakers and panellists still to be announced.
Chelsea Lane was the darling of the NBA for six years. The Sydney-born sports physio had been working in the South Island in 2015 when she accepted a role with the Golden State Warriors, knowing little about basketball, at a time when women in NBA management were almost unheard of. After winning two championships with the Warriors, Chelsea was offered the role of executive director of athletic performance and sports medicine for the Atlanta Hawks, being promoted to vice-president of athletic performance, one of only two women in the NBA at that level.
Chelsea’s inspirational leadership skills and actionable strategies are highly applicable to business and will resonate with all of us who are focused on different ways to retain great staff and unlock new pathways for productivity.
With tickets selling fast for this premier business event, I’m looking forward to meeting new leaders in our business community, getting our heads together to launch fresh ideas to accelerate growth in our economy.
Book tickets to the Ignite ‘25 Growth Summit, here.
