NZPI Conference 2017 - Wellington you turned it on!

Another year, another fantastic NZPI Conference over and done with! What a wonderful week of incredible speakers, late night social events and catching up with clients new & old. I’ve had the absolute pleasure of sponsoring and attending these events over the past three years and I have to say – Wellington you turned it on! Definitely not in the weather department however – typical timing for a cyclone to pass through.. Many an attendee made the mad dash for the old thermal and raincoat, myself included! 

Thank you to the YPC who invited me back for another year to host their opening night festivities! I toned it back a bit this year with the games – nothing too mortifying but we still had a fair few giggles. Paper planes were the theme this year – well done to the winners of the Most Creative, Best flying and Most Entertaining fact! I hope you enjoy the $50 prezzie cards!

The biggest delight for me this year was catching up with a couple of young planners who I met a few years back, who back then were still completing their studies but are now fully immersed in their first planning roles! For me, being a part of the journey of my candidate’s careers is what makes my job so fulfilling! For them, I’m sure it’s all about now being able to afford a few drinks and a meal out!

Another highlight for me this year was getting to see some of my candidate’s and clients presentations – so awesome to be able to see these people make a truly positive impact on not only their new companies but on our environment, the projects they contribute to and the planning community as a whole.

I want to express a huge congratulations and thank you to the organisers of this years’ event, to the incredible NZPI committee – Vanessa, Lauren, Jane and David – without your tireless efforts, none of last week would have been possible and you all did an amazing job of pulling everything together! What a turnout! From memory – 650 delegates!

From the Papa Pounamu opening at the start of the conference to the Gala Awards Dinner on the Friday, we were spoiled with yummy food, lots of coffee, thought-leading presentations from local and international speakers and spent a week surrounded by inspirational planning professionals from all over our amazing country. I am so proud to be a part of such a vibrant and passionate group of individuals and very humbled to be welcomed in with open arms. Thank you for having me back for another year of planning shenanigans – see you all next year in Tauranga! Fingers crossed we’ll see some sunshine!