NEW ZEALAND AEROSPACE SUMMIT 2025

Programme

Focus Session | Tuesday 07 October and
Summit | Wednesday 08 October

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Ōtautahi Christchurch

Programme Subject to Change

Tuesday 07 October | Focus Sessions


Join us on Day 1 of the Summit for a select Focus Sessions where participants can deep dive into topics.

These sessions are an additional cost and can be purchased via the registration process.

9.15am - 10.30am

Focus Sessions - #1

  • Moderator: Emma Renowden, Aerospace Sector Lead, ChristchurchNZ

    Please note: This session title is subject to change.

  • Facilitators: Sarah Kessans, Associate Professor | University of Canterbury, School of Product Design, Faculty of Engineering and Catherine Qualtrough, Partnerships and Innovation Manager - Space and Advanced Tech

  • Moderator: Sarah Ramsay, CEO & Co-owner, United Machinists

  • Moderator: Jude Rushmere, General Manager New Zealand, Nova Systems

    • Eamon McGrath, CASA

    • Kate Smith, CAA

    • Carolina Durrant, Ministry of Transport

    • James Powell, Dawn Aerospace

10.30am

Morning tea (requires Focus Session registration)

11.15am - 12.30pm

Focus Sessions - #2

  • Moderator: Dr Isaac Henderson, CEO | Droneshows Limited and Chair of UAVNZ

  • Facilitators: Sarah Kessans, Associate Professor | University of Canterbury, School of Product Design, Faculty of Engineering and Catherine Qualtrough, Partnerships and Innovation Manager - Space and Advanced Tech

  • Moderator: Miho Tanaka-Gumpp, Business Development Manager, Argus Manutech

    • Saktthi Priya Balaji Ranganathan, Jix Reality

    • Tuana Yazici, Founder, Chair, & CEO | Tuana Group, AeroAI Voyages & AeroAI DesignLab and
      Founder, Chair & CEO of Nonprofit AeroAI Global Solutions

    • Bob Voros, Director of Product Safety Assurance, Merlin Labs NZ

  • Please note: This session title is subject to change.

12.30pm

Lunch (requires Focus Session registration)

1.30pm - 2.45pm

Focus Sessions - #3

  • Noting this session continues after the afternoon tea break D1

    Facilitator:Cheryl Doig, Futurist

    This practical workshop uses strategic foresight to explore Space Ethics, Space Workforce, and Space Aotearoa 2050. Participants will develop futures scenarios combining ideas to explore potential outcomes for the aerospace landscape of tomorrow.

    Take a step back from your day-to-day work and gain a wider perspective on aerospace's future in this hands-on strategic foresight workshop. We'll explore key areas including Space Ethics, Space Workforce, and Space Aotearoa as we consider possible, preferable, plausible and even unexpected futures for the industry in 2050. You'll walk away with practical futures tools that help you anticipate possibilities—valuable skills for both managing risks and driving innovation. Interact with others to tackle an essential question: How can we create an aerospace industry that's both sustainable and beneficial for humanity?

  • Facilitators: Sarah Kessans, Associate Professor | University of Canterbury, School of Product Design, Faculty of Engineering and Catherine Qualtrough, Partnerships and Innovation Manager - Space and Advanced Tech

  • Moderator: John Cater, University of Canterbury

    • Stefan Powell, Dawn Aerospace

    • Malcolm Snowdon, Snowdon Consulting

  • Moderator: Robin McNeill, CEO, Space Operations New Zealand

  • Moderator: Angus Blair, General Partner, Outset Ventures

    • Aaron Small, GD1

    • Timothy Armitage, InvestNZ

    Please note: This session title is subject to change.

2.45pm

Afternoon tea (requires focus session registration)

3.30pm - 4.45pm

Focus Sessions - #4

  • Noting this session if following on from C1.

    Facilitator: Cheryl Doig, Futurist

    This practical workshop uses strategic foresight to explore Space Ethics, Space Workforce, and Space Aotearoa 2050. Participants will develop futures scenarios combining ideas to explore potential outcomes for the aerospace landscape of tomorrow.

    Take a step back from your day-to-day work and gain a wider perspective on aerospace's future in this hands-on strategic foresight workshop. We'll explore key areas including Space Ethics, Space Workforce, and Space Aotearoa as we consider possible, preferable, plausible and even unexpected futures for the industry in 2050. You'll walk away with practical futures tools that help you anticipate possibilities—valuable skills for both managing risks and driving innovation. Interact with others to tackle an essential question: How can we create an aerospace industry that's both sustainable and beneficial for humanity?

  • Facilitators: Sarah Kessans, Associate Professor | University of Canterbury, School of Product Design, Faculty of Engineering and Catherine Qualtrough, Partnerships and Innovation Manager - Space and Advanced Tech

  • Moderator: Gerard Dale

    Please note: This session title is subject to change.

  • Moderator: Steve Smyth, Director Emerging Technologies Programme
    CAA New Zealand
    Committee member:Jude Rushmere, General Manager New Zealand, Nova Systems

    • Stan Topping, Head of Aerospace Strategy & Global Partnerships
      Tāwhaki Joint Venture

    • Sean Rogers, CAA New Zealand

    • Graeme Tilley, Nova Systems Test & Evaluation Specialist

    • Mathiynan Nithiyananthan, Syos

  • Moderator: Graham Scown


Wednesday 08 October | Summit Day

8.30am

Registration and arrival tea and coffee
Join us to start your morning with coffee and networking in the Exhibition Hall.

9.00am

Morning session

Mihi Whakatau
Ngā Tūāhuriri, provides a mihi whakatau, a traditional Māori welcome that greets visitors, builds connections, and sets a respectful, inclusive tone for the gathering.

Welcome
David Downs, MC and CEO, New Zealand Story Group

Opening Address
Mark Rocket, President, Aerospace New Zealand and CEO, Kea Aerospace

Keynote Presentation
Stefan Powell, CEO and CTO, Dawn Aerospace

Quickfire Aerospace Project Updates
- Prof Lucy Johnston, Tumu Tuarua Rangahau | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), New Zealand
- Stan Topping, Head of Aerospace Strategy & Global Partnerships,Tāwhaki Joint Venture
- Dr Isaac Henderson, CEO | Droneshows Limited and Chair of UAVNZ
- Peter Johnson, Nova Systems

Panel Discussion brought to you by Fabrum

Morning tea within the Exhibition Hall
Enjoy morning tea surrounded by the buzz of our exhibition, celebrating the very best in New Zealand aerospace innovation.

10.30am

Mid-Morning Session

11.10am

Keynote Presentation

Panel Discussion: Sustainability for Future Generations
Moderator: Priyanka Dhopade, University of Auckland
- Dr Reuben Brown, Chief Science Officer, Zenno Astronautics
- Tuana Yazici, Founder, Chair, & CEO | Tuana Group, AeroAI Voyages & AeroAI DesignLab
Founder, Chair & CEO of Nonprofit AeroAI Global Solutions
- Julian Phillips, Tāwhaki

Quickfire Aerospace Project Updates
- Scott Spooner, CEO, SPS Automation
- Catherine MacGowan, Deputy Chief Executive, Aviation Safety Oversight, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

Featured Speaker

Invited Speaker

Lunch Sponsor
Dr Hugh Mortimer, Associate Director, National Laboratories, RAL Space, STFC

Lunch within the Exhibition Hall
Enjoy lunch surrounded by the buzz of our exhibition, celebrating the very best in New Zealand aerospace innovation, while connecting with your aerospace community.

1.00pm

Afternoon Session

2.00pm

Featured Speaker
Max Arshavsky, CEO & Founder, Zenno Astronautics

Quickfire Aerospace Project Updates
- Sarah Ramsay, CEO & Co-owner, United Machinists

Invited Speaker

Panel Discussion: Satellite Earth Observations: Helping Earth from Space
Moderator: Robin McNeill, CEO Space Operations New Zealand

Afternoon tea within the Exhibition Hall
Enjoy afternoon tea surrounded by the buzz of our exhibition, celebrating the very best in New Zealand aerospace innovation.

3.00pm

Late Afternoon Session

3.40pm

Keynote Presentation

Quickfire Aerospace Project Updates
- Robin McNeill, CEO Space Operations New Zealand

Panel Discussion: Global Perspectives on Aerospace Innovation and Policy
Led by New Zealand Space Agency

New Zealand Government Update

Closing remarks
Mark Rocket, President, Aerospace New Zealand and CEO, Kea Aerospace

Post Summit Networking Function

6.00pm