NZTE summit profiles the power of design in business

NZTE summit profiles the power of design in business

More than 300 CEOs, senior managers and design experts will gather in Auckland this week for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise(NZTE)’s fifth Better by Design CEO Summit.

The Summit offers delegates the opportunity to be immersed in both the theory and real world examples of design integration, gaining insights that are inspiring, relevant and applicable to New Zealand businesses.

“Design integration is all about helping businesses develop innovative solutions that create value for their customers and build profits for the business. It’s about helping companies design a better business through being closer to their customers and deeply understanding their needs,” says NZTE’s Design Director Judith Thompson.

“Our CEO Summit aims to provide New Zealand businesspeople with the opportunity to learn from internationally recognised experts who are either doing this in their own businesses, or who are working with others to make it happen. It’s also an opportunity to tell our own stories and be inspired by New Zealand companies who are transforming themselves through design.

“Previous Summits have featured global leaders who are challenging the norms of doing business globally, and this year is no exception. We are thrilled at the calibre of speakers featuring this year.”

Key speakers at the CEO Summit include:

• Tim Brown, CEO of global innovation and design firm IDEO. His book ‘Change by Design’ has become the bible for design thinking CEO's worldwide.
• Dr Peter Senge, influential and internationally renowned author of 'The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organisation.'
• Casey Sheahan, CEO of Patagonia and parent company Lost Arrow Corporation. Patagonia was recently ranked 14th in the recent Fast Company world’s most innovative companies for leading the way when it comes to ‘selling more by encouraging customers to buy less’.
• Keith Yamashita, Chairman of SYPartners and Co-founder of Unstuck. Keith consults to top leadership teams including Apple, eBay and Nike. He has recently spent two years at IBM as The Charles and Ray Eames Brand Fellow, helping to drive IBM’s growth and greatness and encouraging IBMers to perform at their best.
• David Lawee, Google's Vice President of Corporate Development, who manages a worldwide team responsible for all of the company's acquisitions and investments.
• Dev Patnaik, author of the top selling book ‘Wired to Care’ and an expert on business innovation.
• Matt Brown, President and co-Founder of big BOING, a strategic innovation company committed to promoting happiness and well-being through play and ecological harmony. In addition to launching its own award winning brands, big BOING has worked with partners including Coca Cola, Playskool, Disney Retail, Kraft, Toys R Us, PBS Kids, Nickelodeon and Learning Curve to develop new and revitalise existing brands.
• Lorna Borenstein, a digital consumer leader who launched eBay Canada and then went on to serve as eBay Inc's Vice President and General Manager.
• John Brakenridge, CEO of The New Zealand Merino Company, is recognised as an expert at transforming commodities into natural icons.

In addition to two days of inspiration, the Summit also provides delegates with the opportunity to be part of a learning community of business people and designers who are committed to fostering design-led innovation within New Zealand businesses. It follows closely on from Better by Design’s US study tour last year which saw participants visit the likes of Apple, Facebook and Google.

The CEO Summit is sponsored by ANZ, AUT University, Air New Zealand and Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

For more information about the Better by Design CEO Summit visit www.betterbydesign.org.nz

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