YKIA National Conference 2027
Conference programme
The YKIA National Conference 2027 runs 8:30am to 5:00pm on Friday 12 February 2027 at Novotel Auckland Airport: two keynotes, five talks, two panels, a young builders showcase and speed networking, for students, grads and early-career AI builders from across New Zealand.
Times may shift slightly, and more speakers are announced each week.
Meet the speakersMorning: keynote, talks and the hiring panel
8:30am - 12:15pm8:30am
Registration and arrival coffee
Remu Foyer45 minCoffee breaks by AirclerkShow your ticket QR at the desk and grab your zone sticker.
9:15am
to 9:25am
HostPaataka Room10 min
Welcome and opening
9:25am
to 9:45am
KeynotePaataka Room20 min
Opening keynote
Speaker to be announced
9:45am
to 10:15am
10:15am
Morning tea
Remu Foyer30 minCoffee breaks by Airclerk10:45am
to 11:15am
PanelPaataka Room30 min
Hiring: what businesses actually want now
- Dan FowlieCo-founder and CEO, Airclerk
- More panellists to be announced
11:15am
to 11:45am
TalkPaataka Room30 min
Personal brand in the age of AI
11:45am
to 12:15pm
ShowcasePaataka Room30 min
Young builders showcase
Five young Kiwis demo real AI builds, five minutes each. Find them over lunch.
- Ollie CashmoreCo-founder, WeTalk.ai
- More builders to be announced
Got something cool to show? Email blake@harknessai.nz
Afternoon: talks, speed networking and the enterprise panel
12:15pm - 5:00pm12:15pm
Buffet lunch
Thirteen5045 min1:00pm
to 1:30pm
1:30pm
to 2:00pm
TalkPaataka Room30 min
How we built an AI agency from 0 to 6 figures revenue
2:00pm
to 3:00pm
NetworkingPaataka Room1 hr
Speed networking
Eight five-minute rounds in your zone, with a question on screen each round. Have your ticket open so people can scan your LinkedIn.
3:00pm
Afternoon tea
Remu Foyer30 minCoffee breaks by Airclerk3:30pm
to 4:00pm
PanelPaataka Room30 min
AI inside large New Zealand businesses
- Brodie DyeAI Integration Engineer, ZURU
- Georgia SingletonAI Engineer, Trade Me
- More panellists to be announced
4:00pm
to 4:30pm
TalkPaataka Room30 min
Ethics and responsible AI
Speaker to be announced
4:30pm
to 4:50pm
KeynotePaataka Room20 min
Closing keynote
Speaker to be announced
4:50pm
to 5:00pm
Evening: networking drinks
5:00pm5:00pm
Social
Networking drinks
Stay and keep the conversations going. Drinks are at your own cost.
Tickets
How much are tickets?
Three tickets, priced by where you are in your career. All prices are in NZD and include 15% GST. Early-bird pricing runs until 15 December 2026.
| Ticket | Early-birdNZD, to 15 December | StandardNZD |
|---|---|---|
| StudentCurrently studying | $79 | $99 |
| Young ProfessionalUnder 6 years of work experience | $149 | $179 |
| Industry6+ years of work experience | $249 | $249 |
| Full-day entry from 8:30am, every session, a buffet lunch, and morning and afternoon tea. Networking drinks after 5pm are at your own cost. | ||
| Early-bird until | 15 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| Public sales open | Wednesday 28 October 2026 |
| Waitlist early access | Tuesday 27 October 2026 |
| Sales close | Thursday 11 February 2027 |
- Industry is $249 throughout.
Tickets are on sale now, with early-bird pricing from $79 until 15 December.
Good to know
Conference FAQ
When and where is the YKIA National Conference 2027?
Friday 12 February 2027, 8:30am - 5:00pm, at Novotel Auckland Airport (35 Tom Pearce Drive, Auckland Airport). The venue is a short walk from the international terminal, and networking drinks follow from 5pm.
Who is the conference for?
Students, grads and early-career builders who are curious about AI, plus the people hiring and building with AI in New Zealand. No experience is required.
What does my ticket include?
Full-day entry from 8:30am, every session, a buffet lunch, and morning and afternoon tea. Networking drinks after 5pm are at your own cost.
How much are tickets?
Student $79 early-bird ($99 standard), Young Professional $149 early-bird ($179 standard), early-bird until 15 December 2026. Industry is $249 throughout. All prices NZD including GST.
How do I get a ticket?
Tickets are on sale now, with early-bird pricing from $79 until 15 December. Book on the ticket page and pay by card through Stripe. Your tickets arrive by email straight away.
Can I get a refund or transfer my ticket?
Full refunds are available until Tuesday 12 January 2027, one month before the conference. After that tickets are non-refundable, but you can transfer yours to someone else until Friday 5 February 2027. Email blake@harknessai.nz with your booking reference.
Be in the room
YKIA National Conference 2027
Tickets are on sale now, with early-bird pricing from $79 until 15 December.
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