About this Event
Join us for Positioning for the Future: Business Beyond Your Comfort Zone, to hear the latest economic insights and gain new perspectives on how businesses can respond to change, move beyond familiar ways of working and position themselves for what comes next.
Delivered by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, the regional development agency, this is an opportunity to hear first-hand how our region is tracking and explore the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping our economy.
Taranaki is navigating significant economic change. Established industries are evolving, businesses are diversifying, and the region is seeking to develop new markets and industries all while retaining the skills and capability already here.
The event will unpack why our future increasingly depends on our ability to adapt, diversify and connect Taranaki capability and ideas with opportunities across New Zealand and around the world.
Keynote speaker Dr Mark Bregman, will draw on decades of leadership in Silicon Valley and his experience within New Zealand’s innovation and investment ecosystem. He will challenge us to think differently about our ambition, our markets and how we position ourselves for growth in a rapidly changing world.
This event will include:
- A regional economic update and the results of the 2026 Taranaki Business Survey.
- A thought-provoking keynote from Dr Mark Bregman
- A panel discussion of Taranaki business owners and decision makers on diversification and new directions they have embarked on, exploring what drove the change, the outcomes, and what they learned along the way.
This event is free to attend, but spaces are limited and registration is essential.
Light refreshments will be provided. Please note that this is an in-person event only.
About Dr Mark Bregman
Dr Mark Bregman is a Silicon Valley technology veteran, investor and Managing General Partner of Quidnet Ventures, where he focuses on helping New Zealand innovation reach global markets.
Now based in New Zealand, Mark combines decades of international technology and investment experience with a first-hand understanding of our business environment—its strengths, constraints and untapped potential.
Mark brings a thought-provoking perspective on what it takes for businesses and regions to position themselves for the future: lifting ambition, innovating and investing for growth, looking beyond the domestic market, and turning New Zealand’s distance and scale from perceived limitations into competitive advantages.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Devon Hotel, 390 Devon Street East, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.