SIR IAN TAYLOR
INNOVATION CLASS | BUGGER THE BOXING, POUR THE CONCRETE ANYWAY
9:00am | Wednesday 24 February 2027
Sir Ian Taylor’s story mirrors New Zealand’s remarkable technological evolution. From growing up in a small East Coast village without electricity or phones to founding Animation Research Ltd (ARL) in Dunedin, Ian has become one of New Zealand’s most celebrated innovators.
Under his leadership, ARL grew into a global technology leader, delivering groundbreaking work across international sport, aviation, and digital innovation. Known for his creativity, vision, and “can-do” approach, Ian has received numerous honours, including being knighted in 2021 for services to broadcasting, business, and the community.
Today, Ian continues to inspire audiences through his storytelling, innovation, and passion for New Zealand’s cultural heritage.
GEORGIA VAN ZOELEN
BUSINESS CLASS | HOW FAMILIES FIND YOU NOW – A PRACTICAL MARKETING PLAN FOR FUNERAL HOMES IN THE AI ERA
11:30am | Wednesday 24 February 2027
Bio | Georgia van Zoelen is the founder and creative director of George Design, a Christchurch-based branding and marketing studio. She works with businesses to sharpen their positioning, strengthen their online presence, and create brands that feel thoughtful and commercially smart. Georgia brings a strong understanding of how storytelling, customer experience, and visual perception influence trust, connection, and the way a business is remembered and chosen.
Class content | The way families search for funeral services has changed. People are asking chatGPT questions, comparing options quickly, and forming opinions long before making contact.
In this practical session, Georgia van Zoelen, founder and creative director of George Design, will guide you through the fundamentals of creating a simple, effective marketing plan for today’s digital landscape.
The session will cover easy, actionable ways to improve your website, strengthen your online presence, and create content that helps your business feel more visible, trustworthy, and human. Georgia will also unpack how AI-powered search is reshaping discoverability, which analytics are worth paying attention to, and the small marketing shifts that can make a meaningful difference over time.
Attendees will leave with practical ideas, quick wins, and a clearer understanding of how storytelling, brand perception, and digital visibility influence the way families find, remember — and choose — their business.
PROFESSOR PAUL SPOONLEY
INNOVATION CLASS | OUR CHANGING COMMUNITIES - HOW DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IS RESHAPING NEW ZEALAND
8:35am | Thursday 26 February 2027
Bio | Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley FRSNZ ONZM is a leading New Zealand academic and expert on immigration, diversity and social change. Formerly Pro Vice-Chancellor at Massey University, he has also advised the Police Commissioner and co-led the National Centre for Countering Violent Extremism. Paul has led major research programmes, contributed extensively to policy in New Zealand and internationally, and authored or edited 29 books, including The New Zealand: Facing Demographic Disruption (2021). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2025.
Class content | Starting about a decade ago, New Zealand began to experience major demographic change: increasing immigration, declining fertility, rapid ageing and population growth in the top half of the North Island – and increasing population stagnation or even population decline in some other parts of the country. These changes are continuing through the 2020s and by the 2030s, New Zealand will have become a rather different country in terms of age profile and cultural diversity. This talk will look at these changes and the possible impact for the those working in the funeral sector.
STEPHEN DIL
COMMUNITY CLASS | ADAPTING FUNERAL SERVICE FOR A CHANGING NEW ZEALAND
9:35am | Thursday 25 February 2027
Bio | Stephen Dil is Managing Director of PFPNZ and Dil’s Funeral Services and is a third-generation funeral director with more than 30 years’ experience in the profession. He holds an MBA from Pennsylvania State University and is a former FDANZ President and current Funeral Trust Director. Stephen brings a practical, industry-informed perspective shaped by his family heritage, leadership experience, and commitment to funeral service standards in New Zealand.
Class content |
New Zealand’s communities are changing and funeral service is changing with them. Following Professor Paul Spoonley’s exploration of the demographic shifts reshaping Aotearoa, this practical and industry-focused session examines what those changes mean on the ground for funeral homes, staff, and the families we serve every day.
From increasing cultural diversity and changing family expectations to ageing populations, regional population shifts and evolving attitudes toward death and farewell rituals, funeral professionals are being called to adapt in new and meaningful ways.
Drawing on real-world funeral service experience, this session will explore how demographic change is already influencing funeral home operations, communication, staffing, service offerings and community engagement, and what funeral businesses can do now to remain relevant, responsive and sustainable into the future.
LAUREN PARSONS
LEADERSHIP CLASS | LEADING SO PEOPLE THRIVE
11:05am | Thursday 25 February 2027
Bio | Lauren Parsons is an award-winning international keynote speaker, author, and expert in leadership and workplace wellbeing. Named NZ Keynote Speaker of the Year and Educator of the Year for 2024, she is one of only a handful of Certified Speaking Professionals and the only Toastmasters Accredited Speaker in New Zealand.
With over 20 years' experience spanning business, HR, coaching, and behaviour change, Lauren helps leaders and organisations create thriving workplace cultures where people perform at their best – without burning out. She is a TEDx speaker, host of the Thrive TV Show, and author of Thriving Leaders, Thriving Teams. Known for her warmth, energy, and practical approach, Lauren blends science-backed strategies with real-world stories to deliver sessions that are both unforgettable and that create lasting change.
Based in the Manawatu, New Zealand, Lauren lives with her husband, three children and a menagerie of animals. She travels regularly to speak at conferences and in-house, helping leaders create positive, energised workplaces, where people thrive.
Class content |
Working in the funeral profession means showing up for others every single day – often in some of life's most difficult moments. It takes incredible resilience, compassion, and leadership. But who's looking after the people who look after everyone else?
In this engaging and practical keynote, Lauren Parsons draws on two decades of leadership and wellbeing expertise to show funeral directors and their teams how to build cultures where people genuinely thrive – not just survive.
You'll leave this session with practical tools to:
- Boost morale, motivation, and day-to-day energy across your team
- Strengthen leadership capability and create a culture people want to stay in
- Reduce stress and prevent burnout in a high-pressure, 24/7 environment
- Improve staff retention and build a more connected, resilient workplace
- Lead in a way that brings out the best in your people – and in yourself
Delivered with warmth, humour, and science-backed insights, this session gives leaders the practical tools they need to build businesses that are both high-performing and great places to work – so your people, and your business, can truly be at the top of their class.
MICHAEL ALEXANDER
BUSINESS CLASS | NUMBERS THAT MATTER
1:35pm | Thursday 25 February 2027
Bio | Michael is a Partner in the Business Advisory team at Findex, working with a broad range of businesses across New Zealand. He specialises in helping business owners understand their numbers, from cashflow and tax planning through to forecasting, growth and succession. Michael also has deep expertise in digital solutions, helping businesses streamline their operations and use the right systems and data to make better decisions. He works with clients at every stage of the business lifecycle, from start-up and purchase through to sale.
Class content | Strong funeral businesses are built on understanding the numbers behind the decisions. This practical session will explore the current New Zealand funeral industry landscape, the key metrics every funeral business should monitor, and how forecasting and scenario planning can support smarter business decisions.
Attendees will gain practical insights into breakeven analysis, identifying small changes that can improve performance, and using the right systems and data to build a stronger, more sustainable funeral business.
CLASS PROJECT WORKSHOP
CLASS PROJECT WORKSHOP | TURNING LEARNING INTO ACTION
2:35pm | Thursday 25 February 2027
Class content | This interactive roundtable workshop puts the expertise in the hands of the room. Rather than sitting back and listening, attendees will take part in facilitated table discussions exploring key ideas from the conference streams: Business Class, Leadership Class, Community Class, and Innovation Class.
Through practical conversations, idea sharing, and future-focused thinking, delegates will reflect on what they’ve learned throughout conference and discuss how it can be applied within their own funeral businesses and teams.
The session will conclude with attendees identifying one practical action they will take away and implement, ensuring conference learning translates into real-world impact.
