The Value of Purpose

Join us and discover how to surface and articulate the true value of purpose in business.

Sustainable Brands Aotearoa 2025

Sustainable Brands Aotearoa 2025

Welcome to the 2025 conference.

Join purpose pioneers and global leaders to build the business case, while experiencing first-hand how values create value. 

A conference
with a difference.

  • Day one maps the landscape of purpose-driven value creation and measures the return on investment. We open with insights from building purpose-first businesses, alongside the global perspective on big-corporate transformation. The afternoon takes us through real-world examples - from purpose pioneers to the transformation journeys of brands with traditional business models. We will then explore practical tools and frameworks showing you how to measure the true value of purpose.  

  • Continue the conversation over drinks and nibbles, building connections with fellow purpose-driven leaders. As day turns to evening, immerse yourself in experiences that showcase how local businesses are weaving purpose into practice. Choose from four unique experiences that demonstrate the value of nature and nurture - each offering a different lens on purpose-led business in action. Not ready for the day to end? Join the Night Owl's Nest at the hotel bar, where the best conversations often unfold.

  • Start your second day your way. For early adventurers, our Premium First Light Trails experience offers a guided mountain biking journey through Rotorua's iconic Whakare-warewa Forest, where forest bathing meets purpose on two wheels. Or join fellow at-tendees for a Sunrise Stride - a rejuvenating 5km walk or jog that welcomes the day with fellow active purpose-driven peers. Or simply recharge in the comfort of your room before joining us for our transformative breakfast sessions.
    Grab a plate and enjoy Purpose for Breakfast. Your choice of: a masterclass that un-ravels the 'how' of transition planning and value creation, or one of two focused work-shops on either integrating risks and opportunities into your balance sheet, or uncover-ing and communicating the business value of sustainability (spaces limited).

  • Day 2 puts the value of people at the centre of discussions. Opening with insights on human-centred purpose in our plenary, we then dive into the inside story of purpose activation with business leaders sharing how they measure and deliver on the value of a people-first culture. The journey concludes with 'Value out Loud' - where our panellists reveal how authentic storytelling and purposeful partnerships across the entire value chain can drive change, before we close with a final blessing and farewell.

Our speakers

World-class speakers from small, medium and large/global purpose-driven brands and those transitioning their business models to incorporate more purpose.

Day One - Experience the
Value of Nature and Nurture

Tuesday 13 May 7.00pm – 10.00pm, times subject to change  

Included in your conference registration you choose one of the following experiences (limited spaces available):  

A geyser at night - Te Puia

Te Puia Geyser by Night

  • When darkness falls the true love story of Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland comes to life… The geothermal valley is revealed under night skies, providing a multi-sensory experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. Please note: Walking shoes and a moderate-medium level of fitness are needed and can be subject to weather. This activity is not accessible to wheelchairs; however, a mobility scooter is permitted. Parts of the guided experience involve tracks with a slight-moderate incline. 

A private pool at Wai Ariki Hot Springs

Wai Ariki Hot Springs

  • Our exclusive experience at Wai Ariki starts with a short presentation on how purpose is embedded throughout their operations, people and culture. Delegates will experience:  

    • Te Iringa, The Waterfall Showers  

    • Te Ahi Tupua, Tongariro Fire & Ice Caves  

    • Te Taiwhanga Matua, Thermal Pools  

    • Te Pae Paru, Geothermal Mud Lounge  

    • Kohu Wai Ariki, Steam Room  

    Please note swimwear required, transport provided. 

The Redwoods at night

Redwoods Treewalk™

  • Majestic and magical, the Redwoods Treewalk™ experience is truly a walk to remember.

    Bask in the glow of the magical wonderland as the 120-year-old Whakarewarewa Redwood forest comes to life by night. Walking high above the forest floor and beneath these gentle giants, you are transported to a captivating world of colour and light, where forest and fantasy come alive.

    90 mins includes walking bus. Please note: this experience is not wheelchair accessible, requires medium fitness level, please bring headtorch and walking shoes.

A picture of two people practicing yin yoga

Yin Yoga and sound healing

  • Hosted by Tineke Rose and Alice Sea. 
    Come and unwind after a big day 1 of conference.  

    Alice guides with her soulful sound healing utilising instruments such as the didgeridoo, flutes, heartbeat drum, hand pan and crystal bowls, played throughout the room and at times over the body.  

    Complementing this auditory experience, the practice of embodied yin yoga facilitates a gentle, introspective exploration of one's physical and emotional landscape.

Day Two - Purpose for breakfast

Wednesday 14th May 6.30am - 9.15am, times subject to change  

Included in your conference registration please choose one of the following breakfast sessions (unless you have chosen “First Light Trails” Mountain Biking):   

Masterclass

How to drive value with
transition planning

  • Join Beca specialists Laura Robichaux (DAPP - Dynamic Adaptive Pathways Planning), Tania Hyde (Circular Economy) and Kristin Renoux (Climate and Nature Reporting) to discuss three different approaches on the "how" of transition planning, and how transition plans can drive value. This session is critical for anyone looking at bringing more purpose into their organisation, driving value rather than just ticking a box, adapting their business to be more resilient in a changing climate, transitioning their business to a low emissions or circular model or investing in nature. 

    Hosted by: Laura Robichaux, Tania Hyde & Kristin Renoux, Beca

Workshop

Integrating risks & values into the balance sheet

  • Sustainability is a "right to operate" conversation not a nice to have- the biggest lie we tell ourselves is that we have time. We don't, especially as an exporting nation. 

    Join Veeva for a deep dive on identifying Risks & Opportunities and how to integrate these into the balance sheet.  Learn what global majors are doing in response to these changing sustainability goal posts and the role digital technology will play. You will leave this session with a new clarity on just how much your business could be exposed, and the equal and opposite opportunity to add value that this knowledge imparts!

    Hosted by: Natasha Telles D’Costa, Veeva Systems

    Limited spaces available

Workshop

The Values of Values

  • For many companies, a big barrier to sustainability action is the inability to demonstrate business ROI. If that's the case in your company, this workshop is for you. Over the course of this session, you'll learn (1) where the business value of sustainability hides (2) how to uncover and quantify this hidden value (3) how to identify key audiences and communicate business value in a way they'll find credible.

      - Hosted by: Daniel Aronson, Valutus

    Limited spaces available

Premium add-on

First Light Trails

  • Mountain Biking at dawn with Mountain Bike Rotorua is a guided tour through the world famous Whakarewarewa Forest. MTB Rotorua have sustainability at their heart: get a taste for these hugely important elements of their business and enjoy a pedal in the forest air.
    NB. Strictly limited numbers; additional cost applies; mountain-bike hire included; please indicate ability; minimum number required to run this experience.

    NB. All registrations will receive a complimentary e-copy of The Value of Values, by Daniel Aronson. “Acting on values/doing good for the benefit of all, can substantially benefit the bottom line, but many business leaders mistakenly believe that doing the right thing lowers profits. This belief is the greatest barrier holding businesses back from being more financially and competitively successful.”

Preliminary Programme

Surfacing the Value of Purpose

Day one - Tuesday 13th May 9.30am - 10.00pm/Late

  • 09:30
    Registrations open, coffee and tea 

    10:30 - 10:45
    Mihi whakatau / welcome 

    10:45 - 12:00
    Opening Plenary: From Values to Global Value 

    1. Purpose from Day 1 – Returns on Being Values-led 

    2. When Giants Pivot – The Ripple Effect of Purpose 

  • Conference lunch provided in the exhibition space.

  • 13:00 - 15:00
    Putting a Value on Purpose  

    1. Purpose by design – breaking down the business case 

    2. Engineering purpose – the ROI of transformation 

    15:30 - 17:00
    Measuring What Matters: Tools for Purpose & Planet 

    What tools and frameworks help us articulate, measure and report on environmental costs and the value of purpose-led initiatives 

  • 17:00 - 19:00
    Networking with drinks and nibbles 

    19:00 - 22:00
    Experience the Value of Nature and Nurture 

    22:00 - late
    The Night Owl's Nest: continue the conversation with a beverage in the hotel bar 

Articulating the Value of Purpose

Day Two - Wednesday 14th May 6.30am - 3.30pm

  • 06:30 - 09:00
    First Light Trails: Redwood Mountain Biking Experience - Premium add-on

    06:30 - 07:15
    Sunrise Stride, 5km walk or jog to welcome the day with fellow purpose-seekers 

    08:00 - 09:15
    Purpose for Breakfast 

    09:30 - 10:15
    Plenary: Putting people at the heart of purpose 

    10:15 - 12:15
    The Inside Story: proving purpose to internal stakeholders 

    1. Measuring the value of a people-first culture 

    2. Delivering on values for people

  • Conference lunch provided in the exhibition space.

  • 13:15 - 15:00
    Value Out Loud: when purpose creates connection - Taking your values to market: authentic storytelling and purposeful partnerships that drive change 

    15:00 - 15:30
    Closing blessing and farewell 

Don’t miss out on The Value of Purpose

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