Expert panels to feature at Comms Connect NZ

The initial Comms Connect NZ 2026 conference program has launched, and features two leadership panel sessions, Women in Critical Comms and AI in Critical Comms, alongside case studies and technical presentations from local and regional critical comms and public safety experts. This year’s event will take place at Takina Wellington on May 27-28, with early bird registration now open.

The Women in Critical Comms panel will run with a similar format to the panel held at Comms Connect Melbourne last October, which was one of the best-attended sessions of that event. The panel will run with the theme ‘Progress with Purpose’ and will be moderated by Hourua General Manager, Katrina Curry. Panellists already confirmed are Annouschka Martinsen, Strategic Advisor and Governance Manager at Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC), Claire Smollett. National Manager, Radio Spectrum Management, Sam Piper, Operations Manager at Hourua and Bidar Homsey, BD Public Safety Lead, Frequentis Australasia and Board Chair at ACCF.

The day one plenary session will be headlined by NGCC’s Director Steve Ferguson and Technical Director, Steve Lawrence who will share news about the expansion of the Public Safety Cellular Service to new customers across a broad range of industry sectors. Day two will kick off with an emergency management presentation from Andrew Howe, Operational Readiness Advisor for the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group in Ōtautahi/Christchurch, followed by a use-case presentation from Surf Life Saving NSW CIO, Matt Ingersole on the use of AI for drowning prevention.

To see the full program, go to https://comms-connect.co.nz.