Embracing AI and new technologies: What is the future of cold storage?

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7:15 AM - 6:30 PM
Registration Desk Open
 
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Barista Coffee in Expo Hall
 
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM
Welcome from Board Chair
Dion Abrahams, Managing Director, Woodland Management Limited
8:40 AM - 8:45 AM
Welcome from Executive Officer
Kim Mundell, Executive Officer, NZ Cold Storage Association
8:45 AM - 8:55 AM
30 Years Together
Shane Crook, Country Manager, Crown
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
KEYNOTE: Getting Practical with Generative AI
Matt Ensor, AI Expert, Kiaora.AI
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
MORNING TEA
 
10:45 AM - 10:50 AM
MC Welcome to session
Brent Cawthray, General Manager, Manawatu Cold Storage
10:50 AM - 11:05 AM
Driving safety culture change with AI
Tane van der Boon, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, inviol
11:10 AM - 11:20 AM
Now you KNOW, what now? Maximising the benefits of H&S AI
Bede Cammock-Elliott, Founder, seeo
11:25 AM - 11:35 AM
Digital Optimization for Smart Control of Secondary Refrigerant Systems
Suyash Baichoo, Refrigeration Business Unit Manager, Eurotec
11:40 AM - 11:50 AM
AI-Powered Energy Optimisation: The Next Generation of Cold Storage
Jonny Corlett, Customer Strategy Manager, Simply Energy
11:55 AM - 12:05 PM
AR Vision Directed Picking - The Future is Here Now!
Rob Deane, Regional Sales Manager, Dematic
12:10 PM - 12:20 PM
Honeywell Voice & Automation solutions:The Evolution & Innovation of Guided Work Solutions
Michael Virag, Senior Business Consultant, Honeywell
12:20 PM - 12:30 PM
Audience Q&A
Brent Cawthray, General Manager, Manawatu Cold Storage
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
LUNCH
 
1:30 PM - 1:35 PM
MC Welcome to session
Bruce Mulligan, Managing Director, North Port Coolstores
1:35 PM - 1:45 PM
Developments in Insulated Panel in Australasia
Nathan Harrison, General Manager Sales, Bondor NZ
1:50 PM - 2:00 PM
Kingspan Insulated Panels: Cold Storage Solutions in New Zealand
Raymond Fourie, Cold Store Sales Manager, Kingspan
2:05 PM - 2:15 PM
How technology helps you fight back against admin soft costs
Jacob Capper, General Manager, All Guard Safety
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM
Where WMS meets Automation
Robbie Megannety, Sales, Interlogic Limited
2:35 PM - 2:45 PM
The Missing Link in your Automated Supply Chain!
Andrew Suckling, Marketing Manager, Ulti Group
2:45 PM - 2:55 PM
Audience Q&A
Bruce Mulligan, Managing Director, North Port Coolstores
2:55 PM - 3:40 PM
AFTERNOON TEA
 
3:40 PM - 3:45 PM
MC Welcome to session
Mark Exton, Business Development Manager, Coolpak Coolstores Ltd
3:45 PM - 4:05 PM
Cold storage fire safety SWOT analysis
Paul Clements, Director, Clements Consultants
4:10 PM - 5:00 PM
PANEL: How are you using AI in your business?
Mark Exton, Business Development Manager, Coolpak Coolstores Ltd
Tim McDowall, VP of Operations APAC, Americold
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Pre-Dinner Drinks in Foyer
 
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Gala Dinner (6pm to 9.30pm Monday)
Mike Allsop, Pilot & Adventurer
Brent Cawthray, General Manager, Manawatu Cold Storage
8:15 AM - 1:30 PM
Registration Desk Open
 
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Arrival tea & coffee
 
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM
MC Welcome to session
Dion Abrahams, Managing Director, Woodland Management Limited
9:05 AM - 9:15 AM
The Future of Certification Programme
Allan Kinsella, Director Assurance, New Zealand Food Safety, MPI
9:20 AM - 9:30 AM
Navigating Trade through Challenging Times
Sirma Karapeeva, Chief Executive Officer, Meat Industry Association
9:35 AM - 9:45 AM
Unlocking Value through Refrigeration Intelligence
Robert Gibbes, CEO, Active Refrigeration Group
9:50 AM - 10:00 AM
Superior Fire Protection in Refrigerated Warehouses
Oliver Morfeld, Managing Director, Wagner Fire Safety
10:05 AM - 10:15 AM
The Future is Frozen: Australia's Strategic Place in Global Cold Logistics
Marianne Kintzel, Executive Officer, Refrigerated Warehouse and Transport Association
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
MORNING TEA
 
11:00 AM - 11:05 AM
MC Welcome to session
Tim McDowall, VP of Operations APAC, Americold
11:05 AM - 11:45 AM
PANEL: The Feasibility of Building a New Cold Storage Facility: Challenges and opportunities
Kevin Archer, Commercial Storage Vendor Lead, Fonterra
Mark Westphall, Structural Engineer, Ian Connor Consulting Ltd
Mark Stevens, Property Manager, Lineage
Brent Cawthray, General Manager, Manawatu Cold Storage
11:50 AM - 12:50 PM
KEYNOTE: Economic Outlook
Tony Alexander, Economist
12:50 PM - 1:20 PM
LUNCH
 
1:20 PM - 1:30 PM
Prize Draws & Close Conference
Kim Mundell, Executive Officer, NZ Cold Storage Association
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Exhibitors Packing-Out of Venue
 

The programme is preliminary and we reserve the right to make changes to it for logistics reasons.

QUESTIONS? Email kim@coldstoragenz.org.nz

SOCIAL EVENTS
VIEW SPEAKERS
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Programme at a Glance

SUNDAY 24 AUGUST

EXHIBITION

  • Exhibitor pack-in opens: 12.00pm

SOCIAL EVENTS 

These are optional extras that can be purchased during registration for the conference.

  • Golf Tournament
  • Beer Tasting
  • Vintage Cars & Gin Tasting
  • Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting

CONFERENCE 

  • Welcome Function: 5.30pm to 7pm

MONDAY 25 AUGUST

EXHIBITION & BARISTA

  • Expo open and barista starts: 7.30am

CONFERENCE

  • Sessions start: 8.30am
  • Sessions finish: 5pm

GALA DINNER (at conference venue)

  • Pre-Dinner Drinks: 6.00pm
  • Gala Dinner: 6:30pm to 9:30pm

 

TUESDAY 26 AUGUST

EXHIBITION & BARISTA

  • Expo open and barista starts: 8.30am

CONFERENCE

  • Sessions start: 9am
  • Sessions finish: 1.30pm
VIEW SPEAKERS
REGISTER NOW!

Why Attend?

Cutting-Edge Tech Meets Cold Storage
From AI-powered picking systems to energy optimisation and smart refrigeration—discover the innovations transforming our industry. 

Practical AI for Your Business
Join keynote speaker Matt Ensor and industry leaders to explore real-world applications of generative AI in cold storage and logistics.

Big Picture Economics
Don’t miss economist Tony Alexander’s economic outlook session—tailored for cold storage operators navigating uncertainty and opportunity. 

Showcase of Innovation
From energy-efficient insulated panels to digital voice systems and factory automation, the Industry Showcase is packed with takeaways you can implement now. #InnovationInStorage

Leadership and Inspiration
Be inspired by adventurer Mike Allsop’s keynote at our gala dinner. 

Global Insights
Hear from RWTA on Australia’s Strategic Place in Global Cold Logistics, and what the future looks like for cold storage.