Welcome back!

HKNZBA cordially invites you to our Business Seminar: ‘Hong Kong Market Updates’ on Wednesday 24 June, 5:30 pm in Gallery 4, The Cordis, 83 Symmonds Street, Auckland.

In the view of turbulent times, we look forward to gaining up-to-date insights into Hong Kong’s market and NZ-HK business prospects. We are excited to welcome Mr. Kiwa Whatarau – NZTE’s Hong Kong Trade Commissioner, Ms. Bonnie Shek – HK Trade Development Council’s Director (Australia and NZ), and Dr. Luca De Leonardis – Invest Hong Kong Head (Australia and NZ), who will be joining us via Zoom as the Seminar’s three esteemed guest speakers.

Being our first physical event since the outbreak of Covid-19 in January, we look forward to welcoming old and new faces to the HKNZBA community. We will be celebrating the start of our own ‘2020 2.0’ over drinks and canapés before and after the Seminar’s discussions. Please keep in mind that social distancing practice may be encouraged at the time of the event, subject to Government recommendations. Cordis will be taking all relevant measures to help comfortably facilitate this for us.

About our speakers:

Mr. Kiwa Whatarau is NZTE’s Trade Commissioner based in Hong Kong. His role sees him lead NZTE’s work to support businesses grow their exports into Hong Kong and Macau. Kiwa came to NZTE as a dedicated Māori investment manager, following a career within the banking, professional services and airline industries. He has held roles in Aotearoa and Northern Europe, with technical expertise spanning the disciplines of operating model design, change management, supply chain, price modelling and wealth management. Kiwa is a fluent speaker of Te Reo Māori, English and Danish, and holds a Master’s in international business from the University of Auckland.

Having spent lockdown in New Zealand, Kiwa is newly back in Hong Kong and will be sharing an on-the-ground view of how recent changes in the marketplace, including COVID-19’s outbreak, is impacting Kiwi businesses. He will also shed light on future plans coming from NZTE that businesses can look forward to.

Ms. Bonnie Shek is HK Trade and Development Council (HKTDC)’s Australia and New Zealand Director. We look forward to hearing from Bonnie as she shares an update from the HKTDC head office in Sydney, including new plans ahead that businesses and Federation members can look forward to.

Dr Luca De Leonardis is the Head for Australia and New Zealand at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the Government Department responsible for attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment into Hong Kong. With senior management experience in both the private and public sectors, Dr De Leonardis’s work experience combines international marketing, economic and business development and investment promotion.

Prior to joining InvestHK, Dr De Leonardis spent five years as Deputy CEO of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Australia. He also worked in NZ, Canada and South Africa for private companies and trade organizations and in Brisbane as Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Griffith University. Dr De Leonardis holds a Ph.D. In Economics, a Master in Management & Strategy and a Master in International Trade from Bologna University and two advanced diplomas in Business and Management and Economics.

Come join us!

The evening will kick off at 5.30pm on Wednesday 24 June. Registration is essential. As spaces are limited, we will be allocating spots on a  first-come first-served basis.

If you have questions about the event, please contact Antoine Ellis on 64-9-3071216 or hk@hongkong.org.nz. See you there!