
February 26th-27th, 2026
Join a powerful community of world leading accountants & advisors who are rewriting the playbook on agricultural advisory. Be part of the conversations shaping what's next for firms ready to lead, not follow.
Summit26 is proudly brought to you by
PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

INDUSTRY SPONSORS


Summit 2025 was brought to you by
Headline Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors


3 reasons you won't want to miss Summit26
1. Learn
Hear from leaders tackling the same challenges you are. Learn how others are turning big ideas into real changes in their firms, and what they’ve learned along the way.
2. Network
Build lasting connections with your peers across NZ, AU, and the US. From panels to dinner, Summit brings together leaders like you who face the same pressures, and are thinking just as hard about how to adapt.
3. Be Inspired
Leave with strategies you can put to work straight away. Every session is built around practical application - you’ll walk away with strategies you can start applying straight away.
Join fellow leaders in agri-advisory
The second Figured Agri Finance Leaders Summit took place from February 20–21st in Auckland, New Zealand. An exclusive group of peers from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States came together with leaders in agriculture, finance, and technology for two fantastic days.
Attendees heard strategies and expert advice on how to enable their businesses to grow and succeed by adapting to the pace of change around them.
They also learned how to leverage their current advantages as industry leaders to thrive in an era of technology-driven opportunity.
Discuss, Debate, Discover
We assembled an exciting group of panellists and presenters who were at the forefront of the most topical and relevant issues for members of the accounting profession and their clients.
Attendees heard from subject matter experts, discussed and debated ideas, and discovered new perspectives that helped shape their thinking for the future of their firms.
OUR 2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS...
Zion Armstrong
From West Auckland to the World Stage. Zion's incredible journey began with a sprint away from the police in West Auckland, igniting an athletics career that led him to the Commonwealth Games.
But that was just the beginning of his remarkable ascent. In his early 20s, Zion became the head of footwear at Adidas NZ, demonstrating his extraordinary talent in the world of sports retail.
Climbing the corporate ladder, he travelled to HQ in Germany, before honing his leadership skills in Asia before he reached the pinnacle as the president of Adidas North America. Under his leadership, the team achieved a record $US6 billion in annual profit, marking a significant milestone in the company's history.
Attendees joined Zion as he shared his experience leading businesses through change and transformation, showcasing what was possible with determination and a clear sense of purpose.
Be in the company of industry-wide leaders
THE VENUE
Akarana Yacht Club
We welcome you to Auckland, New Zealand in the late summer – the perfect season to experience our stunning harbour city at its finest.
This year's attendees will be treated to an extraordinary waterfront experience at the prestigious Akarana Yacht Club. Nestled on Auckland's iconic harbour, this exclusive venue offers breathtaking panoramic views across the sparkling waters to the majestic volcanic silhouette of Rangitoto Island.
From the celebrated team behind Auckland's most beloved Italian destination, Bivacco captures the essence of la dolce vita on the waterfront. Experience the perfect marriage of authentic Italian tradition and New Zealand's finest local ingredients, where simple yet sophisticated fare celebrates both cultures.
Figured will host Summit attendees for an exquisite Day 1 dinner at Bivacco, included in your ticket price.
ACCOMMODATION
Join fellow Summit26 attendees at the iconic QT Hotel in the heart of Auckland City. Located on Viaduct Harbour, it's a great base for the event and puts you close to Auckland's waterfront and dining scene.
From crunching numbers to captivating global audiences. Simon Kuestenmacher has built one of the world's most influential voices in data visualization, reaching over 35 million people monthly through social media and ranking as a top 10 global influencer in data. His unique ability to transform complex demographic trends into compelling insights has made him a sought-after speaker for corporate, government, and industry leaders alike.
As a columnist for The New Daily and regular contributor to The Australian, Simon decodes the demographic shifts reshaping our world. He's authored three books on maps and runs the world's largest Twitter account dedicated to maps and data, proving that statistics can be as engaging as they are enlightening.
Attendees will join Simon as he explores how demographic shifts and global megatrends will shape the future, providing the closest thing we have to a crystal ball for business planning.
Day 1: Thursday 26 February
Arrival and Coffee
Official Welcome to Summit26Dave Dodds, CEO at Figured
Keynote PresentationSimon Kuestenmacher, Co-Founder & Director at The Demographics Group
Morning Tea
Panel & DiscussionEmerging Models with Ownership, Structure and Leadership
• Dave Dodds, CEO at Figured
Panellists:
• Blair Evans, CEO at MMCA +More (NZ)
• Brent Love, Partner at KPMG (NZ)
• Dave Heinjus, CEO at Pinion Global (Australia)
Lunch Sponsored by Xero
Panel & Discussion Growth at the Front Seat of Strategy
• Forsyth Thompson, Head of Marketing at Figured
Panellists:
• Brett Wooffindin, Director at Sidekick Rural (NZ)
• Pete Debus, Director at PrincipalFocus (Australia)
• Kieran Middleton, Partner at McCulloch & Partners (NZ)
• Paul Petrowski, Director at Unlimit (NZ)
PresentationThe Generational Shift and the Impact on Farm Ownership
Afternoon Tea
PresentationSpecialist Agricultural Banking in a Changing World
Fireside ChatDecisions That Defined Us
• Sarah Dobson, GM Strategic Partnerships at Figured
Panellists:
• Holly Haralson, CFO at Empire Ag (USA)
• Ashly Lindberg, CEO at Precision Advising (USA)
• Sarah Parkinson, CEO at AgBooks Australia (Australia)
Closing RemarksDave Dodds, CEO at Figured
Travel Back to Hotels
Free Time
Dinner at Bivacco Sponsored by Oxbury
Day 2: Friday 27 February
Bloody Mary & Coffee
Reflections & Day 2 Kick OffDave Dodds, CEO at Figured
PresentationFigured Product Update
• Dave Dodds, CEO at Figured
• Nadine Finlay, Head of Product at Figured
• Joshua Hu, VP of Engineering at Figured
• Amy Milbourn, Head of Data & AI at Figured
Morning Tea
Panel & DiscussionTalent to Support Growth Strategy
• Zainab Al-anbuky, Chief People Officer at Figured
Panelists:
• Melissa Peters, Associate at BDO Taranaki (NZ)
• Richard Wheeler, Director at Sidekick Rural (NZ)
• Mark Jenkins, CEO at The Gap (NZ)
• Caroline Wilcher, Executive Business Unit Leader at Boyce (Australia)
Panel & DiscussionAdvisory 2.0: Beyond the Status Quo
• John Gibson, CRO at Figured
Panelists:
• Jim Dennis, Director at Newton & Henry (Australia)
• Jarod Creed, Owner at JC Ag Financial Services (USA)
• Jonathon Haralson, CEO at Empire Ag (USA)
• John Sloman, Director at Hall Chadwick (Australia)
Lunch
Panel & DiscussionAI: The Internal Disruptor
• Ali Grigg, Technology Business Advisor (NZ)
Panelists:
• Dave Dodds, CEO at Figured
• Amy Milbourn, Head of Data & AI at Figured
• Scott McLiver, Partner and Chief AI Officer at PwC (NZ)
Fireside ChatFarm Owners Academy: Principles for Creating Accountability
• John Gibson, CRO at Figured
• Sam Johnsson, CEO at Farm Owners Academy (Australia)
Final Words & CloseDave Dodds, CEO at Figured
What to Expect at Summit26
February 26 - 27
Auckland, NZ
Two Full Days at Summit26
You’ll be part of a group of peers from across NZ, Australia, and the US — all thinking seriously about how agri services need to evolve. Across panels, workshops and conversations, you’ll hear what others are trying, where things are shifting, and what might be next for your own firm.
High Quality, Without the Cost
Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we’re able to keep the cost to you as low as possible — without compromising on quality at any point.
Hotel Transfers, Sorted
If you’re staying at the QT, we’ll organise your transport to and from the venue each day so everything runs smoothly.
Great Hospitality, Start to Finish
We take pride in saying that Summit isn’t your usual hotel conference, and we extend that to the food too. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are all catered to a high standard, with plenty of choice and a barista on site throughout.
Summit Dinner
At the end of day one, we’ll head out together for an evening of excellent food, drinks, and conversation at one of Auckland’s top restaurants. It’s relaxed, generous, and consistently a highlight — a chance to enjoy some of the best of NZ hospitality in great company.
Hear From Past Attendees
Tim Meares
Director, Dawson Chartered Accountants
NSW, Australia
“The Figured Summit proved a wonderful opportunity to meet with other likeminded businesses at the forefront of providing agricultural advisory services to farming clients who value agri advisory. We have kept in touch with the Figured team and a number of other delegates who have shared their approach and assisted in our implementation of using Figured in the advisory and reporting process.”
Trudi Ballantyne
Director, Stem Rural Advisors
Te Puke, New Zealand
"The inaugural Figured Summit in 2024 was an inspirational event – all speakers offered something different from what you usually see at “accounting” conferences.
I came away with some practical, down-to-earth ideas that we could implement in our firm. The networking with other rural professionals was invaluable."
Pete Debus
Director, PrincipleFocus
NSW, Australia
"PrincipleFocus had three team members at the 2024 Figured Summit in Auckland - a considerable investment coming from Dubbo, New South Wales, but thoroughly worth it! The opportunity to learn from others, network and innovate was simply extraordinary.
We gained a number of important insights, positively impacting our business thinking. It was also a fabulous opportunity to meet other advisers and further build relationships with the Figured team."
Get a copy of Figured & Intuit's presentation at QuickBooks Connect
Not heading to QuickBooks Connect but want a copy of Figured and Intuit's presentation; Scaling the CAS Opportunity: Lessons from Agri?
Enter your details and we'll send you a copy. You will receive this via email after the QuickBooks Connect event.
What is the cost and what does it cover?
The Early Bird cost for a ticket to the Figured Global Agri Leaders Summit is NZD $795 +GST and is available until 30th November.
Thereafter, tickets will be at the full price is $995 +GST.
Your ticket gives you entry to the event for the two days you are with us, plus meals such as morning teas, afternoon tea, lunch and various refreshments. Your ticket also covers the cost of happy hour, dinner, wine and set drinks at Summit Dinner on day one.
What costs am I expected to cover?
Accommodation
As an attendee of Summit26, you have access to discounted rates at the QT Auckland Hotel. Should you choose to stay at the QT during the event, you will need to cover the cost of your accommodation.
- A Deluxe King Room is NZD $439 per night.
Please select this option in the registration form and we will manage your hotel reservation on your behalf. Once your reservation is confirmed, you will be sent confirmation email and a payment link directly from QT Hotel.
Travel
All travel costs to and from the event (fuel, airfares, airport transfers etc.) and accommodation during the event will need to be covered by attendees, with the exception of transport to and from the event venue and the QT Hotel on Day 1 and 2.
Food & Beverage
Any additional food and beverages outside of what is provided at the event and during the Summit Dinner will also need to be covered by attendees.
How do I make payment?
Once you have registered for Summit26, we will send you an invoice with details on how to make payment for the event. All event registration invoices are to be paid within 7 days of the invoice date.
If you choose to stay at the QT Hotel during the event, you will be sent a payment link directly from QT once your reservation has been confirmed.
What are the travel options?
Airport arrivals
If you are arriving in Auckland via a domestic or international flight, it is a 30-45 minute drive to the event venue/QT Hotel either by public transport, Uber or Taxi. We can organise airport transfers for you, please let us know in the registration form.
Luggage transfers
If you need assistance with luggage (i.e you are arriving at the event venue straight from the Airport), please let us know in the registration form and we will assist with transferring your luggage to your accommodation, should you choose to stay at the QT Hotel.
Parking
At the Hotel
For those able and intending to drive to Auckland, 24-hour parking is available at several options close to the QT Hotel. See details here.
At the Venue
There is also plenty of parking available at the event venue throughout the day. See details here.
What happens if I need to cancel my registration?
If you need to cancel your registration, you must email summit@figured.com.
Cancellations are available up to Monday January 19th 2026 and will receive a 75% refund.
Any cancellations after Monday January 19th 2026 are unfortunately non-refundable.
Can I transfer my invitation to someone else?
Yes, that is possible. Contact us to arrange a time for a member of our team to discuss.
Given this is an invitation-only event, the only consideration we would have is that any alternative attendees are agri leaders within your firm, and are prepared and able to contribute to the event.
What meals are provided during the Summit?
All the normal event meals and refreshments will be provided for the two days you are with us for the event. This will include morning tea, afternoon tea and lunch on day one, plus morning tea and lunch on day two. Breakfasts are not included.
In addition; a happy hour, dinner and set drinks will also be covered by Figured on day one.
Can I bring a colleague(s)?
We’d love to be able to say yes to everyone but as an invite-only event with fixed capacity, we do have some restrictions. We’ll do our best to accommodate additional requests, but we cannot promise anything until after registrations have been completed.
Interest in the Summit is always very high and we definitely encourage you to get yourself registered first and foremost!
Contact us ASAP if you would like to register a colleague should a place become available. Any available places will be allocated on a 'first in first served' basis and incur the full event cost.
Can I stay elsewhere?
While QT Auckland is the official accommodation supplier of Summit26 and has provided us a generous special rate, you are of course welcome to stay elsewhere if you would like.
Please be aware that whilst we will provide some transport to/from QT and the Venue, you will need to make your own way if you’re staying elsewhere.
Summit26 is now SOLD OUT
The agri-advisory community has spoken—Summit26 is officially sold out!
If you have any questions about the event, please email us at summit@figured.com
