Description

Join us for breakfast as we unpack the newly released findings from the 2026 2degrees Shaping Business Study.

Now in its seventh year, this annual study draws on insights from business leaders across New Zealand to highlight the key trends, challenges, and factors shaping the business landscape. This year’s findings reveal growing optimism and innovation amongst businesses, despite ongoing economic uncertainty, and include a first-time deep dive into the impact of AI.

This regional briefing will explore what the latest results mean for businesses operating in the Waikato and beyond.

Head of Business Marketing, Donna McEwan, 2degrees, will present the report’s key findings, sharing national insights alongside trends of particular relevance to our region.

Following the presentation, attendees will hear from a panel of local business leaders during an interactive discussion and Q&A session.

This event offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from business leaders, gain practical insights from the data, and take part in a conversation about what these findings mean for business strategy and decision-making in the year ahead.


Panelists

Andrew Fairgrey - Chief Business Officer, 2degrees
Andrew Fairgray was appointed Chief Business Officer at 2degrees in September 2019. Andrew is an industry veteran, having formally run his own business JETA Group. Previous to that was the head of corporate and government sales at Vodafone. He has also held a range of executive roles in New Zealand and overseas with multi-national operators such as Alcatel Lucent, Nokia, and IBM. He currently is also an Independent Director of New Zealand Racing Board. Andrew joined 2degrees in their 10th year, with a strong brand and a significant opportunity to grow market share and Fight for Fair for Kiwi Businesses. Most recently through the merger with Vocus, he continues to lead the 2degrees Business team to improve the overall productivity of New Zealand Inc. through leveraging 2degrees world class mobile and fixed networks. 


Warren Luxton - CEO, Fosters
A natural collaborator, respected leader, and trusted business partner, Warren is known for combining strategic vision, financial expertise, and innovative thinking to achieve business excellence. From 2020 to 2025, he was CEO of the New Zealand Construction Alliance, expanding it into a network of eight construction businesses with over 1,000 people across 16 offices, securing and delivering multiple national contracts. Previously, Warren was CFO at CBRE Asia Pacific, a $1.2bn multinational business, working in the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Returning to the Waikato in 2020, he brings together global experience with a deep understanding of New Zealand’s construction landscape.

Dr Karyn Rastrick - Director of Digital Innovation and Strategy, University of Waikato
Dr Karyn Rastrick is Director of Digital Innovation and Strategy at Te Raupapa, Waikato Management School, University of Waikato. She works at the intersection of digital transformation, emerging technologies and organisational capability, helping organisations adopt technology in ways that create practical value.  Karyn brings a research-informed and business-focused perspective to AI adoption and workforce readiness. Through her university taskforce work, she has contributed to shaping the University of Waikato’s response to emerging technologies, with a focus on the leadership, skills and change capability needed to adapt effectively. She is particularly interested in how businesses can build confidence and capability to use digital tools effectively and support innovation and growth. 


David Hallett - Co Founder and Director, Company-X
David Hallett is the co-founder and director of Company-X; a  multi award-winning software development agency founded in 2012 with a mission to create bespoke software, simuation and training solutions that run the world better.  Waikato born, raised and proud, David is a University of Waikato graduate with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree, a board member of the Waikato Regional Skills Leadership Group for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), a founding member of the Cultivate Trust, and serves on advisory boards for numerous academic and professional organisations within and outside of the Waikato. When he's not out discovering ways to cement the Tron's tech footprint on a global scale, David can be found spending time at his home in Ngahinapouri with his wife and four children.