Westpac Smarts - Navigating the Export Journey
Date and Time
Wednesday Nov 11, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM NZDT
Location
Venue: Ruakura Conference Centre, SkyPoint Building, Waikato Innovation Park. View the map here.
Fees/Admission
Free of charge for Waikato Chamber members. Registration is essential.
$39+gst for non-members.
Tea, coffee and morning tea will be available.
Description
Whether you're exploring export opportunities for the first time or looking to grow your presence in international markets, understanding the support available can make all the difference.
Brought to you in partnership with Westpac New Zealand, join us for this Westpac Smarts session, bringing together experts from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) - Exporter Help team, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), alongside a local business sharing firsthand insights from their exporting journey.
Designed for businesses at any stage of the export process, this session will provide practical advice, valuable resources, and real-world experiences to help you navigate opportunities and challenges in global markets. You'll gain an understanding of the services and tools available to help New Zealand exporters navigate international markets, meet regulatory requirements, and build confidence in their export strategy.
The morning will begin with networking and morning tea, providing an opportunity to connect with fellow business owners and exporters, followed by presentations and a panel Q&A discussion featuring all speakers. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights relevant to their own export journey.
Please email events@waikatochamber.co.nz to submit a question for our presenters.
View our terms and conditions here.
PRESENTERS
Michelle Taylor - Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
Michelle is the Exporter Help’s team manager with more than 15 years of experience across government, primary industries, stakeholder engagement, and operational leadership. Throughout her career, she has worked with organisations including Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry of Social Development, DairyNZ, and Primary ITO. Michelle is passionate about building strong relationships, supporting people through change, and turning complex challenges into practical solutions. She enjoys bringing people together, fostering meaningful connections, and creating positive outcomes for industry, communities, and government partners.
Aarti Jivan - Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
Aarti is an Adviser in the Exporter Help team at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), supporting New Zealand exporters with navigating food and fibre export requirements, certification and market access information. Based in Auckland, Aarti has experience across the private and public sectors and a background in International Business and Marketing. She has been with MPI for four years. She has a strong interest in stakeholder engagement, collaboration and currently plays a key role in supporting the implementation and early lifecycle support of MPI's Trade Certification system.
Mark Donovan - New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)
Mark is a Customer Manager with NZTE, supporting food, beverage and consumer goods businesses to grow internationally and reach new customers around the world. A former business owner and current Waikato Chamber Board member, he is passionate about helping Waikato exporters succeed on the global stage. Outside of work, you'll usually find Mark keeping an eye on the surf at Raglan, although getting into the water is sometimes harder than finding the perfect wave.
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