No longer the “Cinderella” of creative conferences or the “Plus One” at marcomms summits.
We see you and the work you do.
Join the Worthies Conference, where passion meets purpose. Connect with a vibrant community, share best practices, and challenge the way you think. Our eclectic lineup of global and local thought leaders will tackle the pressing challenge of driving and embedding behaviour change, sparking your creativity and empowering you with the skills to make lasting impact.
This one-day event, taking place in the Grand Hall at Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand, on 5 March 2026, promises a full day of inspiration, culminating in the presentation of our New Zealand Awards.
Your conference registration gives you full access to every session, plus an invitation to our pre-award drinks and the exciting awards ceremony.
The day kicks off at 9:30 am and wraps up with the awards celebration at 7:00 pm, a full day of inspiration, connection, and recognition.
An opportunity to step away from day-to-day activities, reflect on how audiences are evolving, and explore how effective engagement demands continuous improvement and innovation.
The Worthies Conference provides a safe and welcoming space for public sector practitioners and commissioners to connect with external agencies, share knowledge, gain deeper insights, and build meaningful relationships. Attending the conference is an investment in both your personal development and your organisation’s capability.
An opportunity to take time out from the day-to-day activities, step back and consider how audiences are evolving and how effective engagement requires continuous improvement and innovation.
The Worthies conference is a safe and welcoming space for public sector practitioners and commissioners to connect with external agencies, share knowledge, develop greater insight, and build relationships.
The conference will feature an eclectic line up of international and local speakers, highlighting experience and perspective on the global challenge of catalysing and embedding behaviour change in communities of interest.
The Worthies conference is an investment in both your personal development and your organisations capability, do not miss out, pre-register now to guarantee your place.
Spaces are limited at our inaugural conference.
The Worthies are offering you the chance to pre-register to secure your seat(s).
No payment is required at this stage but upon release of seats for the conference, anyone pre-registering will be offered a priority booking period to register for the conference.
New Zealand 2026 Programme
Our Speakers
David Shing aka Shingy
The Digital Prophet
David Shing, widely known as "Shingy," is a global storyteller, trendspotter, and cultural architect who challenges the status quo with creative foresight. His illustrious career spans marketing, digital transformation, and strategy. Shingy is a force who blends art, imagination, and business acumen to ignite change.
Formerly AOL’s self-proclaimed “Digital Prophet,” Shingy has a storied track record of identifying emerging opportunities and shaping visionary futures for industry giants, from launching AOL in new European markets to steering the company’s strategic acquisitions under Verizon, his work has redefined what’s possible in digital innovation.
A creative polymath and trusted advisor to cultural leaders and global brands like LVMH and Nike, Shingy transforms bold ideas into iconic identities that resonate across markets. His ability to blend creativity with strategy has earned him a unique place on stages around the world, from TED and SXSW to Cannes Lions, where he inspires audiences with mind-bending insights.
Since launching his creative advisory in 2019, Shingy has the reputation as a "one-man cultural McKinsey," delivering transformative consulting, creative direction, and business strategy. He helps clients not only envision the future but implement it, offering actionable insights that bridge instinct and innovation. Shingy’s keynotes are known to challenge conventional thinking, making him an indispensable guide in navigating the intersection of art, culture, and commerce.
Whether shaping global media strategies, reimagining brand identities, or counseling executives on enlightened futures, Shingy continues to revolutionize industries with an alchemy of imagination, instinct, and impact. His legacy is defined not by following trends but by creating them—turning ideas into world-shifting realities.
Nicole Velik
The Power of Stupid Ideas - How to Unlock Creative Brilliance
Nicole Velik is a globally recognised creativity and innovation speaker, facilitator, and trainer. As the founder of The Ideas Bodega, host of Creativity Unpacked: The Podcast, and the force behind CreativeMornings Sydney, she’s on a mission to make creativity exciting, accessible, and essential for everyone.
For 17 years, Nicole has helped organisations around the world, including The United Nations, Nike, Apple, Canva, LEGO, Spotify, Coca-Cola, TikTok, and Google, in the U.S., Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa to supercharge their creative potential.
Nicole believes creativity isn’t a gift for the lucky few, it’s a skill we all have. Her high-energy sessions leave audiences buzzing with confidence and ready to generate game-changing ideas.
"I know this might sound stupid but…” This is how so many brilliant ideas throughout history have begun. From groundbreaking inventions to award-winning ad campaigns, the genesis of these innovations often came from someone saying a stupid idea, an off-the-cuff remark or even a joke. The problem is, many potentially brilliant ideas are shut down before they can blossom because of our fear of judgment or a culture that dismisses anything unconventional as foolish.
In this interactive session, you will learn practical tools and techniques to generate the kind of ‘stupid’ ideas that lead to brilliant ideas
Romaine Reid
Elevate your creativity with Visual Alchemy
Romaine Reid, filmmaker, director, and creative storyteller, will reveal his method of 'visual alchemy'—a transformative approach to crafting powerful visuals for any platform. In this session, you'll delve into the art of unlocking your creative potential, shifting your perspective, and discover new ways to express your vision to make a lasting impact across brands and audiences.
Romaine Reid is an award-winning Director, Filmmaker and Creative, with a commercial background in motion design and VFX.
Romaine has created eye-catching film and motion work for brands such as Nike, Google, Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers Pictures, Disney, BBC, and more.
He brings his in-depth experience in filmmaking, post-production, content creation and design to all of his projects, providing a creative edge to what is possible on screen, across film and digital.
Romaine’s work in Film, Commercials and Music Videos, is described as 'visually captivating, memorable and stunning.' He invites viewers into the screen and takes them on a journey of evoked ‘feelings and emotions’ centred around visual storytelling.
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We're scouring the globe.
The Worthies Limited are scouring the globe to bring you an amazing conference line up, as confirmed we will add to the line-up of our inaugural conference.
Tickets
Tickets to the inaugural Worthies Conference & Awards will be limited and released in stages, with priority given to delegates who have pre registered.
Remaining tickets will be available at Early Bird rates in advance of general release.
Tickets can be purchased online using a credit card or alternatively The Worthies Limited can invoice directly, please refer to your organisations procurement policy. You will need to set up The Worthies Limited as a creditor before providing us with a Purchase Order (PO) number. The Worthies Limited will not accept orders for conference tickets without a PO number. Please email your new creditor set up form to accounts@theworthiesawards.com or provide a URL to an online portal.
Individual Ticket
Early Bird
$NZ 645 + GST each
General Release*
$NZ 745 + GST each
10 - 20 Delegates
Early Bird
$NZ 595 + GST each
General Release*
$NZ 695 + GST each
20+ Delegates
Early Bird
$NZ 545 + GST each
General Release*
$NZ 645 + GST each
The Worthies cannot guarantee tickets will be available for General Release, should early bird purchases exceed capacity.
Individual Ticket
Early Bird
$NZ 645 + GST each
General Release*
$NZ 745 + GST each
10 - 20 Delegates
Early Bird
$NZ 595 + GST each
General Release*
$NZ 695 + GST each
Tickets
Tickets
Tickets to the inaugural Worthies Conference & Awards will be limited and released in stages, with priority given to delegates who have pre registered.
Remaining tickets will be available at Early Bird rates in advance of general release.
Tickets can be purchased online using a credit card or alternatively The Worthies Limited can invoice directly, please refer to your organisations procurement policy. You will need to set up The Worthies Limited as a creditor before providing us with a Purchase Order (PO) number. The Worthies Limited will not accept orders for conference tickets without a PO number. Please email your new creditor set up form to accounts@theworthiesawards.com or provide a URL to an online portal.
Buy Conference Tickets
A Venue to Remember
The Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Meticulously restored, boasting magnificent architecture, combining grandeur with modern amenities.
