Events
Where New Zealand's tech leaders connect, share and enjoy
Our events are community first: a room of peers sharing openly, connecting genuinely and looking out for one another. Two rules have shaped AFQY since day one. The first is no selling.
The second: don't ask what a person does until at least the third question. Instead, “ask about the kids, the cat and the dog,” as Ryan has said from the very start, or more likely, what they got up to on the weekend. Get to know each other first rather than judge people by what they do. The resulting work discussions are so much better when you know who you're talking to.
Event formats
AFQY Tech Leaders
Two hours of pure connecting through our 'Meet the person' approach to networking for 70+ senior technology leaders.
AFxY
The same tech leaders audience plus education: Tech Leaders speakers, completed by a panel discussion on a subject that matters right now.
AFQY EXEC Roundtable
Ten to fourteen CxOs / Tech Leaders around a lunch table, Chatham House rules. Small room, big conversations.
AFQY OPEN
Two hours of networking with the tech industry. Meet the person, not the suit, and no selling, which makes it fun for everyone!
Coming up
AFQY Tech Leaders: Auckland
2026-08 · Vero Centre, Auckland
Two hours of pure networking with 70+ of New Zealand's senior technology leaders. No agenda, no slides, no selling, just quality yarns.
AFQY Tech Leaders: Wellington
2026-09 · Wellington
The capital edition: senior tech leaders from government and enterprise, one relaxed room.
AFQY Xmas Party
2026-12 · Auckland
The end-of-year get-together for the whole AFQY community.
Past events
FinOps Executive Roundtable with DDS IT
2025-11-13 · Auckland
A hand-picked table of CIOs talking cloud cost realities under Chatham House rules.
AFQY Tech Leaders 2025: Auckland & Wellington
2025 · Auckland & Wellington
The flagship networking series, hosted with Hymanitix, connecting senior tech leaders in both cities across the year.
A Yarn Live: Women in Data Science NZ series
2025 · Online / A Yarn Live
A speaker series celebrating Women in Data Science NZ, featuring WiDS ambassadors and leaders from across the data community.
AFxY: The A to Z of AI
2025 · Auckland
A dozen speakers, one alphabet's worth of AI: practical takes from practitioners across the NZ tech scene.
AFxY: WIZ NZ launch at The Instillery
2025 · The Instillery, Auckland
Speaker session and networking marking WIZ's arrival in the New Zealand market.
AFxY: KONG NZ launch
2025-03-13 · Auckland
KONG's New Zealand market launch, AFQY-style: two client speakers, a sponsor panel, and a room full of the right people.