Impactful Innovation 2024 - Aotearoa: A Catalyst for Global Innovation

21 Nov

Earlier this year, Auckland played host to an inspiring gathering of innovators and collaborators at the second Impactful Innovation Conference.

Held at the Hilton on Auckland’s waterfront, the event brought together an impressive mix of thought leaders, investors, industry trailblazers, and visionary entrepreneurs from various fields and corners of the globe, all with a shared goal: to harness the power of New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem for global impact.

The conference theme was "Collaborating for Success" and the event offered a fantastic opportunity for attendees to connect, learn, and share ideas on the latest technologies addressing the human condition and planetary health. The 1.5 days were packed with insightful keynote speakers and panelists who not only have impressive resumes, many founding billion dollar companies, more than once, but also have made significant contributions to the global innovation community.

Here’s a summary of the speakers:

Speaker Insights

Dr. Diego Miralles
Session: Reflections From a Career in the Life Sciences: Physician, Scientist, Entrepreneur

A seasoned strategic advisor, biotech founder, CEO, and lecturer at Cornell University - Diego captivated the audience with heartfelt stories from his early days as a physician during the AIDS crisis. He shed light on the arduous process of developing therapeutics, emphasizing that bringing a treatment from concept to market can take over a decade and require substantial investment. Dr. Miralles drove home the point that true innovation addresses unmet needs projected 5-10 years into the future.

He also highlighted the importance of thinking globally from the start, especially for New Zealand entrepreneurs, urging them to look beyond local borders. His advice on failure was particularly poignant — encouraging entrepreneurs to embrace risk and see failure as a learning opportunity. His key advice: Successful innovation is measured by its impact on end users, and creating value for patients or customers should always be the priority.

Mark Orttung
Session: Product market fit in SaaS and services

Past CEO of Nexient, current CEO of Projectworks, and Chairman of Provoke Solutions - Mark brought his wealth of experience in SaaS innovation to the stage. Reflecting on his time as President and COO of Bill.com, he discussed the importance of removing friction from processes and the need for relentless innovation. In a competitive market, he noted, companies must constantly reinvent themselves to stay ahead.

Mark advised founders to be nimble, launch products quickly, and iterate based on customer feedback. He also stressed the importance of close collaboration with customers to truly understand their needs, alongside the value of clear, mission-driven communication. Drawing on his experience with Nexient, Orttung provided key insights into how startups can stand out in a crowded market and scale effectively.

Dr. Joseph Monforte
Session: Precision Medicine in oncology: benefits and challenges in providing equitable access to innovations in cancer treatment

Co-Founder of Project Doris, Partner & Advisor at Wild Type Advisors, and Medical Advisor at Asylia Diagnostics - Joseph offered an insightful look into the evolving field of precision medicine in oncology. He explained how our understanding of cancer has become increasingly individualized, leading to the development of targeted therapies. However, he pointed out that the real challenge lies in integrating these therapies into healthcare systems and ensuring equitable access.

Joseph also discussed the potential of large language models (LLMs) to revolutionize how oncologists interact with patient data, potentially improving treatment outcomes and accessibility. While precision medicine holds great promise, he noted that there's still a long way to go in making these advancements widely available.

Nicole Howard
Session: Launching a novel therapeutic: Getting in the hearts and hands of the user

A global medical information leader, and seasoned strategist in both medical affairs and digital innovation - Nicole brought a crucial perspective to the table by highlighting the power of patient advocacy in the drug development process. She emphasized the importance of involving patients early on and using data to educate stakeholders. Howard's insights underscored the need for cross-sector collaboration to ensure that new therapies reach the patients who need them most.

Gabrielle Munzer
Session: Crafting a crescendo: charting a path from company creation to company scaling in deep tech

Partner and deep tech VC Investor at Main Sequence Ventures - Gabrielle shared her unique approach to venture science, focusing on intensive company creation and management. She stressed the importance of having a deep purpose behind a venture and assembling a diverse team with expertise in venture, leadership, research, and industry. Munzer's method is all about creating value by carefully steering the transition from scientific discovery to industrial application, setting companies up for growth and success.

Mark W. Womack
Session: Excellence as an Innovation Strategy: Being Better Than Everyone Else at What Your Target Markets Covet The Most

Chief Executive Officer of BioCina, and board member for both NovaCina and LumaCina - Mark emphasized that true innovation lies in being consistently better than the competition at what your customers value most. He outlined key strategies for achieving this, including defining clear market segments, understanding customer desires, and focusing relentlessly on a few top-priority goals. Womack stressed the importance of accountability and maintaining a strong, inspiring vision, urging leaders to behave as if they've already achieved their long-term goals. His message was clear: excellence isn't just about performance—it's about people, vision, and unwavering focus.

Shona Grundy
Session: Operationalising Strategy

Founding Member of The Fractional Exec Community and Chief Operating Officer of Grundy Executive Ltd - Shona tackled the challenges of translating strategy into action within organizations. She highlighted the difficulties both startups and corporates face in aligning teams and priorities, often leading to confusion and blame. Grundy stressed the importance of clear communication during change management, ensuring everyone understands the "why" behind strategic shifts. Her practical insights resonated with those striving to make strategy tangible and effective across their organizations.

Panel discussions, fireside chats, and more!

Impactful Innovation ‘24 also featured a dynamic mix of panel discussions, a fireside chat, and the exciting "Venture Spotlight" series. The fireside chat, with deep-tech leaders like Diego Miralles, Gabrielle Munzer, and Mark Piper, offered valuable insights into the challenges of entrepreneurship in this space, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, transparency, and learning from failure. Panel discussions, such as those on the future of immunology and the impact of AI, sparked engaging conversations about the intersection of science, technology, and industry, highlighting the need for visionary thinking and responsible innovation.

The "Venture Spotlight," presented by Datacom, provided a platform for 11 promising startups to showcase their cutting-edge technologies. These sessions demonstrated the incredible innovation emerging from New Zealand, with companies like AVASA, ADVEMTO, and Kitea Health leading the charge. The diversity and depth of ideas presented underscored the potential for these ventures to make a significant global impact.

Looking Ahead: New Zealand’s Innovation Journey

The Impactful Innovation Conference 2024 was more than just a gathering; it was a powerful reminder of the potential within New Zealand's innovation community. As New Zealand solidifies its position as a leader of disruptive deep tech venture creation, the connections and insights gained from events like this will be vital. The ideas and inspiration shared by our speakers and panelists will undoubtedly fuel the next wave of Kiwi innovators, driving forward the vision of a New Zealand that not only participates in global innovation but leads it.