Auckland Data Protection & Security Summit 2025

Step into the reality of a major cyber incident with someone who has navigated the storm. This session offers firsthand insights into the true impact of a breach, focusing on:

• Practical experiences and lessons learned
• The profound people impact
• Navigating the challenging aftermath  

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This session will explore how businesses can safeguard sensitive data in the AI era. Attendees will learn about strategies to reduce data risk across operations, navigate the evolving landscape of data protection regulations, and stay ahead of emerging threats.

• Understanding the impact of AI on data security and emerging cyber threats
• Strategies for reducing data risk and protecting sensitive information
• Leveraging advanced data security solutions to stay ahead of threats
• Building a proactive security posture to protect against future challenges

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This panel discussion explores how evolving legislation, emerging technologies, and shifting consumer demands are shaping the future of data protection, security and privacy in New Zealand.

• How is the data protection and security landscape evolving in New Zealand and across the globe?
• How can leaders effectively influence a culture of security and privacy across the organisation—from policy to practice?
• What lessons have you learned from embedding data protection into existing workflows without slowing innovation?
• How are you training teams to adopt responsible data practices, particularly when deploying new AI-driven or digital initiatives?

In this innovative session, attendees will be faced with a series of scenarios that they may face in their roles. Attendees will discuss the possible courses of action with their peers to consider the ramifications of each option before logging their own course of action. 

Results will be tallied and analysed by our session facilitator and results will impact the way the group moves through the activity.

Will we collectively choose the right course of action?

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This session explains how one data protection leader streamlined data sharing approvals for a complex portfolio of digital projects.

• Ensuring strong security and privacy oversight throughout high-impact digital initiatives
• Streamlining data sharing approvals to reduce delays while maintaining control and compliance
• Managing and uplifting data sharing agreements to meet evolving regulatory and stakeholder expectations
• Balancing innovation and governance to deliver secure, user-focused digital outcomes

This demo explores how organisations can use automation to stay compliant with evolving global data privacy laws, reduce manual overhead, and respond to regulatory demands with agility and confidence.

• Streamlining compliance processes to reduce administrative burden and improve response times
• Enabling real-time monitoring and alerting to detect and address potential breaches or violations instantly
• Simplifying data privacy management through centralised tools that handle consent, access rights, and data mapping
• Staying ahead of change with automated workflows, reporting dashboards, and continuous updates aligned with global regulations

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This panel brings together leaders of security, data, privacy and technology to exchange insights on how to balance stringent security measures with the need for innovation. The discussion will focus on strategies for safeguarding sensitive data, ensuring compliance, and fostering a security-centric culture that drives competitive advantage.

• Developing robust security frameworks that align with business innovation goals
• Implementing advanced threat detection while facilitating seamless data access
• Navigating complex regulatory landscapes without hindering technological advancement
• Cultivating a proactive security culture that empowers innovation across the organisation

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Delegates will chose from a list of pertinent peer-to-peer discussion topics focussing on evolving and emerging trends, techniques and technologies

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In a digital era where innovation and customer experience drive competitive advantage, data protection leaders face the challenge of safeguarding privacy and building trust while enabling business growth. This session explores how to balance data protection with innovation to deliver exceptional customer experiences without compromising on security.

• Aligning data protection strategies with business innovation goals
• Enhancing customer experience without compromising privacy and trust
• Leveraging privacy by design to achieve competitive edge
• Navigating regulatory compliance amidst rapid technological advancement

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In this session, we’ll take a live pulse of the room on six big-picture questions. The results will drive a candid, expert-led discussion on what they reveal about where we are — and where we’re heading.

• In today’s environment, what should be the primary purpose of the security function?
• What’s the most effective way to influence company-wide behaviour change around data protection?
• Is AI the silver bullet for protecting our data moving forward?
• What's the biggest driver behind current data protection investments?
• Where do you believe security leaders should spend more time?

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