Kia ora there,

Welcome to Arotake-Makariri, our Winter Review. It's an opportunity to reflect on the past six months and thank everyone who has contributed to Aspen NZ's work - our participants, contributers and supporters. Your engagement makes these conversations and programmes possible.

Recent months have been a reminder of how quickly the world can change. Conflict in the Middle East, intensifying geopolitical competition and growing economic uncertainty have reinforced that events far beyond our shores impact New Zealand's security, prosperity and choices.

For a small, outward-looking country, the question is no longer whether these global shifts affect us, but how we respond. How do we remain economically resilient, strategically connected and secure in a contested world?

Finding New Zealand's place under these changing paradigms has become the thread running through Aspen NZ's work. It's reflected in the conversations we've hosted, the relationships we've strengthened and the leadership capability we're building.

A few highlights:

• Launched the Aspen NZ Security Programme, connecting leaders across sectors to examine the strategic issues shaping New Zealand's security, resilience and prosperity.
• Hosted Security Dialogues in Auckland and Wellington exploring the global developments redefining New Zealand's strategic environment.
• Held Debugging Decision Making in Queenstown, helping business and community leaders strengthen judgement and decision making.
• Awarded two Global Changemakers' scholarships for emerging New Zealand leaders to attend the Global Changemakers Workshop in India.
• Welcomed Dr Ángel Cabrera as the incoming President and CEO of the Aspen Institute (U.S.).

Coming up, the Aspen NZ Security Forum will address how New Zealand can stay economically credible, technologically capable and strategically connected in a less predictable world.

Strengthening New Zealand's place in a contested world is a collective effort, and none of this happens without people choosing to be part of it. Whether you've participated in a programme, partnered with us, supported our work or are considering getting involved for the first time, thank you. We hope you'll continue to be part of the journey.

Ngā mihi,
Christine and the Aspen NZ team

Helping New Zealand navigate its place in a changing world takes informed leadership, constructive dialogue and long-term thinking. Aspen NZ builds that capability by connecting leaders across sectors, bringing international expertise to New Zealand conversations, and creating spaces where complex issues can be examined and better decisions can emerge.

"I am deeply grateful for this experience, for the thinkers I met, and for the encouragement to keep growing. The scholarship and support system around me made this possible. These lessons and this overall experience will last far beyond Aspen. I leave inspired to guide youth, amplify voices, and shape my community for the good."

— Te-Rina Isaáko, Leo Lonergan Scholarship Recipient 2025

Your support makes our work possible. Whether through strategic partnership, philanthropy or a one-off donation, you can help strengthen the leadership and conversations New Zealand needs for the future.

Become a Strategic Partner

Strategic Partnership is an opportunity for organisations to invest in New Zealand's long-term strategic capability. By backing Aspen NZ's Global Affairs programme, partners help ensure senior leaders can examine emerging issues before they become crises, build trusted relationships across sectors, and draw on international perspectives to inform better decision making. Contact us to learn more.

Join Te Kākano

Te Kākano means 'the seed'. It's our community of philanthropic supporters growing Aspen NZ's independent leadership programmes, connecting New Zealand with global thinking, and creating trusted spaces for better conversations.

Whether you're an individual, family, philanthropist or Active Investor Visa holder, joining Te Kākano is an investment in the leaders New Zealand will need tomorrow.

Join Te Kākano

Make a Donation

Every contribution, large or small, funds the conversations, relationships and leadership capability that give New Zealand a stronger hand in a more contested world.

Make a donation.

We're delighted to welcome Dr Ángel Cabrera as the incoming President and CEO of the Aspen Institute.

A long-time member of the Aspen community and internationally recognised champion of values based leadership, Dr Cabrera joins the Institute after leading major universities in the United States and Europe, most recently as President of the Georgia Institute of Technology. We look forward to working with Dr Cabrera as the Institute continues to strengthen its impact through its global network.

Closer to home, we're also delighted to welcome our 2026 Aspen NZ Security Forum partners: PwC New Zealand as Principal Partner, and Microsoft and North Ridge Partners as Strategic Partners. Their support reflects a shared commitment to helping New Zealand navigate its place in a less predictable environment.

Global Affairs

Understanding New Zealand’s place in a contested world

During February and April, Aspen NZ hosted two Security Dialogues, bringing together leaders from the public and private sectors to examine the challenges shaping New Zealand’s strategic environment. Held under the Chatham House Rule, the discussions examined how geopolitical change, economic security and emerging risks are reshaping the country's interests - building the shared understanding and trusted relationships needed to respond effectively.

Strengthening decision making amid complexity

As part of our Evidence and Values Based Decision Making programme, Aspen NZ launched a shorter, 1-day course in February, Debugging Decision Making, led by Neil Jacobstein. As the challenges facing leaders become more interconnected and uncertain, the ability to navigate ambiguity and make informed decisions is becoming increasingly important. The course brought together participants from across sectors to examine how assumptions, evidence, values and uncertainty influence judgement. It introduced a practical framework that participants can apply to improve decision making in their own organisations.

"The roundtable gave me a useful insight to see issues as others would see them... Neil was an outstanding leader of the conversation, gently steering the discussion without judgement and allowing participants, who had a very diverse range of views, to contribute and feel their opinion was truly valued." Dr William Rolleston CNZM CRSNZ

Influential Global Network

Developing the next generation of leaders

Preparing New Zealand for the challenges ahead requires leaders who can engage with diverse perspectives and understand global issues from multiple vantage points. This year, Aspen NZ alumni Arne Larsen and Alexander Plimmer were selected as scholarship recipients for the 2026 Global Changemakers Workshop in India. Joining emerging leaders from across the Aspen international network, they will explore the opportunities and constraints of artificial intelligence, questions of accountability, governance, and the evolving relationship between institutions and the public.

Global perspectives on local challenges

Aspen NZ CEO, Christine Maiden Sharp, attended Bloomberg CityLab 2026 in Madrid, joining a global community of mayors, policymakers, innovators and civic leaders exploring the future of cities. Her reflections focused on the role of leadership in building momentum for change and the potential for technology to strengthen civic engagement, highlighting ideas with relevance for New Zealand's own conversations about leadership, trust and democratic resilience.

Aspen NZ Security Forum 2026

Technology, Economic Security & Strategic Capability

October 16 | Queenstown 

The geopolitical environment is shifting rapidly, reshaping supply chains, technology infrastructure, investment risk and the rules governing trade. The Aspen NZ Security Forum brings together senior leaders across business, technology, investment, defence, infrastructure and government. It's one of the few settings where public and private sector leaders can examine these issues together, exploring how these shifts will affect New Zealand's economic resilience and long-term positioning.

Held under the Chatham House Rule, the day opens with a strategic assessment of the shifts reshaping the Pacific and beyond, before moving through Pacific stability and maritime security, AI and cyber resilience, defence capability and dual-use innovation, and economic security and supply chain resilience.

Registrations are now open, with limited places available.

Your support really makes a difference.

The Aspen Institute New Zealand is a registered charity that relies on the generosity of your donations to maintain its independence and fund its programming.