Events

Latin America in Focus: Education Trends & Opportunities for New Zealand

Thu, 8 Oct, 2026 9:00 AM — 10:00 AM
Webinar

Latin America offers opportunities for New Zealand education providers, but where should they begin? What are students looking for, how do recruitment partnerships work, and what does it take to build a lasting presence in the region?

Organised in collaboration with Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), this webinar brings together perspectives from both sides of the Pacific. Our panellists will discuss education trends, student recruitment, English language and higher education pathways, and the practical considerations for New Zealand providers exploring Latin America.

Panellists

• Javiera Visedo, Regional Director Latin America, Education New Zealand

• Lee Waddingham, Academic Manager, English Language Academy, University of Auckland

• Julian Nivia, LATAM Regional Manager, Universities New Zealand

• Alexandre Argenta, President, BELTA (Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association)

Join us for an informed conversation about the opportunities, relationships and local knowledge that can help New Zealand education providers engage successfully with Latin America.

Event Details

Date: Thuesday, 8 October 2026

Time: 9.00 to 10.00am NZT

Breaking the Code: Lessons from Kiwi Companies Growing in Latin America

Tue, 13 Oct, 2026 8:00 AM — 10:00 AM
The Annex - 10 Madden Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland Central 1010

Latin America is home to more than 640 million people, growing digital economies and innovation reshaping agriculture, mining, finance and retail, offering significant opportunities for ambitious startups seeking international growth.

We’re proud to be part of Auckland Startup Week, hosting a breakfast panel in collaboration with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE).

Hear from regional experts and award-winning New Zealand business leaders about entering and growing in Latin America. The session explores where the opportunities are, what founders need to know before entering, and lessons from businesses already operating and succeeding in the region, including understanding market requirements and building partnerships on the ground.

Meet our panellists

Stephen Blair | Regional Director for Latin America, NZTE
Based in Brazil, Stephen leads NZTE’s operations and relationships across the region and serves as New Zealand’s Consul-General for the State of São Paulo. He previously served as Trade Commissioner to South Korea and Melbourne. Before joining NZTE, he worked in banking and senior business advisory roles across Australia.

Felipe Rojas | Board Director, LANZBC
Felipe is a business leader and qualified Chilean lawyer with over 15 years of international experience across commercial, legal and innovation roles. He is Global Procurement Ingredients and Innovation Lead at Fonterra and, through his work on our Board, connects New Zealand businesses, startups and investors with opportunities across Latin America.

James Bayly | CEO, Mindhive
James leads Mindhive Global, an AI-powered quality assessment company that turns leather inspection into verified business intelligence through machine vision technology. Under his leadership, Mindhive has grown contracted revenue fourfold in two years and now serves major global leather manufacturers across nine countries.

Mindhive won Startup of the Year and Best AgriTech at the 2025 New Zealand International Business Awards, and Leveraging Investment for International Growth at the 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Awards.

Matty Blomfield | Co-founder and CEO, Hectre
Matty has grown Hectre into a globally recognised agritech SaaS business over the past decade, leading its expansion into international markets. He brings more than 10 years of entrepreneurial experience and seven years in the agriculture sector.

Hectre was most recently recognised as Hi-Tech Māori Company of the Year and Agritech Company of the Year at the 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards.

Whether you’re actively considering international growth or simply curious about the region’s potential, join us to exchange ideas, gain practical insights and make connections across the New Zealand and Latin American business communities.

A light breakfast will be served on arrival. Stay after the panel for networking with fellow founders, investors and Latin America specialists.

Date: Tuesday 13 October 2026
Time: 8.00am to 10.00am
Business panel: 8.15am to 9.20am
Venue: The Annex
Address: 10 Madden Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland Central 1010 
Register HERE