Networking - complimentary drinks and nibbles.

Welcome to Elevation Auckland 2025 - an introduction to our speakers, guests and goals for the evenings conversations.

Minister Chris Penk’s address will focus on how New Zealand can improve the quality and performance of its commercial building stock - particularly façades - by broadening access to proven overseas construction systems and materials. He will outline the objectives and practical implications of the Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill, a reform designed to make it easier for building consent authorities to recognise internationally certified products and systems. The Minister will discuss how this legislation aims to increase market competition, reduce costs, and encourage innovation without compromising safety or quality. He will also highlight the opportunities for designers, specifiers, and contractors to adopt world-class façade solutions more readily, ensuring New Zealand buildings meet higher performance benchmarks. The session will conclude with an audience Q&A, giving attendees the chance to explore the bill’s potential impact on façade specification, compliance pathways, and procurement practices.

Nick Roach will share insights from his extensive career working on complex facade projects across both New Zealand and Australia. Drawing on more than two decades of engineering and facade design experience - from his early structural work through to his current role as Arup’s Building Envelope skills leader for the ANZ region - Nick will explore what the industry is currently doing well and where the most significant opportunities for improvement lie. His presentation will highlight lessons learned from working in two different regulatory and market environments, comparing approaches to design, specification, and delivery. He will touch on themes such as collaboration, quality assurance, and innovation, as well as how circular economy principles can be better integrated into facade practice. Attendees can expect a candid, cross-Tasman perspective on lifting the performance and resilience of façades, with practical takeaways for designers, specifiers, and contractors aiming to push the standard higher.

Ed Claridge will address how global and local approaches to facade fire safety have evolved since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, with a focus on the implications for legislation, specification practices, and design. Drawing on his 25+ years of fire industry experience and his current role as Principal Fire Engineer for Auckland Council, Ed will outline key international reforms and how New Zealand has responded - or in some cases, fallen behind. His presentation will examine where current legislation is working well, where interpretation or enforcement could be strengthened, and how design practices can adapt to achieve higher safety outcomes. Attendees will gain insight into the latest thinking from across the fire engineering profession, including opportunities to adopt proven international practices and refine compliance pathways. With a perspective shaped by leadership roles in the Institution of Fire Engineers and other professional bodies, Ed will challenge the audience to think critically about what “good” looks like for facade fire safety in the New Zealand context.

This panel will bring together a diverse group of experts to tackle one of the most pressing questions in the façade industry: what does “good” actually mean in practice? In a sector where compliance is often seen as the benchmark, this discussion will challenge whether meeting the minimum is enough - and how we can define, measure, and deliver facades that go beyond it. Drawing on perspectives from legislation, specification, design, and construction, the panel will explore how well New Zealand’s current practices stack up against international benchmarks. Topics will include writing specifications that survive procurement pressures, embedding accountability from design to delivery, and ensuring products and systems are both high-performing and fit for purpose. Expect candid discussion, practical insights, and the chance to test your own definition of “good” against the reality of today’s facade projects.

Unwind at the end of the evening with a relaxed networking session over drinks, nibbles, and great company. It’s an ideal chance to connect with peers, keep the conversations flowing, and share ideas in an informal setting. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and chat with our event sponsors, whose support makes Elevation possible. Whether you’re looking to strengthen existing relationships, spark new collaborations, or simply enjoy a laid-back end to the day, this session is designed to combine genuine connection with a friendly, social atmosphere.