Alzheimers NZ Summit 2025

HAERE MAI

Join our Summit 2025!

Solving the Dementia Challenge with People, Partnership and Innovation will explore the latest news, updates and insights over two jam-packed days.

Dates: Tuesday 23 September and Wednesday 24 September 2025
Venue: Grand Millennium Auckland, 71 Mayoral Drive, Cnr Vincent Street, Auckland and online

Join us to inspire, inform and connect the people and organisations working to improve the lives of people living with dementia mate wareware, their whānau and the wider sector. 

We’re excited to invite you to join a cross-sector conversation that brings lived experience, clinical expertise, policy thinking, and community innovation into one shared space!

The Summit will have sessions spanning over two days. Attendees can join as many sessions as they can depending on their interest.

Please review the Summit programme below, then click on the yellow 'Register now' button above to join us in-person in Auckland or online.

The Alzheimers NZ Summit 2025 event is managed by our event partner, Verve. For questions about the event please email: alzheimers@verve.co.nz.


DAY ONE: TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

Start            Session
12.00pm       Mihi whakatau, welcome and lunch
1.00pm         Session 1 - Concurrent Sessions

Professional Development Workshop:

Leadership when working with people who experience distress/changed behaviours (certificates available for CPD hours)

Led by our Dementia Learning Centre Director Caroline Bartle, including:

  • Yvonne Cutres
  • Carole Kerr
  • Lisa Rogers-Owen
  • Debbie McCusker
  • Orquidea Tamayo Mortera

‘Nothing about us without us – Co-designing change together’ workshop (in-person only)

Hosted by our Lived Experience Advisory Group

Leaders Forum (in-person invited guests only)

4.00pm           Panel discussion: Shifting the dial for dementia support (for everybody) including:

        • The Selwyn Foundation Chief Executive Denise Cosgrove
        • Aged Care Association Chief Executive Tracey Martin
        • Dr Makarena Dudley
        • Elizabeth Duke
        • Alzheimers NZ Chief Executive Catherine Hall
5.00pm         Infographic launch (for everybody)       
 5.20pm        Networking event (in-person only)

DAY TWO: WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

Start               Session
8.30am           Opening, launch of refreshed Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan (TBC) and address from                                         Associate Minister of Health Hon Casey Costello 
9.30am           Session 2 - People and whānau-led services

                       Moving from good to great by transforming person-centred care to person/whānau-led

                       Co-led by Dr Joanna Hikaka and Elizabeth Duke, including:

        • Val Pollard
        • Ofoi Taumoelau
        • Keisha Rawiri
        • Tanya Bish
12.00pm         Lunch
1.00pm           Session 3 - Integrated primary and community dementia care

                       What integrated care means, why it matters and how to make it work

                       Co-led by Professor Ngaire Kerse and Dr Matthew Croucher, including:

        • Alister Robertson
        • Sisa Talataina
        • And more!
3.30pm           Closing and karakia