AIP Forum New Zealand 2026
Confident capital decisions for New Zealand infrastructure leaders
Capital Governance Forum, co-hosted by PwC New Zealand and IFS Copperleaf
New Zealand’s infrastructure organisations are under increasing pressure to make capital decisions that are transparent, defensible and aligned to long-term priorities.
Across energy, water, transport and other asset-intensive sectors, leaders are balancing constrained funding, rising delivery risk, tighter regulatory expectations, and growing expectations from boards and stakeholders.
To explore these challenges, PwC New Zealand and IFS Copperleaf are bringing together a select group of senior infrastructure leaders for an invitation-only Capital Governance Forum.
Together with senior leaders from PwC, IFS and IFS Copperleaf, participants will explore how leading organisations are strengthening capital governance, improving investment transparency, and making more confident portfolio decisions. The discussion will include practical lessons shared by WEL Networks, along with an interactive board-level scenario designed to explore real investment trade-offs.
The forum will be hosted by Andy Sutherland, EVP APJMEA, Brad Hocking, Director of Consulting Delivery APJMEA, and Simon Walsh, Account Executive for ANZ, from IFS Copperleaf, alongside Thomas Heckmann, Strategic Advisor for Asset Management at IFS. The event is co-hosted with Andrew Wilshire, Jarrod Darlington, and Dennis Radich from PwC New Zealand.
Why this discussion matters now
Infrastructure organisations across New Zealand are facing increasingly complex investment decisions.
- Capital budgets remain constrained while infrastructure demand continues to grow.
- Delivery risk and energy transition commitments are increasing across regulated sectors.
- Boards and regulators expect greater transparency and stronger evidence behind investment decisions.
- Leading organisations are moving beyond fragmented planning towards enterprise-wide, scenario-driven investment decisions.
Two sessions. One conversation.
Each session is a three-hour executive forum followed by networking drinks.
Attendance is limited to around 20 senior leaders in each city to encourage open discussion and meaningful peer exchange.
- Auckland – Wednesday, 12 August 2026 – 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm / Networking drinks to follow
- Wellington – Thursday, 13 August 2026 – 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm / Networking drinks to follow
What you’ll gain
During the session you’ll explore:
- New Zealand’s changing investment landscape
PwC New Zealand shares perspectives on capital constraints, regulatory expectations, delivery risk and the energy transition.
- Connecting strategy to delivery
How effective asset lifecycle management strengthens investment outcomes across the organisation.
Presented by Thomas Heckman, Strategic Advisor, Asset Management, IFS.
- Strengthening capital governance
How leading organisations are moving from siloed planning to enterprise-wide, scenario-driven investment decisions that stand up to board scrutiny.
Presented by Andy Sutherland, EVP APJMEA, IFS Copperleaf.
- Making better investment decisions
How IFS Copperleaf helps organisations evaluate competing investments, model trade-offs, and optimise portfolios under funding, risk and regulatory constraints.
Presented by Brad Hocking, Director of Consulting Delivery APJMEA, IFS Copperleaf.
- Customer perspective
Hear directly from WEL Networks as they share practical lessons from implementing value-based capital planning and strengthening enterprise investment decisions.
Facilitated by Brad Hocking.
- Interactive board-level scenario
Take part in a collaborative exercise where you’ll experience the trade-offs involved in making major capital investment decisions under competing priorities.
What is Asset Investment Planning?
Asset Investment Planning (AIP) is an enterprise capital governance discipline that enables organisations to compare competing investments using a common value framework.
Rather than evaluating projects individually, AIP helps leadership teams understand trade-offs across risk, reliability, customer outcomes and financial performance, leading to more transparent, defensible and strategically aligned investment decisions.
Trusted by infrastructure organisations
IFS Copperleaf is already helping infrastructure organisations across New Zealand like Powerco and Wel Networks strengthen capital governance through structured Asset Investment Planning.
Participation
This is a private executive roundtable, curated jointly by PwC New Zealand and IFS Copperleaf for senior leaders responsible for capital, asset and strategic investment decisions.
If you’re responsible for capital, asset or strategy decisions within a New Zealand infrastructure organisation, we’d be pleased to consider your request to attend one of our executive sessions in Auckland or Wellington.