CODE Presents: Transforming the EMA during the Times of COVID

Presenter: Brett O’Riley (EMA Chief Executive)

Date: Wednesday 31st May 2023

Time: 12-1 pm

Venue: Case room2 260-057 and Online via Zoom

The abrupt COVID-19-induced three-month lockdown of the Auckland region put immense pressure on business owners and their people. The bulk of the EMA’s 7,100 mostly SME members are in this region and need accurate, practical information, advice, and access to services in a different way to help them keep the doors open. They also needed a connection with the Government in Wellington to highlight the full extent of the ongoing lockdown on already struggling businesses and its impact on Auckland and the national economy. The EMA had to rapidly change the way its people worked, as well as find different, technology-focused ways to keep members up to date, including immediate expansion of capacity and working from home for its core AdviceLine service, an ongoing Web Series with the latest updates and insights, and transforming in-person learning portfolios previously to rich online ones. Join EMA Chief Executive Brett O’Riley to learn more about how COVID accelerated its transformation and the benefits for staff and members.

Bio:

Brett O’Riley is the Chief Executive of the EMA, having commenced in that role in January 2019. He is a Victoria University of Wellington graduate with post-graduate qualifications from MIT (Boston) and Singularity University (San Jose).

Brett returned to New Zealand from Australia in 2009 and has spent the last 10 years dedicated to the goal of growing the New Zealand innovation eco-system as founding CE of NZICT, founding deputy CE of the Ministry of Science + Innovation, and recently as Chief Executive of Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development, Auckland’s economic growth agency until September 2017. Prior to that, Brett worked in the telecommunications and IT sectors for 20 years in New Zealand and internationally.

Prior to joining the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA), Brett worked as a Director and Advisor to organisations with a common goal, connecting them with international markets and opportunities and still maintains several directorships.

Brett is a competitive lawn bowls player at the national and international level, and he is married (to Robyne Walker) with two children, Alanna, and James.

Host or Publisher The University of Auckland Business School