Treasury Guest Lecture with Phil O'Reilly: IN-PERSON attendance

Join us for the next lecture in our new seminar series

Changes in the global order are leading to changes in global business priorities. But some things don’t change: Business still seeks a competitive, level playing field and access to markets.

The world is reglobalising, not deglobalising, and that is creating new opportunities for New Zealand businesses. Markets that were once thought of as difficult to access are now open for business. Relationships once thought moribund are now reinvigorated.

Despite the doomsayers, New Zealand can arguably look with real confidence to the world we see emerging. But we need to understand those new opportunities and the new rules of the game.

The emergence of industry policy and an increased focus on defence and critical minerals with national resilience at the core are just some of the trends at national level. And globally, we need to vigorously engage in the future of multilateral institutions that have been so important to us for decades.

All of these changes are a potential opportunity for us, if only we can grasp them.

The risk is that we continue to see the world through old eyes. That we fail to critique old policy settings and be self-critical of our existing beliefs about what makes New Zealand an attractive place to do business. And worst of all, that business just leaves it to Government to do all the thinking.

About this event

This will be a hybrid event. Please use this site to register if you plan to attend it in person.

If you would like to attend it virtually, please use THIS LINK to register.

About the presenter

Phil O’Reilly ONZM is Managing Director of Iron Duke Partners, a Wellington, New Zealand based Public Policy Advisory Firm.

He was previously the Chair of the Board of Business at OECD, based in Paris, which is the representative of businesses in OECD member states and was a member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) based in Geneva. He was also a member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

He currently chairs Business at OECDs Southeast Asian Contact Group which is concerned with accession to the OECD by Southeast Asian states and is a member of the OECD Trade Committee. He has long involvement in the B20 advising G20 leaders.

He has acted in both a governance and advisory capacity to the New Zealand government as well as overseas organisations in areas as diverse as trade, sustainability, diversity, pay equity, manufacturing, child poverty, welfare reform, R&D, innovation, tertiary education, retirement and the future of work.

He was previously Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s leading business advocacy group, representing thousands of businesses of all sizes. He is a member of the Board of Aurecon Ltd.

About this seminar series

New ideas, robust evidence, and insights from leading thinkers are crucial to strengthening the Treasury’s economic analysis and policy advice. Our new guest lecture theme — Navigating Global Shifts: Resilience, Challenges and Opportunities for New Zealand — invites us to reflect on how Aotearoa New Zealand can navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected global environment.

This series explores the major global forces that shape our economic landscape, including evolving trade relationships, geopolitical developments, and the global movement of people, capital, and ideas. Through these discussions, we aim to deepen our understanding of how New Zealand can build economic resilience, respond effectively to uncertainty, and harness our regional and international partnerships to support economic performance, productivity, and our living standards.

Our speakers explore strategies for mitigating the impacts of global disruptions — from pandemics and climate‑related events to geopolitical tensions and supply‑chain shocks – while also examining potential opportunities presented by rapid technological shifts, digital economy, and global innovations, to name a few. The series considers the role of government in supporting economic transitions, strengthening national resilience, and ensuring that New Zealand remains well‑positioned to meet emerging global opportunities. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this series seeks to inspire new ways of thinking about New Zealand’s economic future and to support informed, forward‑looking policymaking.

Please note that the views, opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in the Treasury Guest Lecture Series are those of the individual presenters. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the New Zealand Treasury or the New Zealand Government.

For updates and our latest research visit: www.treasury.govt.nz

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