Public Speaking

Speaking log

The public talks, panels and webinars I’ve given since mid-2025, newest first. The photos are from the day, and where there’s a recording or a write-up, it’s linked.

26 talks listed. Podcasts and press coverage are under Media. Speaking enquiries go through Harkness AI.

Next

202624 talks

  1. UC Business School

    Graduating into a World of AI: How to Turn It into Your Unfair Advantage

    Christchurch

    An evening talk for Business School students on turning AI into an unfair advantage before they graduate. The invite came straight out of the March event at UC.

  2. AI Forum NZ AEC webinar

    AI in China: Firsthand Insights from the NZ Delegation

    Co-presenter, with Ming Cheuk (ElementX)AI Forum New ZealandOnline

    A two-hander with Ming Cheuk on what we saw inside China's AI and robotics companies on the 2026 NZ delegation. Part of the AI Forum NZ AEC webinar series, which I now run.

    Event page

  3. UC Marketing Society

    AI in Marketing: What's Really Happening (and How to Stay Ahead)

    Christchurch

    A pacey 15 minutes for marketing students, shared with Contented AI. AI is average by default; context, repurposing and a real human brand are what make it good.

  4. Whale Watch Kaikōura, Wānanga AI Day

    AI for Beginners

    Opening speakerWhale Watch KaikōuraKaikōura

    Opened the staff Wānanga AI Day with AI in plain language: what it can and can't do, and why human input still matters. A live Claude demo for guides, marine biologists, managers and the ops team.

  5. Young Kiwis in AI Auckland meetup at ZURU

    Pathways for young Kiwis in AI, and the China AI trip

    Host and speakerYoung Kiwis in AIAuckland

    Our sold-out Auckland meetup at ZURU HQ: four talks, then networking. I hosted, and spoke on graduating into a world of AI and what the China trip taught me.

    Meetup recapWatch the vlog

  6. University of Auckland, Master of AI

    Graduating into a World of AI

    Guest presentation to Master of AI studentsUniversity of AucklandAuckland

    There is no opting out: whatever your degree, AI changes the job. The four skills employers actually hire for in AI, and why communication comes first.

    Write-up: a day in Auckland

  7. AUT Computer Science and Engineering Association

    Graduating into AI

    Organiser and panellistAuckland

    I pulled the line-up together and joined Derrick Edward (Harnex AI) and Brodie Dye (ZURU) for a room of engineering and computer science students.

    Write-up: a day in Auckland

  8. Global China Connection Canterbury, China Talks

    The NZ AI and robotics delegation to China

    Global China Connection CanterburyChristchurch

    What the NZ delegation saw inside China's leading AI and robotics companies, for UC students. I shared the bill with Kevin Hart of the NZ Wind Energy Association.

  9. NZ IT & AI Job Forum

    Graduating into a World of AI: From Student to Founder in 18 Months

    Auckland Chinese Families NetworkAuckland35 in the room

    The four skills employers are hiring for in AI, and why communication comes first. I also mentored at the AI-A-Thon running alongside the forum.

    Blake Harkness on stage at the NZ IT & AI Job Forum at the University of Auckland, between two screens showing the slide Why Communication Comes First

  10. Young Kiwis in AI Palmerston North meetup

    Graduating into a World of AI

    Host and closing speakerYoung Kiwis in AIPalmerston North30 in the room

    Short talks and networking at Nodero for the Manawatū crowd. I closed the night with Graduating into a World of AI.

    Meetup recap

    Blake Harkness presenting to a full room at the Young Kiwis in AI Palmerston North meetup

  11. AI Forum NZ, AEC Working Group

    Seven days inside China's AI build

    Working group spotlightAI Forum New ZealandOnline24 attendees

    A ten-minute spotlight for the AI Forum NZ Architecture, Engineering and Construction working group on what the NZ delegation saw in China.

    The trip write-up

  12. Engineering New Zealand, AI 2026 Series

    From Quick Wins to Bigger Projects: AI Inside a NZ Surveying & Engineering Firm

    Engineering New ZealandOnline80 attendees

    An hour for Engineering New Zealand members on what AI has actually done inside Patersons, from the quick wins to the bigger builds.

  13. Bed & Breakfast Association NZ Conference 2026

    Elevating Your Online Presence with AI

    Bed & Breakfast Association of New ZealandChristchurch60 in the room

    Practical AI for B&B and boutique accommodation owners, with a live demo. Delegates cited it among the most valuable sessions of the conference.

    Delegates raising their hands during Blake Harkness's session at the Bed & Breakfast Association NZ Conference 2026 in Christchurch, with the "would I book" website test slide on screen

  14. M2 AI Summit

    Using AI to Make Your Team GreatLargest room

    M2 MagazineChristchurch340 in the room

    AI is an amplifier, not a cost-cutter: your staff are your superpower. A live Claude demo of proposal writing, for 340 business owners and leaders.

    M2 Magazine podcast episode

    Blake Harkness presenting on stage at the M2 AI Summit in Christchurch, with a slide reading Two Things I Want You to Take Away

  15. Young Kiwis in AI Dunedin meetup

    The Best Time to Get Into AI Is Right Now

    Host and speakerYoung Kiwis in AIDunedin20 in the room

    Fifteen minutes at our Dunedin meetup, hosted by Flock: why nobody is an AI expert yet, what I saw in China, and the one piece of advice that actually moves the needle.

  16. Aurora Energy

    The Best Time to Learn AI Is Right Now

    Talk to Aurora Energy staffDunedin10 in the room

    For younger staff across engineering, assets, operations and comms: AI matters in whatever role you already have. Plus what I saw in China and how to actually learn it.

  17. Summer of Tech

    Social Media as Your Secret Weapon to Jobs

    WebinarOnline60 attendees

    How I used LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok to land 7+ job offers while in a graduate role and build a business, and how students and graduates can do the same.

  18. University of Canterbury, Centre for Employability and Career Development

    AI in Industry: Where Students Need to Show Up

    University of CanterburyChristchurch5 in the room

    A 45-minute session for UC's careers and employability advisers on how industry is really using AI, and where students need to show up.

  19. Synergy Networking

    AI Without the Hype

    Guest presenterChristchurch

    Booked for 25 minutes and stretched to the full hour on member feedback. Practical AI, minus the hype, for a room of Christchurch business people.

  20. Summer of Tech x Young Kiwis in AI

    AI Automation Skills Employers Are Looking For

    WebinarSummer of Tech and Young Kiwis in AIOnline60 attendees

    A national webinar with Summer of Tech on the automation skills employers are hiring for right now.

  21. Survey and Spatial New Zealand

    AI Beyond the Field

    Presenting for PatersonsAuckland80 in the room

    Real results from my first three months at Patersons: agents drafting invoices and answering HR queries, automations and custom tools, with the setup and the actual results.

    Blake Harkness at the lectern at Survey and Spatial New Zealand in Auckland, with an AI script results slide on the big screen

  22. Young Kiwis in AI Hamilton meetup

    Graduating into a World of AI

    Co-host and speakerYoung Kiwis in AI and The AI CollectiveHamilton30 in the room

    Co-hosted with Benny Pan of The AI Collective. I told my own story, from mechatronics student to AI engineer, and how AI is reshaping career paths.

    Blake Harkness presenting his My Journey slide at the Young Kiwis in AI meetup in Hamilton

  23. Graduating into a World of AI

    From Mechatronics Student to AI Engineer

    Convenor, host and speakerEngineering New ZealandChristchurch65 in the room

    I convened and hosted this evening at UC through Engineering New Zealand: four lightning talks, a panel, and 65 students and young professionals. It was filmed, and that cut is my speaker reel.

    Watch the video

    Blake Harkness at the lectern at Graduating into a World of AI at the University of Canterbury, beside his title slide From Mechatronics Student to AI Engineer

  24. Beyond Chatbots

    Connecting AI to Your Apps with MCP

    Organiser and speakerChristchurch40 in the room

    I ran an evening on MCP with Tim Ackroyd and Regan Ashworth, who built the Xero MCP server. My slot: connecting an AI agent to Gmail, Drive and Notion to take the admin off your plate.

    Blake Harkness presenting a real example of AI handling client project admin at Beyond Chatbots, Powerhouse Coworking, Christchurch

20252 talks

  1. Harkness AI x Avocado AI

    Co-presenterHarkness AI and Avocado AIChristchurch

    Our first joint evening with Avocado AI: a no-hype update on what's new, a live demo, then a hands-on exercise.

  2. Artificial Intelligence in Engineering

    Speaker, representing MainPowerYoung Engineers Canterbury and Engineering New Zealand Canterbury BranchChristchurch

    One of four speakers on AI in engineering, alongside Cowan Henderson, Annie Johnson and Ian McKnight, speaking from my graduate role at MainPower.

    A full room at the Artificial Intelligence in Engineering evening at the University of Canterbury, with the speakers slide listing Blake Harkness of MainPower

Get in touch

Booking Blake to speak

Speaking enquiries go through Harkness AI, which also keeps the full talk list. Want an AI engineer embedded in your team? That’s Harkness AI.

Speaking enquiries