Business leaders
Owners and leadership teams who want AI working inside the business, with live demos of what it does today.
Speaking log
AI keynote and conference speaker, New Zealand
I’m an AI speaker based in Christchurch, giving keynotes, conference talks, panels and webinars on practical AI across New Zealand. Below are the public ones since mid-2025, newest first, with photos from the day and the recording or write-up where there is one.
Keynotes, conference talks, workshops, panels and webinars. Based in Christchurch, speaking across New Zealand, in person or online.
Book Blake to speakBlake presented at our IFAA conference and received excellent feedback from our advisers. He made AI easy to understand, with practical examples and useful ideas they could apply in their businesses. His session was a conference highlight and left members keen to learn more. We'd happily recommend Blake to other organisations looking for an engaging speaker on AI.
We had Blake speak at our 'BA Big Day In' conference on the 16th of October 2026. Blake is an amazing speaker and had a group of 120+ Business Analysts in the palm of his hand! The way he was able to show a new world where AI tools were truly integrated into your day-to-day (with well-tailored and reusable skills driving the mahi) was inspiring. A real asset to put in front of any audience!!
Book Blake to speak35+ speaking events, 900+ people in the room. All the reviews
Talks by audience
Industry conferences
A talk built around the room's own industry, with examples from that sector's day-to-day work.
Students and graduates
Starting a career while AI rewrites the rules: the skills employers want and how to get noticed.
Technical teams
Agents, Claude and MCP: connecting AI to the tools a team already uses.
All 29 public talks, newest first. The 35+ figure on the home page counts every speaking event, including the private client workshops and in-house sessions that don’t belong in a public log. Podcasts and press coverage are on the media page. To book a talk, send a speaking enquiry.
Next
- 12 Feb 2027Young Kiwis in AI National Conference 2027 (organiser and host, tickets on sale)Novotel Auckland Airport
202627 talks
Young Kiwis in AI Wellington meetup at Trade Me
Personal branding is your superpower in the age of AI
Our first Wellington meetup, at Trade Me: four talks, then networking, with around 55 people. I hosted, and spoke on why being visible matters more, not less, once everyone has AI.
BA Big Day In 2026
AI: What's Actually Possible
A session for 120+ business analysts at Tūranga on what AI can actually do for a BA today, with four recorded demos on a fictional NZ insurer, and how you onboard it like a new team member.
IFAA Conference 2026
From AI to Action: Practical Tools for Advisers
Opening the final morning of the IFAA conference: 50 minutes for financial advisers on getting from knowing what AI could do to using it in day-to-day work, built around live demos.
UC Business School
Graduating into a World of AI: How to Turn It into Your Unfair Advantage
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.
AI Forum NZ AEC webinar
AI in China: Firsthand Insights from the NZ Delegation
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.
UC Marketing Society
AI in Marketing: What's Really Happening (and How to Stay Ahead)
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.
Whale Watch Kaikōura, Wānanga AI Day
AI for Beginners
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.
Young Kiwis in AI Auckland meetup at ZURU
Pathways for young Kiwis in AI, and the China AI trip
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.
University of Auckland, Master of AI
Graduating into a World of AI
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.
AUT Computer Science and Engineering Association
Graduating into AI
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.
Global China Connection Canterbury, China Talks
The NZ AI and robotics delegation to China
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.
NZ IT & AI Job Forum
Graduating into a World of AI: From Student to Founder in 18 Months
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.
Young Kiwis in AI Palmerston North meetup
Graduating into a World of AI
Short talks and networking at Nodero for the Manawatū crowd. I closed the night with Graduating into a World of AI.
AI Forum NZ, AEC Working Group
Seven days inside China's AI build
A ten-minute spotlight for the AI Forum NZ Architecture, Engineering and Construction working group on what the NZ delegation saw in China.
Engineering New Zealand, AI 2026 Series
From Quick Wins to Bigger Projects: AI Inside a NZ Surveying & Engineering Firm
An hour for Engineering New Zealand members on what AI has actually done inside Patersons, from the quick wins to the bigger builds.
Bed & Breakfast Association NZ Conference 2026
Elevating Your Online Presence with AI
Practical AI for B&B and boutique accommodation owners, with a live demo. Delegates cited it among the most valuable sessions of the conference.
M2 AI Summit
Using AI to Make Your Team GreatLargest 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.
Young Kiwis in AI Dunedin meetup
The Best Time to Get Into AI Is Right Now
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.
Aurora Energy
The Best Time to Learn AI Is Right Now
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.
Summer of Tech
Social Media as Your Secret Weapon to Jobs
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.
University of Canterbury, Centre for Employability and Career Development
AI in Industry: Where Students Need to Show Up
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.
Synergy Networking
AI Without the Hype
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.
Summer of Tech x Young Kiwis in AI
AI Automation Skills Employers Are Looking For
A national webinar with Summer of Tech on the automation skills employers are hiring for right now.
Survey and Spatial New Zealand
AI Beyond the Field
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.
Young Kiwis in AI Hamilton meetup
Graduating into a World of AI
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.
Graduating into a World of AI
From Mechatronics Student to AI Engineer
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.
Beyond Chatbots
Connecting AI to Your Apps with MCP
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.
20252 talks
Harkness AI x Avocado AI
Our first joint evening with Avocado AI: a no-hype update on what's new, a live demo, then a hands-on exercise.
Artificial Intelligence in Engineering
One of four speakers on AI in engineering, alongside Cowan Henderson, Annie Johnson and Ian McKnight, speaking from my graduate role at MainPower.
Signature talks
Graduating into a World of AI
What it means to start your career when AI is rewriting the rules.
30-45 min talk
Hands-On with AI Agents, Claude & MCP
A practical, build-alongside session on modern AI tooling.
45-90 min workshop or technical talk
Tailored to Your Conference or Audience
Have a theme in mind? Blake builds the talk around your event.
Keynote, workshop, panel or fireside
Talk formats
| Format | Typical length | Audience size | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keynote or conference talkM2 AI Summit, IFAA Conference, BBANZ Conference, Survey and Spatial NZ | 25 to 60 minutes | 60 to 340 | A talk built around the room's own industry, with live AI demos and questions at the end |
| WorkshopBuild Your Claude Brain, Powerhouse Christchurch | Half a day (about 4 hours) | Up to 8, hands-on | Everyone builds on their own laptop, and leaves with a working setup and a starter template |
| PanelAUT CSEA Graduating into AI, Graduating into a World of AI at UC | 1 hour | 50 to 65 | Panellist or host, and I can pull the line-up together |
| WebinarEngineering New Zealand AI 2026 Series, Summer of Tech, AI Forum NZ | 1 hour, including questions | 60 to 80 | Live on Zoom or Teams with questions, solo or co-presented, recorded if the host records it |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What topics does Blake Harkness speak about?
Blake Harkness speaks on practical AI. Signature talks are Graduating into a World of AI (30-45 min talk: What it means to start your career when AI is rewriting the rules) and Hands-On with AI Agents, Claude & MCP (45-90 min workshop or technical talk: A practical, build-alongside session on modern AI tooling). Have a theme in mind? Blake builds the talk around your event. That can be a keynote, workshop, panel or fireside.
What formats does Blake Harkness speak in?
Blake Harkness has delivered four formats. A keynote or conference talk is typically 25 to 60 minutes, for an audience of 60 to 340. A talk built around the room's own industry, with live AI demos and questions at the end. Examples: M2 AI Summit, IFAA Conference, BBANZ Conference, Survey and Spatial NZ. A workshop is typically half a day (about 4 hours), for an audience of up to 8, hands-on. Everyone builds on their own laptop, and leaves with a working setup and a starter template. Examples: Build Your Claude Brain, Powerhouse Christchurch. A panel is typically 1 hour, for an audience of 50 to 65. Blake can be a panellist or the host, and can pull the line-up together. Examples: AUT CSEA Graduating into AI, Graduating into a World of AI at UC. A webinar is typically 1 hour, including questions, for an audience of 60 to 80. Live on Zoom or Teams with questions, solo or co-presented, recorded if the host records it. Examples: Engineering New Zealand AI 2026 Series, Summer of Tech, AI Forum NZ.
Where does Blake Harkness speak?
Blake Harkness is based in Christchurch and speaks across New Zealand, in person or online. The public speaking log includes events in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Kaikōura, Palmerston North, and Wellington, plus webinars held online.
Who are the talks for?
Blake Harkness tailors the talk to the room. Business leaders: owners and leadership teams who want AI working inside the business, with live demos of what it does today. Industry conferences: a talk built around the room's own industry, with examples from that sector's day-to-day work. Students and graduates: starting a career while AI rewrites the rules: the skills employers want and how to get noticed. Technical teams: agents, Claude and MCP: connecting AI to the tools a team already uses.
How do you book Blake Harkness to speak?
Speaking enquiries go through the form at https://www.blakeharkness.com/contact?type=speaking, or by email to blake@harknessai.nz. Say the event, who will be in the room and what you would like them to leave with.
What are the speaking fees?
Speaking fees depend on the format. To enquire, use the form at https://www.blakeharkness.com/contact?type=speaking or email blake@harknessai.nz.
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Book Blake to speak
Keynotes, conference talks, workshops, panels and webinars. Based in Christchurch, speaking across New Zealand, in person or online.
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