2025 Franchise Conference to feature new Legal Symposium

At any annual national franchise conference in New Zealand, it is quite common to hear the international speakers and attendees expressing surprise and delight at the quality of content provided in the conference sessions. Kiwi franchisors and service providers are generous with their time and expertise, sharing knowledge and experiences with fellow conference attendees on a wide range of topics, to add to the usually excellent line-up of national and international speakers arranged by the Franchise Association of New Zealand, which organises the event.

The 2025 Conference, taking place at the Claudelands venue in Hamilton, looks to be a similarly high-quality event, with a focus on Fuelling Franchising Forward and showcasing many voices for the franchise community. The Conference's two evening functions are being held at SkyCity Hamilton and The University of Waikato, providing ample time for conversation and connections outside the concentrated  bustle of the Conference's learning sessions. Registration information is available here..

New legal symposium

In a first for New Zealand, there will be a one-day legal symposium held at SkyCity Hamilton before the National Conference opens that same evening. This separate event will be of interest not only to legal teams involved in the franchise sector, but to franchisors and any other affected parties. The topics being addressed are:

• Unfair Contracts in Franchising - unveiling the Commerce Commission's concerns and priorities
• Legal Solutions to Avoid Unfair Contracts - a panel facilitated by Khushbu Sundarji, Partner, Stewart Germann Law Office
• The legal issues involved in International Expansion - a panel facilitated by Stewart Germann, Partner, Stewart Germann Law Office
• A session on Emergent Law, with speakers from law firms Plavekoch and Bird & Bird 
• Franchisor Succession and Sale - a panel focused on the key considerations facilitated by Michael Bright, Director, Gaze Burt
• A demonstration on Resolving Franchise Disputes - demystifying mediation and the Disputes Tribunal, mediated by Trish Blyth, The Mediator

To attend the inaugural Legal Symposium, a Combo Conference & Legal Symposium ticket must be purchased. As the Combo ticket holder, you can then purchase additional Legal Symposium tickets for Associates of your business to attend the Legal Symposium only.

What are we speaking about at Conference this year?

An inspirational and practical line-up of speakers across both days will provide much food for thought between the interactive panel sessions, concurrent sessions and round table sessions.

Day One

Entrepreneur and professional company director Melissa Clark-Reynolds, ONZM, is the opening speaker for the 2025 Conference. From a precocious and varied background in environmental health, education and insurance, Melissa then began to specialise in applying foresight approaches. Melissa works with companies to understand the future and become resilient while shaping the kind of world they want. She has a particular focus on sustainable business models and decarbonisation. Melissa received the ONZM for Services to Technology in 2015. She is a sought-after speaker on what is coming next, new technologies and how we navigate complexity and uncertain futures.

Two keynote international franchise speakers are sponsored by Steward Germann Law Office.

• The first is Jim Goniea, General Counsel of Purpose Brands, global franchisor for Anytime Fitness and other health and wellness franchise brands. Jim will speak on fuelling system growth, concentrating on how to turbocharge franchises for success.
• Next, a popular and regular attendee at NZ franchise conferences, Bill Edwards of Edwards Global Services, Inc will provide an update on global franchising.
• A panel facilitated by Sally Knight of Franchise New Zealand media delves into how New Zealand franchises are exploring digital transformation solutions to maintain competitiveness and improve efficiency  in franchising.
• After lunch, FreshChoice Executive General Manager Tim Cartwright discusses leading franchisees through transformation.
• Later, a presentation from Abhay Kolhe and Katriona Ikenasio from MBIE will address franchise success and compliance, focusing on understanding the importance of employment law compliance through a regulatory lens.

Day Two 

• The ever-popular Greg Nathan from Franchise Relationships Institute will open day two of the conference with a session on enhancing the capability, performance and growth of your franchisees. 
• In a panel session led by Darryl King, three experienced franchising lawyers will each unpack a real-life case study on franchising legal challenges – from compliance missteps to communication breakdowns.
• Jay Westbury, CEO of the Franchise Council of Australia will give us an update on the FCA's recent activities and plans.
• Concurrent Sessions - find out what franchisee recruitment and the weather have in common; explore building franchisee success by unlocking the power of franchisee business planning; get ready for a candid, energizing conversation with franchisors who’ve taken the leap into the world of ESG; and discover what really drives financial health and performance in a franchise network.
• Karla Brennan, Operations Manager for McDonald's ANZ presents Own the experience, looking at how McDonald's works to ensure a happy crew, loyal customers and strong franchisees.
• Jason Hill, Green Acres & Hire-A-Hubby facilitates a panel from the field, with award-winning franchise support managers sharing what truly works when it comes to supporting franchisees and delivering on franchisor and franchisee goals.
• The closing speaker will be Pic Picot, Nelson-based boat builder, café owner, sailing instructor and founder of the phenomenally successful Pic’s Peanut Butter brand.

Conference registrations and further information are available on the Franchise Association website at https://conference.franchiseassociation.org.nz/