Held every 18 months, the NZTE-led Better by Design CEO Summit offers delegates the opportunity to immerse themselves in a “design thinking approach”, which can then be transformed into real world success within the New Zealand business context.

Meeting under the theme of “balancing transformation”, the speakers and business delegates explored “two core tensions” facing any enterprise: disruptive future-based plans versus current operations; and integration of the visionary side of a business with its more operational aspects.

Speakers included: Gadi Amit, principal designer of several innovative technology devices, including the Fitbit line of wearable devices; and David Butler, vice president of innovation and entrepreneurship at Coca-Cola and head of Coca-Cola Founders, a platform designed to co-create start-ups by partnering Coca-Cola with a global network of entrepreneurs.

NZTE says papers from the conference will be available at the end of this week.