New dates and details announced for Summit!
We’re excited new dates and details have been confirmed for our upcoming summit in September, as part of World Alzheimers Month.
Solving the Dementia Challenge with People, Partnership and Innovation will explore the latest news, updates and insights over two jam-packed days on the new dates of Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 September 2025 in Auckland and online.
“The Summit is a landmark event to inspire, inform and connect the people and organisations working to improve the lives of people living with dementia mate wareware, their whānau and the wider sector,” says Alzheimers NZ Chief Executive Catherine Hall.
“It’s a cross-sector conversation that brings lived experience, clinical expertise, policy thinking, and community innovation into one shared space. We want to spark the conversations, collaborations and commitments that will shape what comes next.”
“We’re delighted our session leads will share their experience and insights throughout the two days to help us influence the future of the sectors. We do hope to see you there!”
On the first day, our professional development workshop on working with people who have changed behaviours is shaping up to be one you won’t want to miss! Alzheimers NZ’s very own Dementia Learning Centre Director Caroline Bartle has orchestrated this session to build the knowledge and skills for leadership in this space. This session draws from practice, research and lived experience and is guaranteed to stimulate some important kōrero.
Alongside this we’ll facilitate an invite only Leaders Forum and our Lived Experience Advisory Group will host a workshop for people and their whānau living with dementia mate wareware.
On day two we’re pleased to confirm that the session People and whānau-led services – exploring moving from good to great by transforming person-centred care to person/whānau-led will be led by Dr Jo Hikaka (Co-Director of Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research) and Elizabeth Duke (member of the Alzheimers NZ Lived Experience Advisory Group)
Industry stalwarts Professor Ngaire Kerse (Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well and Co-Director of Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research) and Dr Matthew Croucher (senior psychiatrist of old age and academic working for Health NZ Canterbury Waitaha, NZ Dementia Foundation Chair and Dementia Mate Wareware Leadership and Advisory Group member) will lead the session Integrated primary and community dementia care – what integrated care means, why it matters and how to make it work.
The Summit will have three main sessions spanning over two days starting from lunchtime on Thursday, with networking events on both days. Attendees have the option to join as many of the sessions depending on their interest.
The sessions mean there will be something for everyone from people and their whānau living with dementia mate wareware to practitioners and health professionals, to decision makers and researchers. Other non-government organisation representatives and community groups, and policy and decision makers are also encouraged to attend.
Registrations for the Summit will open later in June.