The Sidekick Conference 2025 was a blast, bringing together our entire Sidekick family from six offices, along with our amazing sponsors and guests, in the beautiful Methven. Here’s a recap of what we got up to over the three days:
Day 1 Highlights:
We kicked off the conference with a warm welcome at Methven Resort, setting the tone for the days ahead. The evening was spent enjoying dinner and drinks at the Bluepub Methven, generously sponsored by TBR, a relaxed setting for reconnecting and networking.
Day 2 Highlights:
The second day began with a welcoming introduction from Ric, followed by a series of engaging sessions. Xero led a fascinating discussion on AI in accounting, Smartly New Zealand shared best practices for payroll, and Plan and Protect delivered an insightful insurance masterclass.
Cam Bagrie, a renowned economist, delivered a keynote address that provided valuable insights into economic trends and their impact on our industry. In the afternoon it was time for a mental break as we ramped things up with the choice of jet boating at Rakaia Gorge with Discovery Jet, or unwinding at Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa.
To wrap up the day, we celebrated our achievements at the Sidekick Awards, featuring a Tropical Beach Party theme sponsored by Smartly. The band Nick and Dan, with Nick on vocals and Simon on drums, created an awesome atmosphere, getting everyone on their feet for a night of dancing and fun.
Day 3 Highlights:
The final day featured insightful talks on wealth management by Cam Irvine, and purpose-driven companies by Simon Brown from Banqer. Matt Fenn led a session on performance and wellbeing, providing valuable tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The conference concluded with a closing address and lunch sponsored by Irvine-Wenborn Investment Partners.
A Heartfelt Thank You
A huge shout out to all our amazing sponsors who made this event possible: Smartly, Plan & Protect, Finance NZ, TMNZ, TBR, Irvine-Wenborn, The Backroom, and Xero. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Celebrating Excellence: Sidekick Awards 2025
We are thrilled to announce the winners of our annual Sidekick Awards:
- Sidekick Champion – Ihi McIntyre
- Sidekick Team of the Year – Queenstown
- Sidekick Teammate of the Year – Monique Gilbert
- Sidekick Accountant of the Year – Angelique Van Wyk
- Sidekick Administrator of the Year – Letitia Pottle
- Sidekick Director of the Year – Ben Wright
A special shoutout to the Fairlie Bakehouse, the much-deserving winners of the Sidekick Business of the Year award, a new category introduced this year. They have seen massive growth in recent years and are always a delight to deal with.
Thank you to all our speakers, sponsors, and attendees for making this conference a success. Here’s to another fantastic year at Sidekick!
