Learn - Share - Grow Quality Conference

Queenstown, New Zealand, 22 - 24 October 2008

Queenstown, New Zealand, 22 – 24 October 2008

Click here to download the prospectus for the 2008 conference. (PDF file, 868 kilobytes.)

Exhibitions make markets

A conference is a market place where sellers and buyers come together and the NZOQ conference will be more than a fair trade as Malcolm Macpherson explains:

As the NZOQ gears up for the Queenstown conference in late 2008, it's worth thinking about the value of 'conferencing'.

Many of us go to conferences because we more or less have to! Trucking off to your key sector or professional events is often not (very) negotiable. Attendance, even participation, can be a KPI. For me, there's the annual Local Government New Zealand conference. My council sends four or five people every year, always the Mayor and the CEO and a couple of other elected members. None of us go with much joy in our hearts. The organisers try hard, but LGNZ conferences have to be so many different things to so many people that they often end up being not much to anyone.

On the other hand I like to recall, and repeat, a comment made to me by the senior strategist in what was then Trans-Link Express, a client organisation in Singapore specialising in event and exhibition logistics. Those guys live and breathe exhibitions all around the world and are living proof that, as my mate said, 'exhibitions make markets'. He meant that the modern exhibition is a bit like a traditional village market. Suppliers and customers get together to trade, and out of that come new business opportunities and new activities where none existed before.

A well-designed conference serves a similar purpose. Except that the trade is in ideas, rather than products or services.

Conferences make policy. Here's a mini example. Recently I was one of eight participants in a one-day seminar/conference in Dunedin on climate change and peak oil. 'The End of the Age of Petroleum', my title slide declared. The focus of the day was local government, with the implied purpose to think about what our sector's response should be to these two world-changing events, both of which are with us already. The day was put together well. It began with the big-picture painters – scientists with a command of both topics who could illustrate and illuminate, and get the whole room in the same 'space'. Then there were the detail people: what it will mean, whether we should focus on mitigation or adaptation, some of the specifics about planning and so on, rounded off with table-level workshopping and a panel discussion.

I'd take a bet that no-one went home that night with the same perceptions and convictions they had in the morning. My own ideas definitely firmed up. And the act of writing and presenting also forced me to clarify and clearly express some previously half-formed thoughts.

Around our council table, the key lessons from that one day will influence and directly affect our future thinking, as well as the choices we make in our annual and longer-term planning. This is therefore a perfect example of a conference 'making policy'.

So what about Queenstown '08 and the NZOQ? If you're a potential participant, you can safely assume the event will be put together professionally, and that the material will be relevant to your interests, both personal and vocational. The 'supply side' of this 'market in ideas' will be there in force, and ready to 'trade'. The demand side is up to you!

If you go to Queenstown in October because you feel you should, or just because it's Queenstown (which is actually a pretty good reason) then you'll come away short-changed. On the other hand if you go with a clear idea about what you need, and a shopping list of beliefs and assumptions you'd like to test, and some links with other people and organisations you'd like to make, you'll come away with far more than just a fair trade.

Project Manager - Conference

The Board wishes to announce that Michael Voss has been appointed to the position of Project Manager - NZOQ Conference. Part of his role will be to help manage conference activities.

For further information, contact Michael Voss.

Final request for papers

An exciting programme is emerging for the NZOQ Conference to be held in Queenstown from 24 to 26 October 2008.

And we now invite members to present papers.

If you have something exciting to tell the delegates we want to hear from you.
If you can answer yes to one or more of the following we want to hear from you:

Creativity and Innovation

Professional Development

Quality Strategies and Best Practice Initiatives

Knowledge Management

Other areas of quality...

We want to ensure the highest calibre of papers at conference and now ask that you submit an outline of your proposed 20 minute presentation to the conference committee. Your proposal is to include all of the following: the author (s), contact details, abstract (not more than 500 words), and an indication of the industry sector(s) relevant to your presentation e.g. health, food, manufacturing etc.

Send your proposals to helen.baines@nzoq.org.nz before 4pm 1 February 2008.

Springtime conference in Queenstown

Queenstown is the location for the NZOQ 2008 conference to be held from 22 to 24 October and there is no more beautiful time to visit Queenstown than in the spring when warm spring sunshine extends its rays across Queenstowns spectacular mountains and valleys. And enjoy the vista of vibrant lime hues colour tree buds and delicate cherry blossoms bursting open to perfume the air.

Unique alpine and lake resort

At once breathtakingly beautiful and action-packed, Queenstown's unique edge is borne from a tangible buzz that touches every visitor's soul, conjuring up a feeling that anything is possible.

Break away

Rivers fuelled by mighty glaciers are great places to rest the mind while catching a fih or two, and ancient Beech forests and superbly tended mountain tracks put work issues far from the mind as nature pushes life back into perspective. Just inhaling the pure alpine air evokes a sense of empowerment.

Alluring

Access to Queenstown is easy with several domestic and international flghts every day. Road transport is equally convenient and perhaps a more thrilling way to build anticipation for arrival in a town that instils a sense of adventure in every newcomer.

Sophistication

If you're after a decadent drop, make sure you sample the award-winning local pinot noir. Skilled and innovative wine producers put the shaly soil and perfect wine growing conditions to good use here and add their own flir to create a rich family of varietals including Rieslings, Pinot Gris, Chardonnays and celebratory bubbles.

Therapy

Emerging as an 1860s goldmining camp, 145 years later Queenstown has a compact and sophisticated downtown heart, bejewelled with shops and boutiques. The really neat thing is that as you happily pop in and out of the stores, breathtaking views are never more than a few paces away providing a constant aesthetic and, at times, emotional stimulus.

Springtime

If your batteries recharge best under sunlight, make your way to the relaxing lakeside beaches to enjoy warm daytime conditions or impromptu dusk picnics. Keep your eyes peeled for the southern lights, which occasionally make an eerie appearance at this time of year.

It needn't be all about throwing yourself out of a perfectly good aeroplane though. Queenstown happily lends itself to everyone's idea of fun and you might get your kicks from a round of frisbee golf in the lake-edge gardens or from achieving a birdie at one of the most awe-inspiring gold courses in the world... the Tiger Woods in you will be sure to make an appearance.

And after the conference... there's plenty of solitude as you let your feet lead your mind on the Milford, Hollyford, Kepler, Routeburn, Hump Ridge or Greenstone tracks to access alpine plateaux, snowy peaks, lush rainforests and the waterfalls of this world heritage area.

Embrace the spring season, and warm your limbs in gentle morning sunshine because the daytime temperatures can hit 22°C (75°F) and lakeside beaches welcome picnic baskets, sun-seekers and the odd swimmer. Once the sun goes down however, temperatures can change quickly and evenings are cool. And most important of all - have a great time at the conference!

Conference scholarship winner elated!

Ros Murrell has worked to make community homes a safer environment for people with intellectual disabilities and / or mental health issues, and is a worthy recipient of the NZOQ Conference Scholarship, as Lyn Nikoloff explains: Winner of the NZOQ Conference Scholarship, Ros Murrell, Project Manager for the PACT Group in Otago, has spent thirty years in the health sector working with people who have an intellectual disability.

Ros is looking forward to attending the NZOQ conference in Queenstown. 'It is such a thrill to win the scholarship because I didn't expect to win. I am honoured to be given this opportunity to attend the conference where I am looking forward to meeting other people in the fild I work in. The conference will also reinforce the quality aspect of my work; and I will hear lots of new messages about ways of better improving quality for both our clients and staff at PACT!'

Ros began her extensive career in the health sector at Cherry Farm. By the 1990s Ros was working in community housing, due to a policy decision by the Ministry of Health to move care for people with intellectual disabilities from an institutional framework to community housing. 'I set up the fist house for people with an intellectual disability for the PACT Trust in 1994. Then one day the manager asked me to carry out staff appraisals. I had no idea what to do!' she explains.

This led to extramural study for fie years as Ros completed her NZ Institute of Management Certifiate in Supervisory Management. Meanwhile she juggled her study with full time work, her young family and farming.

Upon completing the NZIM, Ros was promoted to Operations Manager at PACT. 'The Trustees asked me to implement the ACC Workplace Safety Practices standards which aimed to reduce injury in the workplace. There had to be a big mind-shift about injuries for the staff from no process for incidents to incident reporting.'

While staff initially saw the incident report as extra paperwork, with encouragement from Ros they began to see there was a positive outcome because there was a clear reduction in the number of injuries. 'The incident report made staff stop after an incident had occurred and complete the paperwork. By reflcting on the causes of the incident, staff were able to explore how the injury could be prevented in the future and then to put that process into practice.'

Ros was sent to the West Coast as a relieving manager late in 2002. While there she was involved in restructuring the community houses.

PACT then asked Ros to implement the Ministry of Health standards to gain certifiation. She was given 15 months to complete the work before being audited. 'This required everybody to take on board the new systems and this was a challenge as PACT is responsible for the day to day care for 800-plus people with intellectual disabilities and / or mental health issues, and 380 staff'.

In 2006 two things happened which would lead Ros to apply for the NZOQ Conference Scholarship in 2007. First, Ros enrolled in the NZOQ Certifiate in Quality Assurance. She admits that the CQA has been a huge workload but she has enjoyed the challenge and is now looking forward to implementing in 2008 some of her new ideas.

Second, Ros had a dream to set up a database of incident reports from throughout PACT and her line manager encouraged her to apply for this project to be implemented. It was given the go ahead and became her CQA project. The database took the early part of 2007 to develop and is now maintained regularly. 'We now have a fantastic database from which I can manually look for trends. This saves me having to read every incident report. The database also helped in the start of the Safe and Supportive Environment project whereby feedback is now given to staff about incidents that have occurred between client-client and staff-client. This has led to us better managing risk.'

Looking ahead to 2008 – Ros is excited about attending the NZOQ conference in Queenstown. But for the moment she has put any further study on hold as there are still plenty of ideas from her CQA yet to be implemented. However, after a year of consolidation and also the stimulation from attending the NZOQ conference there is no doubt that Ros will once again set her sights on another career challenge.

Ros Murrell, winner of the NZOQ Conference Scholarship has shown exceptional fortitude and foresight in her career and we wish her well.

Make sure you have a great conference!

In 2008, from 22 to 24 October, NZOQ will be holding its next conference in Queenstown and Lyn Nikoloff talks to Conference Organiser, Rosemary Hancock about how members can ensure it’s a great conference.

Conference Venue

Location, location, location! There is no better location for a conference in New Zealand than Queenstown with its stunning scenery, café lifestyle and outdoor activities, and, of course, fantastic conference facilities.

‘The Rydges Hotel has been chosen as the venue because it offers excellent conference facilities, superior accommodation and is situated in a great location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Rydges has an outdoor heated swimming pool, a spa and sauna. It is only a short 5 minute walk to the town centre, where delegates can enjoy the café lifestyle,’ explains Rosemary Hancock.

The conference is being held immediately prior to Labour weekend and this date affords a great opportunity for delegates to explore the region post-conference.

How about enjoying a long weekend in Queenstown?

Learn

The theme of the conference is ‘learn-share-grow’. Like all good conferences, there must be an education aspect to the programme. Rosemary points out that a programme with a strong education focus and varied opportunities to learn, can be used by delegates to attend the conference with vital financial support from their employers.

Currently presentations are being called for in the areas of practical information, strategies that work, or lessons that have been learned. Contexts might be: Productivity, Lean/Six Sigma, Creativity and Innovation, Quality Strategies and Best Practice Initiatives etc.

‘It is vital that delegates participate in the conference programme because conferences provide an opportunity for less experienced members to learn about new ideas and ways of thinking, and to gain valuable information and insights from more experienced members,’ explains Rosemary.

Are you able to present a seminar or workshop?

Share

During the conference there should always be plenty of time to share ideas with colleagues. Rosemary believes that a good conference must have a nice balance of formal sessions and social gatherings to enable delegates to network.

Currently there are two social functions planned - a casual welcome on the first evening, and a more formal dinner on the second night. ‘These will be great opportunities to network – along with the morning and afternoon teas, and lunches that will be held in the exhibition area. At these times delegates will be able to mix and mingle – encouraging the formation of valuable networks,’ she adds.

Delegates can also share information by presenting a paper at conference. Because members of NZOQ work in a large variety of industries, sharing of information and experiences has the potential to awaken delegates to new opportunities within their own industry.

Do you have an idea, experience or information you would like to share?

Grow

Conferences are a time for professional development because they provide an opportunity for members to become aware of new ideas and ways of doing things, which ultimately helps them to grow in confidence and expertise.

This is particularly so for delegates, who give presentations, because they are then encouraged to further develop, hone and enhance their communication skills.

Good communication skills are vital in any business and developing good written and oral communication skills in this way can only be positive for long term career aspirations.

However, giving a quality presentation is more than simply piecing together a PowerPoint or slide show. The speaker must be confident and knowledgeable about their topic, have an understanding of effective communication methods — voice, language and style of presentation, and be able to engage the audience. There is no better way to develop good communication skills than by public speaking. Once again, a conference is a great venue to hone those skills.

an you put together an engaging, interesting presentation?

Calling for presentations

Currently NZOQ is calling for proposals for conference papers or workshops. All proposals are due prior to 30 November when they will be looked at by the review committee. There are guidelines set down for presenting your proposal (please refer to the September QNewZ or contact Helen Baines at Head Office).

Conference registration will open early in 2008 and Rosemary will be able to assist delegates with all conference matters, including accommodation.

Finally, if you are keen to learn about new and improved business practices, share your valuable knowledge and expertise with others, and grow professionally then make sure you participate fully in the forthcoming conference either as a presenter, exhibitor, sponsor or delegate. And let’s have a great conference. See you there!

NZOQ Learn – Share – Grow Conference Queenstown

22 – 24 October 2008

A business event like no other! NZOQ Conference 2008 is everything you ever wanted to know about quality as a driver and catalyst for growth and all-round business success.

This will be a big three days out for Business Leaders, Quality Managers, Researchers and Practitioners staged in the beautiful setting of the Remarkable Ranges and Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown.

With a full conference programme loaded with exciting speakers, trade stands, evening networking functions, and an entertaining conference dinner – why would you want to miss out!

If you haven’t experienced a NZOQ National Conference, then brace yourself, because NZOQ Learn – Share – Grow Conference Queenstown 2008 will be bigger and better than ever before – it’s a quality show!

Why you should attend:

We highly recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment.

A conference programme will be available in the coming months but if you are interested in attending please show your interest by emailing helen.baines@nzoq.org.nz

We are seeking expressions of interest for:

Call for Papers

Deadline for submitting proposals for workshops or presentations is 30 November 2007.

If you are keen to learn about new and improved business practices, share your own valuable knowledge and experience with others, and grow your personal and professional expertise as a result, the New Zealand Organisation for Quality (NZOQ) Conference offers the perfect solution.

For the past 30 years, NZOQ has been helping New Zealanders achieve their personal and professional goals through a powerful combination of training initiatives, advisory services, information sharing and networking events.

For the 2008 conference we will continue to offer the most current and comprehensive programme, as well as the best networking opportunities for our attendees.

The Programme Committee seeks proposals for presentation. We are especially interested in practical information, proven strategies, and lessons learned:

The conference programme will assemble speakers of the highest calibre, from New Zealand and other parts of the world and aims to educate quality professionals and business leaders on current trends and future directions.

Proposals will be reviewed by the Programme Committee for relevance, innovation, demonstrated application, and technical content.

Proposal Submission Guidelines

Each proposal should contain the following:

  1. Author(s) name, title(s), and organisation(s). For multiple authors, please indicate clearly to whom correspondence should be made and list the principal author first
  2. Full mailing address, telephone, fax and e-mail for each author listed.
  3. Complete title of the presentation/workshop. Please limit the title to 60 characters. Your proposal must include 5 to 8 key words that capture the contents of your paper.
  4. A proposal not to exceed 500 words.
  5. A biography of the author(s), 500 words maximum for each author.
  6. Proposed presentation time allocation required
  7. Indicate the industry sector for which the presentation is most suited for, i.e., general, manufacturing, service, government, automotive, health care, finance, agriculture, etc.
  8. A DVD or video clip of this or a previous presentation if possible.

Authors of accepted proposals will be notified and will receive further instructions for preparing their presentations.

Please submit your proposal electronically to:

Attn: Helen Baines
New Zealand Organisation for Quality
4th Floor, Palmerston North City Council Building
Palmerston North, New Zealand
E-mail: helen.baines@nzoq.org.nz

For specific questions about proposal submittals you may contact Helen Baines 06 351 4407. For regular updates, please visit the conference website at www.nzoq.org.nz.

Hotel Information

The conference will be held at the Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown, located at 38-54 Lake Esplanade, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Please forward this information on to friends or colleagues who might be interested.