Lessons from Across the Ditch: Can Generational Theory Improve Tech Rollouts?

What can Australian HR leaders learn from the New Zealand experience of rolling out HR technology in complex, multigenerational workplaces? 
In this session, Hennie Peters, Chief People Officer of New Zealand’s second largest dairy company, shares practical insights from Aotearoa—where tech change often arrives from offshore but lands in deeply local contexts.

Whether you're implementing a new HRIMS, upgrading legacy systems, or navigating tech directives from head office, one challenge remains constant: your workforce spans generations, each with different digital skills, expectations, and change readiness. 

In New Zealand, these dynamics are shaped by regional dispersion, aging demographics, and a strong need for locally relevant communication and support.
This interactive session explores how generational insights can help HR leaders:

• Anticipate adoption barriers and motivators across age groups.
• Communicate system changes in a way that builds trust and understanding.
• Provide training and support for diverse digital skill levels.
• Influence rollout strategies with local, generationally informed feedback.
• Build trust and engagement—even in environments resistant to change.

Grounded in real New Zealand case studies, this session offers practical takeaways for HR professionals on both sides of the Tasman. 
Whether you're leading change from the head office or championing it on the ground, you'll leave with tools to make HR tech rollouts more human, inclusive, and successful. (Yes, this presentation is Gen Z friendly 😊😉)

About Hennie

Hennie is the Chief People Officer at Open Country, New Zealand’s largest privately owned milk processor, where he leads the People, Safety, and Communication functions. He brings more than 20 years of people leadership experience across a range of industries in South Africa and New Zealand.
Throughout his career, Hennie has focused on developing people-focused solutions to business challenges. He has built HR functions from the ground up for two greenfield mining projects, giving him valuable experience in scaling people operations to meet business needs and driving culture and efficiency from the outset.

In his current role, Hennie is responsible for shaping the people strategy and leading a range of transformational projects that integrate people, safety, and wellness – bringing together compliance, culture, and care. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa and a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of the Free State. In his session, Hennie will explore how generational insights can support the successful implementation of HR technologies—offering practical guidance for HR leaders navigating change across diverse workforces.