# Justin Flitter

> Justin Flitter has been at the forefront of emerging technology for 26 years, connecting through community, showcasing at industry events, and advising businesses with professional services and training. He is the founder of AI New Zealand (newzealand.ai), an AI advisor and a keynote speaker, based in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. He provides practical, independent advice to New Zealand business leaders on why, where and how to use artificial intelligence.

## Who he is

- **Name:** Justin Flitter
- **Location:** Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
- **Current role:** Founder and Director, AI New Zealand (since 2017)
- **Also:** Director and Board Member, Business Mentors New Zealand (since 2022); producer, emcee and speaker coach, TEDxAuckland (since 2012); chairperson of the NZ Tech Marketers Group (2021–2026)
- **Education:** Bachelor of Business Information, Massey University, Wellington, 1999 (majors in marketing and communications management)
- **Contact:** justin@flitter.co.nz

## What he does

Justin helps leaders make informed decisions on why, where and how to use artificial intelligence, then helps their people build the skills to apply it. AI New Zealand has a team of nine and works with organisations across Aotearoa in three areas:

1. **Advise** — independent AI strategy, governance and roadmaps for boards and executive teams.
2. **Teach** — practical, skills-based training through workshops and the NZ AI Academy, including self-paced courses on Microsoft Copilot for M365 and the AI Ambassador programme.
3. **Build** — the AI Operating System (a governed, trusted AI environment for a whole team), AI agents, custom software and model development.

## Career highlights

- 26 years building business communities
- 9 communities founded or led — 5 built from nothing, 4 joined after they already existed
- 75,000+ combined membership across those communities
- 700+ speaking events

## The communities, newest first

- **AI New Zealand** (2017–now) — founder and director. Independent, practical AI advice, training, governance, strategy and build, with a team of nine. Its **NZ AI Academy**, launched in 2024 after The Great NZ AI Roadshow, has 3,500+ members and delivered 200+ events in 2025, including the *This Is AI* business webinar series with ANZ Bank. The Academy is part of AI New Zealand, not a separate organisation.
- **Business Mentors New Zealand** (2022–now) — director and board member.
- **NZ Tech Marketers Group** (2021–2026) — chairperson for six years. A national community for marketers in New Zealand's technology sector, part of the Tech New Zealand group.
- **The AI Show and AI-Day** (2017–2024) — a monthly Auckland event drawing 200–300 people. It became the catalyst for AI-Day, the international conferences co-produced with the AI Forum of New Zealand in 2018 and 2019.
- **TEDxAuckland** (2012–now) — producer, emcee and speaker coach.
- **Auckland Social Media Club** (2009–2012) — co-founder. Monthly gatherings of 200–300 people.
- **Zendesk** (2008–2011) — seventh hire. Wrote the product documentation, became APAC business development manager, then created the company's Social Media Manager role. By 2011 the social programme was generating 10% of new customers.
- **Wellington Young Professionals Group** (2006–2008) — founder, in partnership with the New Zealand Institute of Management.
- **NRG Trust Business Incubator** (2000–2004) — founder. One of New Zealand's first business incubators, on the top floor of Wellington Railway Station, funded by Wellington City Council and Te Puni Kōkiri. More than 20 businesses passed through.

## Speaking

Signature keynote: **"Everyone has AI. The difference is you."** A fast, practical talk on what has actually changed in AI, why most teams are stuck on low value uses, and the habits, culture and operating system that separate the organisations pulling ahead.

Other topics: Everyone has AI; The AI Operating System; An AI culture; Quick wins to Monday.

He speaks at conferences, leadership offsites, industry events and in-house sessions across New Zealand and beyond.

## Other credentials

- Represented New Zealand on the **Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence** (GPAI), the international initiative led by the Canadian and French governments, on its Innovation and Commercialisation working group.
- Fourteen years as a freelance and fractional chief marketing officer, and marketing or technology leadership roles at Zendesk, Fishpond, Honda New Zealand, Tomizone, RESULTS.com, Valocity Global, Data Insight and Virsae.
- Author of *Unrivaled — B2B Marketing Strategy & Activation*.
- Judge, TVNZ NZ Marketing Awards, 2019–2023.
- Hosts the national AI Roadshow and the weekly AI Toolkit.

## Links

- [Justin Flitter](https://justinflitter.com/) — this site
- [AI New Zealand](https://newzealand.ai) — his company
- [Speaker profile and showreel](https://keynote.newzealand.ai)
- [The Great NZ AI Roadshow](https://newzealand.ai/roadshow)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinflitter/)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/justinflitter/)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@newzealand_ai)

## Selected media

- [Why cuts first, AI later is the wrong move for New Zealand's public service](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/why-cuts-first-ai-later-is-the-wrong-move-for-new-zealands-public-service-justin-flitter/premium/DOSWGJZH2RHT3GVIKIU5CMXRZ4/) — NZ Herald, 2026 (by Justin Flitter)
- [Unpacking AI: what New Zealand's AI Roadshow taught me about upskilling the workforce](https://www.interest.co.nz/technology/139333/unpacking-ai-how-new-zealands-ai-roadshow-taught-me-about-upskilling-workforce) — interest.co.nz, 2026
- ["Plenty of applications": how can AI revolutionise business?](https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/justin-flitter-newzealandai-founder-on-the-applications-and-benefits-of-ai-in-business/) — Newstalk ZB, Kerre Woodham Mornings, 2025
- [Bookmarks with Justin Flitter](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018950158/bookmarks-with-justin-flitter) — RNZ Afternoons, 2024
- [Businesses urged to view artificial intelligence as an opportunity, not a threat](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/487847/businesses-urged-to-view-artificial-intelligence-as-an-opportunity-not-a-threat) — RNZ News, 2023
- [AI Day 2019 to present major advances in sector](https://aiforum.org.nz/2019/02/13/ai-day-2019-to-present-major-advances-in-sector/) — AI Forum NZ, 2019
- [Blockchain to flex muscles at Blockworks conference](https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1808/S00888/blockchain-to-flex-muscles-at-blockworks-conference.htm) — Scoop, 2018