Family Business Association proudly presents the Family Business Insights Conference in New Zealand on Thursday 16 October 2025.
Immerse yourself in this half-day premier event as you connect, share and grow with your family business community peers. Throughout this unrivalled conference program, you will be inspired by high calibre speakers and a keynote presentation. You’ll gain valuable insights as they delve into a range of impactful topics designed to support and elevate the family business journey.
Family Business Excellence Awards
This year we will also be announcing and celebrating your local Family Business Excellence Awards winners over a two-course seated lunch before the program begins.
Program Outline
Keynote: Corporatising the Family Business
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Angus Raine
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Angus Raine serves as the Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne, one of the oldest and most successful real estate franchises in Australia and Internationally spanning four generations and over 140 years old.
Actively engaged in overseeing and mentoring his 380 franchisees he steers the business towards future growth. His father, Max Raine, a visionary who introduced franchising to the company in the mid-70s, expanded their operations from two offices, one in the city and one in Double Bay, to a widespread network spanning Australia and beyond.
Following in his father's entrepreneurial footsteps, Angus joined Raine & Horne at 35 years of age having forged his own path working for several International Commercial Real Estate Firms. Angus spearheaded the integration of cutting-edge technology into Raine & Horne, enhancing efficiency and fostering a progressive company culture. They were the first network to embrace artificial intelligence, plus other Industry first technologies.
In this session, Angus Raine will delve into the topic of corporatising the family business, drawing insights from past experiences and the lessons learned from mistakes, to chart a path towards sustained success. Although proud of their long history, Angus will emphasise the importance of succession planning, forward-thinking and fostering a dynamic, diverse business environment for ensuring continued relevance and prosperity in uncertain times
Panel Session : Family Roots, Vineyard Legacy: Croatian Winemaking Families of New Zealand
Facilitated by: Evana Lithgow, Managing Partner, Working Minds (NZ)
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Marijana Brajkovich Director Kumeu River Wines  |
David Babich CEO Babich Wines  |
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In this session we will learn about the huge contribution of Croatian families to the roots and richness of New Zealand’s wine industry — a story that spans more than a century of grit, resilience, and vision. This session will bring to life the family heritage, cultural identity, and entrepreneurial spirit that have shaped three of the nation’s most iconic winemaking legacies. Through a facilitated conversation, we’ll uncover how these families have navigated the challenges of succession, preserved tradition while embracing innovation, and sustained strong values that continue to define their vineyards — not just as businesses, but as living legacies.
Marijana Brajkovich
Director, Kumeu River Wines
Marijana is part of the third-generation at Kumeu River Wines, globally renowned for its Chardonnay and pioneering approach to cool-climate winemaking. With a background in sales and marketing and a Bachelor's degree, she brings strategic vision and deep respect for her family’s Croatian heritage, balancing innovation with tradition as she leads the business into its next chapter alongside her siblings.
David Babich
CEO, Babich Wines
As the third-generation leader of Babich Wines, one of New Zealand’s oldest family-owned wine companies, David has overseen significant growth while staying anchored to the values his grandfather brought from Croatia in 1916. He combines global insight with strong family values, championing sustainability, innovation, and long-term stewardship.
Karen Fistonich
Director, Fistonich Family Vineyards
Karen brings heartfelt experience and commercial savvy as she stewards her family’s winemaking legacy following the sale of Villa Maria. Now focused on the next chapter through Fistonich Family Vineyards as a second-generation leader, she offers a unique perspective on succession, reinvention, and the emotional complexity of generational business transitions.
Keynote: The People Factor: Building High-Performance Cultures in Family Businesses
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Sacha Coburn,
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Sacha Coburn is the C.O.O of her own family business Coffee Culture, a group of boutique coffee shops with 300 staff in 20 locations. She has lived every inch of the pandemic with her team of owners and has had to embrace change and challenge on a daily basis. Sacha walks her talk every day leading her team with humanity and humour. A former lawyer with a first class honours Masters Degree in Education, Sacha is uniquely qualified to talk about what’s ahead. Sacha is a Prime Minister’s Business Scholarship winner has recently graduated from the prestigious OPM program at Harvard Business School.
Sacha runs a leadership development programme through their side hustle ‘The Company You Keep’ working with both emerging and C-suite leaders to deliver whole hearted high performance. Her podcast ‘The Not So Breakfast Show’ explores professional and personal development and is available wherever you get your pod.
In this engaging session, Sacha Coburn unpacks the unique dynamics of family businesses and how building a high-performance culture rooted in trust, clear communication, and courageous conversations can transform the way families work together. Blending insight, humour, and practical advice, Sacha shows how nurturing your people and navigating family relationships with intention becomes the key to lasting success and growth across generations.
Please note: addtional session to be added and full program may be subject to change.
Networking Drinks
Networking drinks will round off the celebrations, so we hope you will stay for this wonderful opportunity to connect with other members.
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Conference and Family Business Excellence Award Lunch Registration
Registration includes the seated two-course lunch, afternoon tea and post-event networking drinks and canapes.
Early bird pricing ends on Thursday 2 October 2025.
* Prices include GST.
Venue
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), established in 1871, stands as New Zealand's premier yacht club, boasting a rich history and a prime waterfront location overlooking the Waitematā Harbour and Westhaven Marina.
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Please contact our office on 0800 249 357 or at events@familybusiness.org.nz if you have any questions or require assistance with your registration.
For information regarding cancellation and substitutions, please click here.
