TechTuesday – March 2026

The Friction of Innovation: What Actually Stops (and Starts) Future-Tech

Presented by Kahn Mitchell (Product Manager – Future Technology, Spark New Zealand) – Register Now!

Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum – it requires navigating technical friction, organizational blockers, and the balancing of disparate disciplines. Drawing on the recent TUANZ award-winning collaboration, Kahn Mitchell shares the realities of bringing a world-first solution to market.

This session explores:
Innovation Blockers & Enablers: Identifying what actually stops progress and how to clear the path.
The Private 5G Edge: How dedicated, low-latency networks are making advanced robotics and real-time automation viable in complex environments.
Technical Cross-Pollination: Strategies for balancing multiple disciplines (hardware /  AI / telecommunications) to deliver a cohesive product.

Gain a practical look at the challenges and breakthroughs behind the robotic-tethered drone project and what it means for the next generation of New Zealand’s industrial technology.

Speaker Bio:
Kahn Mitchell is an accomplished technology leader and product innovator focused on driving future-tech solutions across SaaS, cloud, and emerging connectivity. Currently a Product Manager within Spark’s Future Technology team, Kahn leads the development of multi-layered solutions – including New Zealand’s first private 5G network integrations for autonomous robotics and drones.

A long-time advocate for the Christchurch tech sector, Kahn previously served as the Deputy Chair of the Canterbury Tech board. He remains passionate about the growth of the regional ecosystem, fostering high-performance culture, and inspiring the next generation of talent to pursue careers in New Zealand’s technology sector.

Bring a Friend:

You know the value of our monthly meetups – now it’s time to show a friend what they’ve been missing. We’re excited to announce that for our March TechTuesday event, every paying member can bring one non-member guest for free.

How it works:

• Register yourself and your guest
• Both attend
• Enjoy the session and introduce your friend to the community!

Limit: One guest per member. Guests must be accompanied by their host member. Individual Non-member registration still available.

Event Outline:

5.00pm – Member registration opens, networking, drinks and nibbles
5.30pm – Non-member registration opens
6.00pm – Canterbury Tech updates
6.10pm – Quick Pitch
6.15pm – Guest speaker
7.00pm – More networking
7.30pm – Close of event

Things to note:  

• Registration is required
• Each attendee will receive 2 drinks tickets for the event. Alcoholic beverages may not leave the function space.
• Members must have a valid membership at the time of booking and on the day of the event. This will be validated at each point and we reserve the right to invoice the event at the full, non-member rate in the event that membership has lapsed.
• Please note that registering for this event will be taken as acceptance that your image, name, or voice may be included in a recording or photos of proceedings that will be published after the event. 
• By registering for a Canterbury Tech event, you are agreeing to abide by our Code of Conduct.