The Conference Collective Podcast Series 5
Welcome to the ‘The Conference Collective’ Podcast, celebrating the best in innovation and leadership from those who are creating a positive change in the business events industry. A podcast brought to you by the Professional Conference Organisers Association Inc. and hosted by Libbie Ray from Connected Event Group. This podcast provides listeners with behind the scenes access to some of the key innovators in our industry as they share their honest and raw insights. It highlights how collaboration, innovation and resilience are at the core of the events industry and the reasons we have managed to survive through the most challenging time our industry has faced. Get ready to learn more about the brave new world of the business events industry.
This season of ‘The Conference Collective’ Podcast was primarily recorded live at the PCOA25 conference, in Connected Event Group’s portable recording studio. We will be back recording new episodes at PCOA26, so please reach out to The PCOA if you are interested in starring as a guest for next season!
Episode 5
From Culture Fit to Culture Add with Joe Consedine
Joe shares his journey from traditional corporate leadership into diversity, equity and inclusion, and why he believes inclusion is not a moral add-on but a commercial imperative. From demographic change and future talent pipelines to psychological safety and innovation, this conversation explores how organisations can remain relevant in a rapidly shifting world.
Libbie and Joe unpack practical ways to move beyond performative DEI, open up safe dialogue across generations, rethink recruitment from “culture fit” to “culture add,” and design events and workplaces that amplify diverse voices.
About Joe Consedine
Joe is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading voices on inclusion.
A highly engaging and in-demand speaker and consultant to a range of organisations and industries in New Zealand and globally, Joe has a unique ability to unite audiences around why inclusion is such a critical capability for individuals and organisations to adopt to survive and thrive in a diverse and complex future of work.
Joe is a former Director of Champions for Change with Global Women where he worked with New Zealand’s leading 80 Chief Executives and Board Chairs on scaled Diversity Equity and Inclusion strategies for Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Prior to Champions for Change Joe was the New Zealand General Manager for Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand where he led the development of the accounting profession’s first ever inclusion strategy, developed a playbook on the gender pay gap with a reach of over 850k and was recognised by the NZ Minister for Women.
Joe is also the co-founder of Mobilise – a groundbreaking leadership development and allyship program specifically for men.
Joe’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeconsedinenz/
Joe’s website: Mobilise: Men as Allies
Thank you to our webinar and podcast partner for 2026 – Connected Event Group