Fitzgerald Construction General Manager and Quantity Surveyor Charlie Evans joins us to discuss how AI could help the business respond to more tenders, improve bid quality and protect commercial margins.With around 80% of Fitzgerald Construction’s work coming through tendering, the process can place significant pressure on a small team, particularly when large volumes of tenders arrive at once.In this conversation, Charlie explains how the business currently manages tender responses, where capacity constraints and margin risks arise, and how a data intelligence platform could help the team reuse information, identify risks and learn from previous bids.The goal is simple: spend less time repeating manual processes and more time submitting high-quality, commercially viable tenders.Timestamps00:00 — Introducing Fitzgerald Construction00:25 — Fitzgerald Construction’s services and nationwide reach02:19 — The role of tendering in winning work03:06 — Managing fluctuating tender volumes04:15 — The pressure and cost of outsourcing tender responses05:24 — Improving tender quality, win rates and margins06:32 — Fitzgerald’s current tender response process07:35 — The scale and complexity of tender documents09:01 — How the team is already using AI10:09 — Reusing information across tenders11:17 — What a data intelligence platform could enable12:53 — How AI could improve the day-to-day workflow14:31 — Learning from lost tenders15:49 — Reducing siloed knowledge and key-person risk16:54 — Building on existing business data17:16 — The importance of high-quality data17:55 — What success could look like over the next 12 months19:23 — Moving from tendering constraints to delivery capacity20:13 — Closing thoughtsRead the full story on our website: firstfocus.co.nz/insights/ai-in-construction-fitzgerald-case-study#Construction #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Tendering #QuantitySurveying #BusinessGrowth

Brendan and Ross catch up with Dr Jason Fox at IT Nation ANZ 2026 to explore why wisdom and discernment matter more than ever in an age of rapidly advancing AI. Jason discusses the “midwit trap” and how large language models can create an inflated sense of expertise, even when their answers sound convincing.They also explore how to think beyond purely rational systems, how leaders can create stability during uncertain times, and why doubt can be evidence of genuine thinking. The conversation covers AI, antifragility, best practice versus next practice, the value of disconnection and the importance of noticing anomalies before they become opportunities. They wrap up by discussing vocation, value and why businesses should look beyond profit alone.Timestamps[0:00] Introduction and meeting Dr Jason Fox at IT Nation ANZ 2026[0:20] How Jason became involved with IT Nation ANZ[1:43] Why wisdom matters more than intelligence[4:04] AI, relevance and the danger of overconfidence[5:03] The “midwit trap” and the illusion of expertise[7:40] Why we need to think beyond rationality[9:23] Leading through uncertainty and complexity[10:40] Creating “islands of coherence” for teams[11:23] The wizard’s path: using power without being corrupted[13:47] AI validation and “glazing psychosis”[15:02] Why doubt is evidence of thinking[16:01] Antifragility and becoming stronger through challenge[18:02] How teams notice the next big opportunity[19:14] Best practice versus next practice[20:24] Negative capability and the value of disconnection[22:40] Finding vocation and meaning beyond profit[24:14] Closing thoughtsFollow First Focus on LinkedIn for more conversations with technology leaders, innovators and industry experts 🔗 www.linkedin.com/company/first-focus-itSubscribe to the First Focus YouTube channel for more episodes from IT Nation ANZ 2026.Special thanks to ConnectWise and IT Nation for supporting these conversations.

Craig Nevatt from DNA Accountants joins us to discuss the firm’s winning AI initiative through the AI Investment NZ fund.With $20,000 in funding, DNA Accountants is developing an AI-powered review assistant designed to identify inconsistencies, omissions and errors in accounts, tax returns and supporting documents before they reach a manager for formal review.The potential impact is significant: saving 30–45 minutes per engagement, reducing rework, improving turnaround times and creating more space for accountants to focus on strategic advice and client relationships.Craig also shares his thoughts on AI adoption, changing hiring priorities, the future of accounting and why curiosity, empathy and commercial thinking will become increasingly important skills.Chapters:00:00 Introducing DNA Accountants and the AI initiative01:32 Craig’s background and the growth of the business04:17 DNA Accountants’ ideal clients05:47 The current review process08:00 How AI can reduce rework and double handling09:01 Measuring the return on investment11:23 Driving AI adoption across the team15:45 The changing skills required in accounting18:24 How AI is reshaping the profession20:14 The 12-month vision for DNA Accountants23:48 The next opportunities for AI in accounting25:53 Data intelligence, security and the future26:48 Closing thoughts#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Accounting #Automation #NewZealandBusiness #FutureOfWorkSubscribe for more conversations about AI, business transformation and the future of work.

Brendan and Ross catch up with Adam Spencer at IT Nation ANZ to explore how much AI has changed over the past 12 months.Adam discusses AI solving complex problems while still making surprisingly basic mistakes, and what that means for human expertise. They also explore the economics of AI, the rapid rise of robotics and where these technologies could have the biggest real world impact.The conversation also tackles “brain fade” and the risks of becoming too reliant on AI, before wrapping up with a surprising robot vacuum story about cybersecurity, privacy and the smart devices entering our homes.Timestamps[0:00] Introduction and the third annual AI catch-up at IT Nation ANZ[1:09] How dramatically AI capability has changed in 12 months[2:52] How multi-agent AI helped tackle a decades-old mathematics problem[5:03] Why powerful AI can still get surprisingly simple questions wrong[7:00] What AI means for mathematicians and human expertise[10:12] The economics of AI and whether the market is becoming a bubble[11:52] Could the AI market consolidate around a handful of major players?[12:14] Why smaller, local AI models could handle most everyday tasks[12:53] The extraordinary acceleration of humanoid robotics[15:12] Robots, dexterity and competing with elite table tennis players[16:49] Where robotics could have the biggest practical impact[17:23] Robotics, AI and the future of aged care[19:20] China’s lead in the global robotics race[20:00] “Brain fade” and the risks of becoming too dependent on AI[22:00] Why businesses may need to rethink how they assess human skills[23:00] The robot vacuum story every smart-device owner should hear[24:44] Simple cybersecurity hygiene for connected devicesFollow First Focus on LinkedIn for more conversations with technology leaders, innovators and industry experts 🔗 www.linkedin.com/company/first-focus-itSubscribe to the First Focus YouTube channel for more episodes from IT Nation ANZ 2026. Special thanks to ConnectWise and IT Nation for supporting these conversations.

Continuing our conversation with Varun Gupta from Pengana Capital Group, we shift from the technical side of AI implementation to something just as important: creating a workplace where employees are encouraged to solve problems. We earlier covered the business case behind Pengana Capital Group's AI fund project: why repetitive investor emails were the first target, the projected ROI, and the long-term vision for AI across the business.In this episode, we pick up where that conversation left off.Varun Gupta from Pengana explains what happened after the proposal was approved, how the project moved into implementation, and why getting buy-in across the business was just as important as choosing the right technology. We also discuss the role leadership played in backing the idea, why the project came from someone closest to the day-to-day work, and what other organisations can learn from the process.Rather than treating AI as an IT initiative, Pengana approached it as a business improvement project, starting with a clear operational problem and building from there.Key Takeaways✓ The hardest part isn't always the technology, it's getting the right people behind the idea.✓ AI projects don't have to start with senior leadership. The people closest to the work often see the biggest opportunities.✓ Internal support helped turn a business case into a funded project.✓ Successful AI implementation depends on collaboration between business teams and technical specialists.✓ Solving one operational problem creates momentum for future AI initiatives.✓ Building a culture where employees can improve processes makes long-term innovation much easier.

Your people are already using AI. The question is whether your business has the visibility, governance and support needed to make that usage safe, productive and scalable.In this conversation, Brendan Ritchie and Jack Behrns discuss how Hatz fits into the CORE managed services model, and why it is a strong option for businesses that already have staff experimenting with different AI tools.Unlike choosing a single AI platform and hoping it stays ahead, Hatz gives users access to multiple leading AI models through one secure, governed interface. That means finance, marketing, operations and leadership teams can use the models that work best for their roles, while the business keeps oversight, control and confidence around data use.They also cover how Hatz supports AI adoption, why the platform can be more cost-effective than individual AI subscriptions, and how CORE helps businesses turn AI from scattered experimentation into a managed, measurable productivity strategy.If your business is thinking seriously about AI, automation, data governance or secure adoption, CORE gives you the operating model to make it work.Learn more about CORE: https://www.firstfocus.com.au/services/core/Key Chapters:00:00 – Why Hatz matters inside COREBrendan and Jack introduce Hatz as one of the AI platform choices available through CORE, alongside ChatGPT Business and Microsoft Copilot.00:35 – Hatz vs ChatGPT and CopilotJack explains how Hatz suits businesses where different teams are already using different AI models, and how it brings that usage into a secure, governed environment.01:49 – Solving shadow AI without limiting usersThe discussion covers why businesses do not need to pick one winning LLM, and how Hatz lets staff keep flexibility while giving the organisation visibility and control.03:16 – What the Hatz user experience looks likeJack walks through the interface, onboarding experience, AI champion certification, and why users familiar with ChatGPT, Claude or other AI tools should feel at home.05:28 – Why Hatz can be more cost-effectiveThey unpack the commercial model, including pooled AI credits, enterprise buying power, token usage and why this can deliver AI access at SMB-friendly pricing.

In this AI AMA webinar, First Focus AI Strategy Lead Jack and host Brendan Ritchie answer some of the most common questions business leaders are asking right now, including:

✅ How to prepare your business for AI adoption
✅ Data governance and AI security best practices
✅ Reducing AI tool sprawl and shadow AI
✅ Measuring AI ROI and identifying quick wins
✅ Real-world AI case studies delivering results
✅ AI agents, automation and productivity gains
✅ Copilot vs ChatGPT – which is right for your business?

The discussion draws on First Focus' own AI journey, lessons learned from internal deployments, and practical experience helping organisations implement AI successfully.

Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to scale existing initiatives, this session provides practical guidance on governance, adoption, security, and measurable business outcomes.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome & Webinar Overview
01:04 – How First Focus Adopted AI Internally & Lessons Learned
03:53 – What Does an AI Strategy Lead Actually Do?
07:44 – Why the Traditional MSP Model Is Changing in the AI Era
13:35 – AI Readiness: Data Governance, Security & Preparation
20:33 – Managing AI Risk, Shadow AI & Tool Sprawl
33:34 – Measuring AI ROI & Finding High-Impact Use Cases
43:28 – Real-World AI Case Studies, AI Agents, Automation & Copilot vs ChatGPT

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• AI success starts with clear business problems, not technology selection.
• Data governance remains the foundation of effective AI adoption.
• Shadow AI is often reduced by providing employees with secure, approved AI tools.
• Quick wins and iterative improvements drive stronger adoption than large transformation projects.
• Organisations should target measurable ROI and focus on practical productivity gains.
• Internal knowledge assistants are among the most common and impactful AI use cases.
• AI champions within teams accelerate adoption and innovation.
• Security, governance, and user enablement are just as important as the AI platform itself.
• Copilot, ChatGPT, and other AI platforms each have strengths depending on business requirements.
• AI initiatives should be assessed based on outcomes, scalability, and business value rather than hype.

A $2.5 million cybersecurity penalty has changed the conversation around cyber risk in Australia.

In this episode, we unpack the ASIC vs FIIG case, what actually happened during the cyber attack, and why regulators are now holding businesses accountable for cybersecurity preparedness.

We discuss:

• What led to the FIIG data breach

• Why ASIC imposed such a significant penalty

• The cybersecurity controls FIIG allegedly lacked

• Why incident response planning matters

• What Australian SMEs should do now

• How cyber governance expectations are changing

If your business handles sensitive customer data, this conversation is essential viewing.

💬 What’s your biggest cybersecurity concern right now? Let us know in the comments.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on cybersecurity, business risk, compliance, and technology strategy.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the ASIC vs FIIG Case
01:10 – What Happened During the Cyber Attack
03:20 – How Malware Entered the Organisation
05:05 – Why ASIC Imposed a $2.5M Penalty
08:10 – Missing Cybersecurity Controls Explained
11:40 – The Importance of Incident Response Planning
15:30 – What Australian Businesses Must Do Next