Sharpening your commercial acumen
21st & 22nd July 2026
Introduction
Make better decisions as a business leader, both strategically and commercially, and deliver on them. Over two days you will learn to identify and leverage the key levers behind value creation, build strategies that deliver on your organisation’s goals and objectives, and sharpen the commercial acumen that senior roles demand.
Who should attend
- Professionals who need a working understanding of strategy, value creation and business planning to support their leadership roles.
- Individuals moving toward governance and senior leadership roles with a commercial focus, or those responsible for the performance of a business or division.
- Anyone wanting a structured refresher on strategy, value creation or business planning.
Pre-requisite
Sound financial literacy and understanding of financial statements
What you will gain
- Practical tools in strategy that align your business unit focus with your organisation’s goals and objectives.
- Hands-on experience through live case study exercises.
- The confidence and knowledge to more effectively support your board and senior management.
- Exposure to the levers of value creation, including economic profit, cost of capital, intangible assets and portfolio decisions.
Course content
This is a two-day masterclass. Day One builds the strategic foundation. Day Two covers the financial mechanics that turn strategy into measurable value, applied to a case study.
Day 1: Strategy
- What is Strategy, and the strategy lifecycle
- Purpose, Ambition, Principles and Values
- Strategic Options, Scenarios and Tools
- Risk Management
- Strategy to Execution
- Hands-on exercises throughout, including a group options-generation exercise
Day 2: Value creation
- Economic Profit
- WACC and Funding Efficiency
- Intangible Assets
- Long-term Value Creation
- Portfolio Decision Making
- Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestments
- Investing under Uncertainty
- Live case study: Fonterra strategy review and the divestment of its consumer business
- Team exercise and group presentations
The case study
A core part of the masterclass is a live, real-world case study based on Fonterra’s divestment of its consumer goods business. Participants work in teams, generate options under time pressure, and present their recommendations, the way real strategic decisions actually unfold. It is consistently one of the highest-rated elements of the course.
What past participants say
“The most productive workshop I’ve ever attended. Incredible value for money.”
“Practical, engaging, and genuinely useful. The opportunity to apply the learning really reinforced the content.”
“Well run, highly engaging, and full of practical perspectives you don’t usually get in a classroom setting.”
“The group interaction worked extremely well. Testing ideas with people from other organisations added real depth to the learning.”
“The use of a real-life, live case was extremely useful. It forces you to think on your feet, generate ideas under pressure, and test your presentation skills all at once.”
“Kevin’s real-life war stories are great. Having to work together and present keeps everyone engaged and adds real value.”
Presenters:
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Kevin McCaffrey Principal My Governance
Formerly Associate Partner EY ( Governance & Change Management) and Partner at PwC with leadership roles across Asia Pacific region. Member of the IOD and a co-presenter of their Strategy Essentials and Company Director’s courses. Master of Governance, Massey University.
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Jim McElwain INFINZ Executive Director Over 25 years experience as a Corporate Finance Director completing some $5bn in transactions, with extensive experience across the public and private sectors, including Treasury, Southpac Corporation, Lloyds Merchant Bank, PwC and Ernst & Young Oceania. Jim is a Fellow of INFINZ and is a Chartered Member of the IOD NZ.
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Date and time
Tuesday, 21 July 2026 - 8.30am to 6.00pm (includes Networking Drinks).
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
Venue
ANZ
Level 30, ANZ Centre
23 Albert Street
Auckland CBD
CPD
16 hours
Cost
Members: $1,535 + GST
Non-members: $1,855 + GST
SPECIAL OFFERS: INFINZ Members Only
- 10% discount for alumni from the INFINZ Next Directors program (members only)
- 10% discount where three or more register from the same organisation
- 20% discount for those from outside the Auckland region
NB: Maximum 20% discount applies to any one registrant.
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To register for this course: Click here to register yourself for this event Click here to register several people or someone else for this event |
Places are limited and will be provided on a first in first served basis.
Contact Faith Taylor at support@infinz.com to enquire.
Please advise dietary requirements when registering.
Refund Terms and Conditions
Tickets must be paid before the Masterclass takes place, otherwise your ticket is not guaranteed
Tickets can be transferred to another person at any time without penalty (provided they are from the same charging group)
Full refund if cancelled more than 28 days prior
50% refund if cancelled between 14 and 28 days prior
25% refund if cancelled between 7 and 14 days prior
No refund if cancelled within 7 days of the event