The Office of Ethnic Communities has announced the programme for this years' Ethnic People in Commerce (EPIC) NZ conference, including the keynote speaker from the Alibaba Group.

Alibaba Group New Zealand business development director Pier Smulders will present the EPIC NZ keynote speech about the opportunities for New Zealand businesses with the world's largest online and mobile marketplace.

“We have a fantastic programme this year, with a strong focus on business disruption and the opportunities it brings for our ethnically diverse business community,” says Office of Ethnic Communities director Wen Powles.

“We live in a truly global society, with new opportunities for New Zealand businesses to take their goods and services to the world.

“Our keynote speaker, from the Alibaba Group, will discuss the opportunities and challenges of eCommerce for exporters and importers and how New Zealand businesses can benefit,” adds Powles.

The annual conference will be held in Auckland on 30 June at the Sky City Convention Centre.

This year's theme is The New Zealand business story: best practice, better business.

Throughout the conference, a range of speakers will discuss technology, innovation and diversity, and how they apply to their businesses.

The first panel will focus on the New Zealand Business Story and how to be competitive in a changing world, future trends and innovation, with panel speakers, Tech Futures Lab and entrepreneur Priti Ambani; NZ Story's Rebecca Smith; and FunderTech's David LiuYang.

The second panel will discuss how diversity can be used to bring business success.

Panellists Straker Translations' Grant Straker; Almighty Organic Juices' Adán Tijerina; and The Rainbow Corner's Bhavini Doshii will talk about their experience with diversity and business success.

“We are presenting a conference where participants can discuss the latest trends that influence New Zealand businesses alongside practical tips of how these trends could be applied to their organisations.

“EPIC NZ is an interactive event. It gives participants the opportunity to engage closely with New Zealand business leaders and Government, to explore how diversity and innovation can bring new opportunities,” Wen Powles.

Registrations are open now and close on 21 June.

Places are limited to 300 people.

EPIC NZ is an annual conference which celebrates the strength of New Zealand's growing and diverse business community.