Top Accounting Ākonga Attend CAANZ Executive Mentoring Event

Top performing accounting ākonga (students) from Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology gained valuable insight into the future of the profession at the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) Executive Mentoring Event, held in Hamilton this month.

The event brought together accounting students from across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato with senior leaders from DairyNZ, Fonterra, KPMG, PwC and the University of Waikato.

Through mentor rotations, small-group discussions and collaborative reflection sessions, ākonga had the opportunity to build professional networks and hear directly from experienced finance professionals about the future of accounting.

Toi Ohomai Programme Manager - Business and IT, Sarah Lockwood; Principal Academic Staff Member – Business, Mark Wilson; and Academic Staff Member- Business, Rebecca Tereu accompanied the Toi Ohomai students to the event, held on Monday 21 September. 

Sarah Lockwood says the event challenged common misconceptions about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on accounting careers and highlighted the growing importance of human-centred skills.

"Many prospective ākonga ask us whether accountants will be replaced by AI in the future. But our students left the CAANZ networking event with an entirely different perspective.”

"While AI is changing the accounting profession, industry leaders emphasised just how much more accountants will need to bring to the table in the future. Technical expertise remains essential, but employers are increasingly seeking professionals who can communicate effectively, build relationships and exercise sound professional judgement. An accountant's value is increasingly defined by their ability to understand a business, interpret information, ask the right questions, solve problems, and translate data into decisions people can actually use," Sarah says.

Eight Toi Ohomai Bachelor of Accounting ākonga attended the networking event: Ritesh Rugnathji, Candice Pretorius, Mackenzie Coster, Liam Ballinger and Eunique Paki from Tauranga, and Hayden Walker-Frost, Oranga Maxted and Kenzo Llave from Rotorua.

Mark Wilson says opportunities such as the CAANZ Executive Mentoring Event help prepare our accounting ākonga for industry by enabling them to establish valuable professional connections before graduation.

"Partnerships between tertiary providers, professional bodies and industry are vital because they help bridge the gap between education and employment. Students can build meaningful networks, gain valuable insights into the profession and develop a clearer understanding of potential career pathways while still in study. At the same time, employers can engage with emerging talent and help shape the future workforce."

CAANZ Careers Engagement Manager - Central North Island region, Angela Werder, says the ākonga in attendance at the event made a strong impression.

"From the moment they walked in, they were ready to be inspired and connect with future colleagues and mentors. They showed up with courage, asked thoughtful questions, and embraced the opportunity to learn and grow.”

Interested in a career in accounting? Toi Ohomai is currently accepting applications for our Bachelor of Accounting programme, starting in February 2027. With intakes in Tauranga and Rotorua, click the link below to find out more.