EtA Forum NZ - Returning in 2026
A flagship event for the Search & Acquisition community
- Queenstown
- 26th March, 2026
Event overview
A Day for Searchers, Investors, Operators & Advisors
Announcing the Second Annual EtA Forum Queenstown! Join us in Queenstown on 26 March 2026 for a full-day forum bringing together New Zealand’s Entrepreneurship through Acquisition community. From practical panels to real operator stories, the EtA Forum is where meaningful conversations happen and lasting connections are made. We'll release venue details soon!
What's On
The Agenda
Arrival & Check In
Welcome to Queenstown!
5pm - Welcome Drinks at Mountain Club
Join us at Mountain Club Beach Street for welcome drinks to kick off the EtA Forum Queenstown
7:45am - Registration & Networking Breakfast
Join us for breakfast, grab your name tag and meet fellow attendees.
8:00am - Barista Coffee Cart Opens
Enjoy complimentary coffee from the Coffee Truck
8:45am - Forum Opening
Welcome and housekeeping
9:00am - Keynote Speaker
Coming soon!
9:50am - Session 1: Searching
Panel Session:
Searching for the right business – Panel Greg Johnson, Charlie Wilkinson, Pran Dantanarayana
11:00am - Morning Networking Break
Grab a muffin and connect with fellow attendees
11:40am - Session 2: Acquiring
Panel Session: Getting the Deal Done
12:55pm - Lunch
Watch this space…
2:00pm - Session 3: Operating
Panel Session: Operating & scaling the business
Speakers: Georgina Toomey, Jason Hew and Luke Taylor
3:15pm Afternoon Networking Break
Grab an afternoon pick me up as we head into the final session
3:45pm Session 4: Exiting
Exiting & long-term value creation
Speaker: Jack Lancaster
4:55pm - Day wrap & key takeaways
That’s a wrap! See you in 2027!
5:00m - Networking Drinks & Tastings
Wrap up the Forum with networking drinks and time to connect before dinner. We’ve organised Roving Beer Tasting and Gin Tasting with the Cargo Head Brewer joining us in the Brewery Room to have a chat and answer questions.
6:00pm - Forum Dinner
Southern Fuego’s will be onsite with Argentinian Live BBQ Stations.
Optional Activity Day (Select from below)
Get in touch if you wish to sign up for one of the activities below. Our event partner Mountain Club will be coordinating the optional activities.
Contact Katie Bowden-Tregoat: kbt@mountainclub.co.nz
Ride to the Sky: Big views. Big vibes. One unforgettable ride.
Departure: 9am from Country Lane, Frankton
Duration: 3.5hrs
Difficulty: Intermediate
Price: $245 per person
Ride to the Sky is your ticket to soaring 800 metres above sea level, climbing to the summit of Grant Peak and unlocking one of the most epic viewpoints in Queenstown. From the top, the entire Wakatipu Basin stretches out beneath you – big skies, big views, zero crowds.
The adventure begins and ends in Frankton, just five minutes from the airport. After a warm welcome, you’ll get a confidence-boosting intro to eBiking, a briefing on the purpose-built trail, and be fitted with all the necessary safety gear.
From there, its wheels rolling past Lake Johnson, Tuckers Beach, and through a working high-country farm before the real fun begins: a 749-metre climb to the top. And yes, this is where the magic happens. Thanks to the eBike’s glorious TURBO mode, it feels less like a grind and more like the hand of God gently pushing you uphill.
What makes this ride truly special is the exclusive access and unreal scenery. Remote farmland, dramatic ridgelines, and jaw-dropping panoramic views of the Wakatipu Basin, all from a single vantage point that few get to experience.
Ride to the Sky is the perfect introduction to mountain biking for confident riders. You’ll want to be comfortable on a bike and have some experience riding on gravel roads. The trail is a mix of gradual climbs and descents on gravel and uneven farm tracks. No jumps, no sharp corners, just pure, elevated adventure.
Half Day Hike: A beautiful adventure through open trails and classic scenery.
Departure: Pick up / drop off from Queenstown
Includes: transfers, private guide, coffee and snacks
Duration: 3hrs
Difficulty: Moderate fitness and agility required
Price: $1,500 for up to 4 people. $120 per additional guest (up to 10 people)
Designed for those who want to stretch their legs, breathe in that crisp alpine air, and soak up the stories of the land, this guided hike is all about moving at your pace. No rush, no pressure, just scenic trails, good conversation, and moments that invite you to stop, look around, and take it all in.
Each hike is carefully chosen on the day to suit both the ability of the group and the weather, ensuring the best possible experience. Local favourites include Mount Crichton, Sawpit Gully in Arrowtown, and Bob’s Cove – each offering its own flavour of Queenstown magic.
Expect a mix of native forest, open ridgelines, historic sites, and views absolutely worth pausing for.
And the best part? The day ends exactly how you want it to. Settle in for a long, indulgent lunch at Ayrburn, or wrap things up with a peaceful sense of calm and tired legs in the best possible way.
Round of Golf
Golf at Jacks Point or Queenstown Golf Club:
- Jacks Point tee times at 12.30pm – $629pp
- Queenstown Golf Club (Kelvin Heights) tee times at 9am – $399pp
The Venue
We’ll be making the Cargo Brew Hall our home on Thursday 26th March. It’s a diverse and transformable venue known for its relaxed atmosphere, great food, and local brews.
The current chapter of The Cargo Collective has begun with the new Brew Hall in Arthurs Point. Cargo now has a space that provides a venue for private functions, a backdrop for local events and plenty of room to keep crafting high quality brews and spirits.
https://www.thecargocollective.co.nz/
172 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown 9371, New Zealand
Accommodation
We’re recommending the following hotel partners, all well-located and easy for Forum logistics:
- Rendezvous Heritage Queenstown (change the dates to see availability)
QT Queenstown (no partner rate – use membership option)
Instructions for booking QT Queenstown:
Sign up for the membership program
Members rate will appear on available rooms
We’ll be coordinating transport to and from the Forum from the QT, Rendezvous, Hilton and Holiday Inn Express, making those options especially convenient. Accommodation in Queenstown can sell out quickly, so we recommend booking soon to avoid higher rates or limited choice later on.
Keynote Speakers
John Wikstrom is the Founder of Magic Memories, a global imaging company he started in Queenstown in 1995 with a differentiated product and strong culture. What began as a local idea grew into a business generating more than $170M in annual revenue across 15+ countries.
Under John’s leadership, Magic Memories evolved from a manual, labour-led model into a fully automated technology platform adopted by many of the world’s favourite brands and IP, while staying true to its purpose. He brings decades of experience in building, scaling and adapting a business over the long term.
Jack Lancaster is CEO of Evolution Surgical, and Australian and New Zealand MedTech company he led the asset acquisition of in 2020 through his investment organisation Rosetree Capital. Evolution Surgical designs, manufactures, and directly distributes technology used in spine surgeries, to treat pathologies such as trauma, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, and tumour resections. In late-2024 Evolution Surgical partnered with Quadrant Private Equity to drive the organisation’s continued innovation and growth.
Jack spent the early parts of his career working with the NHS deploying efficiency initiatives as well as in developing countries setting up programmes for large-scale disease elimination. Prior to founding Rosetree Capital and Evolution Surgical he worked in the Sydney office of Boston Consulting Group in the healthcare practice. Jack has an undergraduate degree with Honours from St Andrews, and an MBA with concentration in health strategies from Cambridge University.
speaker list
Pete Seligman
forum host & investor
Pete Seligman is a Search Investor and co-founder of EtA Forum, recognised as one of Australasia’s leading voices on Search Fund and ETA insights and advice.
With a background spanning engineering, investment banking and business ownership, he has acquired and led multiple SMEs. Today, Pete leverages this experience to back the next generation of entrepreneurs and support the global transition of small business ownership.
James Frank
frank law
James is a corporate lawyer and advisor who is passionate about helping founders grow and protect their businesses. As the Chief Executive Partner of Frank Law, James oversees the firm’s growth and development, as well as working with founders to structure smart deals, navigate complex legal landscapes, and unlock growth.
He is also the founder of Frank Advisory, a corporate advisory and consultancy firm that helps business owners navigate critical growth moments, and Brolly Capital, which aims to provide growth capital and buyout solutions to SME founders.
Cameron Honey
current future
Cam Honey is Founder and CEO of Current Future and a reformed lawyer and chartered accountant. With two decades of experience in finance, advisory and operations, he has worked on complex projects at PwC, Herbert Smith Freehills, Venues NSW and Michael Cassel Group.
He founded Current Future to help private businesses navigate periods of significant change, providing senior expertise to deliver results quickly and effectively.
Georgina Toomey
Legal Vision
Georgina is the General Manager for LegalVision New Zealand and a Practice Group Leader, specialising in corporate and commercial law. She has significant experience having previously worked in the specialist corporate teams at a number of top-tier firms in New Zealand, and acting for clients in a variety of industries.
Georgina has particular expertise in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, business structuring and shareholding arrangements, and acts for startups, SMEs and corporate clients. Georgina also regularly advises on Companies Act, NZX and securities law compliance, as well as having experience advising on foreign investment into New Zealand and broader commercial law matters, and works closely with other LegalVision practice areas to ensure her clients receive appropriate and specialist advice in regard to all key aspects of their business.
Jason Hew
TWS & WF Energy Controls
Jason is the CEO of TWS and WF Energy Controls, manufacturers of specialist distribution transformers and associated electrical equipment. Located in Sydney, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand, both businesses were acquired in mid-2024 in partnership with SMEVentures after a 15 month search.
Prior to his search, Jason had broad experience as an investor and operator, largely in the high-growth technology sector.
Luke Taylor
SSS Cyber Security
Luke began his career in the Royal NZ Navy, before changing tack to become an executive, working leading large organisations through periods of significant growth and transformation. Luke founded and raised Acheron Capital: NZ’s first traditional Search Fund, completing the acquisition of SSS – Cybersecurity Specialists in 2023. Luke holds a Master’s degree in Strategy, and is a current doctoral candidate at the University of Otago School of Business, where he is researching search funds and entrepreneurial finance.
Derek Roth-Biester
Criterion Law
Derek Roth-Biester is the founder of Criterion Law, a boutique corporate and commercial law firm in Queenstown, New Zealand.
He specialises in private equity and search/EtA fund structuring and acquisitions, and has advised on New Zealand’s first traditional search fund and multiple EtA transactions. He has 30 years’ international legal experience across the UK, Asia and offshore jurisdictions.
Jeffrey provides pragmatic legal and commercial advice to mid-market and high-growth New Zealand companies across a range of sectors.
He specialises in corporate structuring, M&A, investment funding, business expansion, and technology projects, including IT outsourcing and commercialisation.
He was a founding partner and Managing Director of Anderson Creagh Lai, which joined Hamilton Locke in January 2023 to establish Hamilton Locke New Zealand.
Michael Markham
PKF Kendons
Michael Markham is the CEO and a Partner at PKF Kendons, where he specialises in transaction support, business valuations, and financial due diligence. He advises business owners, investors, and boards on acquisitions, divestments, and strategic decisions across a broad range of sectors.
Michael works closely with privately held businesses in an advisory capacity, supporting strategic planning and accountability, and believes the best outcomes come from strong relationships — and having a bit of fun along the way.
Charlie Wilkinson
Traverse Partners
Charlie Wilkinson is Principal of Traverse Partners, a traditional search fund based in Auckland that he launched in early 2026 to acquire and operate a business in Australia or New Zealand.
He has over a decade of experience across consulting, operating and investment roles and holds an MBA from Oxford.
Pran Dantanarayana
LongView owners
Pran is the founder of LongView Owners, NZ’s second traditional search fund, that he launched in May 2025. Prior to founding LongView Owners, Pran spent a decade working with mid-market companies in NZ and the UK across private equity, management consulting and inhouse operating roles. Pran holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and is a Chartered Accountant.
Ashton Jones
Yellowtail Investments
Ashton Jones is the owner of Yellowtail Investments, a private investment company focused on acquiring and growing New Zealand businesses for the long term. Through Yellowtail, Ashton recently completed his first acquisition with the purchase of NTD, a manufacturing business based in Napier.
Prior to founding Yellowtail, Ashton was Chief Executive Officer of SSS Cybersecurity Specialists, where he led the business through a period of growth culminating in its acquisition by Acheron, Luke Taylor’s search fund. Ashton remains a shareholder and Director of SSS.
Greg Johnston
37 South Capital LP
Greg is the founder of 37 South Capital LP, a Waikato-based search fund launched in late 2025. Before pursuing EtA, he built his career in startups across diverse industries, including serving as Founding CEO of Manta5 and as an adviser to other early-stage companies.
Greg holds an honours degree from Waikato and is passionate about strategy, building great teams, and creating cultures where people move quickly, learn fast, and compound improvements over time.
EtA Central and EtA Forum Partners
Scale-up specialists, Current Future develops tailored strategies and solutions, helping private companies to realise their potential faster.
We offer tailored financial solutions to support various aspects of operations, ensuring businesses receive the necessary resources to thrive and grow.
Hamilton Locke is an international law firm evolving the traditional approach to corporate and commercial legal services across Australia and New Zealand.
LegalVision is a commercial law firm transforming the delivery of legal services in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Private Capital Group is a direct lender with deep credit expertise and a focus on New Zealand corporate private debt.
Who Should Attend
Who is the EtA Forum For?
Typical eta forum attendees include:
- People Looking to Acquire a Business
- Current Operators
- Investors & Funders
- Advisors & Lawyers
- Business Owners
- People Looking To Learn More About EtA
Does this sound like you?
Event Feedback
What Past Attendees Say
Love the ETA concept and lm glad there is a community here in Australia like the one you have setup
I'll be coming back every year from now!
Everyone was there to genuinely help and support the growing community
Thanks for creating such a quality but relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It was a pleasure to participate this event and I am very happy to be part of the EtA community
It was my first introduction to the community. High quality of professionals and experienced business owners. Quality networking opportunity