Hear directly from the Minister of Education and Immigration on where immigration policy is heading through 2026. Explore the future of migration and the key legal alerts shaping the field — from new investor visa policies and AEWV compliance risks to intersections with employment law, medical matters, and practical advocacy before the Immigration Protection Tribunal. Connect with judges, lawyers, agents, and policymakers dedicated to strengthening New Zealand’s migration system, and learn how to respond strategically when facing complex cases, from criminal charges to family violence. Seats are limited, and it’s always a full house — will you be with us in the room or online this year?

Presenters

Lauren Qiu, Principal, Stay Legal
Lauren is the Principal at Stay Legal. She has presented at national seminars and conferences on immigration law. Lauren is an immigration law commentary author for Thomson Reuters. Lauren is currently a Committee Member of The Law Association’s (formerly Auckland District Law Society) Immigration & Refugee Law Committee, a Member of the Tauranga Migrant Settlement Network (an Immigration New Zealand led Welcoming Communities initiative), and a Volunteer Immigration Solicitor at the Citizens Advice Bureau (Tauranga). Previously, she was a guest lecturer, teaching aspiring immigration advisers at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.

Simon Graham, Partner, Young Hunter Lawyer
Simon is a litigation partner at Young Hunter Lawyers. He is responsible for leading the firm’s immigration and human rights team. As part of his role, he regularly appears before specialist Tribunals, and the Courts. Simon specialises in providing advice and representation with respect to all aspects of immigration litigation. This includes deportation appeals, refugee and protected status appeals, residence appeals, judicial reviews and High Court appeals, and criminal matters (including immigration fraud) which have the potential to affect a person’s immigration status. He is the convenor of the New Zealand Immigration and Refugee Law Committee of the New Zealand Law Society.

Maha Galal MNZM, ACC Therapist, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Visser & Associates
Maha Galal MNZM is a highly respected community leader and advocate, honored as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her exceptional services to the Muslim community and support for victims and families following the Christchurch 2019 terrorist attack.  With over 24 years of international experience, Maha Galal is a recognized expert in cultural competence. She has been invited as a guest lecturer at prestigious institutions such as Canterbury University, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), and others, where she shares her expertise on this vital subject.

Pooja Sundar, Partner, Dalley Sundar Law
Pooja Sundar is a leading immigration and family lawyer known for her expertise in complex matters involving migrants, refugees, and families navigating sensitive legal and immigration issues. She holds a Master of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland and is a Legal Aid–registered practitioner. Her work spans all areas of immigration law - from visas and residence appeals to refugee and protection claims - alongside family proceedings where immigration and family-violence issues intersect. Pooja combines deep legal expertise with strong cultural intelligence and is frequently called on for high-stakes and precedent-setting matters. She has driven reform on family-violence visa processes and trauma-informed refugee interviews, while her pro bono work has enabled many migrants and survivors of family violence to secure safety and lawful status. A member of several professional and community bodies, Pooja is widely regarded as a leading voice in the evolution of New Zealand’s immigration system.

The Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of Education and Minister of Immigration
Erica Stanford is the Minister of Education, Minister of Immigration, and the Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions. She has been the MP for East Coast Bays since the 2017 election. Erica completed a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours at the University of Auckland, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Māori Studies. She worked in a number of export sales roles for New Zealand manufacturers. She also spent four years working in the electorate office of former MP for East Coast Bays, Hon Murray McCully.

Harris Gu, Senior Lawyer, Queen City Law
Prior to joining Queen City Law, Harris used to work for a former Minister of Immigration as a licensed immigration adviser for 7 years. Harris has extensive experience in dealing with all types of visa applications, as well as appeals to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal (IPT), Section 61 requests, Ministerial special directions & Ombudsman complaints. Harris obtained his LLB and BCom degrees from the University of Auckland and was admitted to the High Court of New Zealand in October 2021. Harris is pleased to have joined Queen City Law’s large award winning Immigration Law team. Harris speaks fluent Mandarin. Harris currently serves on the Auckland District Law Society (“ADLS”) Immigration & Refugee Law Committee.

Marcus Beveridge, Managing Director, Queen City Law
Marcus Beveridge is the Managing Director of Queen City Law NZ Limited. His main areas of practice are construction and property law, commercial law, foreign investment, real estate services and immigration. Marcus has developed expertise in business-based immigration and has acted on literally 100's of successful business-based immigration applications over the best part of 3 decades. Many of these clients have subsequently become major clients of his firm. The total amount of business immigration funds invested in NZ in the last decade is close to NZ$10 Billion. Marcus is a regular commentator on immigration based issues on national Radio & TV and has presented and chaired many NZ Immigration Law conferences over the years. Marcus has also recently been on several Working Groups and Immigration Reference Groups liaising with senior INZ management about assorted immigration issues. His firm comprises one of NZ’s largest immigration law teams. Marcus was formerly Chairman of NZAMI and Convenor of the New Zealand Law Society Immigration Committee.

Shi Sheng Cai (Shoosh), Partner, Ashcroft, Mitchell, McGregor
Shi Sheng Cai (Shoosh) is a Partner at Ashcroft Mitchell McGregor and regularly acts for employers to help with immigration matters. He has over 7 years of work experience in the immigration sector including experience in the areas of global mobility, corporate immigration, investor migration and expertise with complex New Zealand immigration matters. Shoosh is a member of the Law Association Immigration Committee and is an author for Thomson Reuters Human Rights Law resource. You will find Shoosh "a great guy to deal with". He enjoys working with government officers and is a critical thinker with an insightful legal mind.

Charlotte Summers, BDes LLB LLM GCNZIA GDipArts(Politics) GCertArtsIAA Licensed Immigration Adviser, Pathways to New Zealand
Charlotte Summers is a highly experienced Licensed Immigration Adviser based in Wellington, New Zealand, holding IAA Licence #201300865. She has been a key member of the Pathways to New Zealand® team since 2012 and became licensed in 2013 after completing the Graduate Certificate in New Zealand Immigration Advice with full A+ grades. Charlotte’s expertise spans a wide range of complex immigration matters, including medical and character waivers, Section 61 requests, residence appeals, and deportation cases. Her previous role as an Immigration Officer with Immigration New Zealand provides her with valuable insight into the inner workings of immigration processes and decision-making. She holds a Bachelor of Design (Fashion) from Auckland University of Technology, and both Bachelor and Master of Laws (Honours) degrees from the University of Auckland, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Politics) from Massey University. Charlotte is also an Enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand (non-practicing). In addition to her advisory work, Charlotte regularly presents on immigration topics to professional and community audiences, sharing her knowledge and advocating for migrant rights. Her academic research has focused on migrant exploitation and domestic violence, reflecting her strong commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals. Charlotte lives in Upper Hutt with her husband, two children, and their much loved pets.

Kate Ashcroft, Partner, Ashcroft, Mitchell, McGregor
Kate has specialised in employment and health and safety throughout her career, and is passionate about providing commercially pragmatic, tailored solutions to client issues. Kate acts for employers across a range of industries, giving strategic, compliance and best practice advice on non-contentious matters as well as providing representation in disputes. Kate’s background includes work with a large, top-tier national law firm, an award-winning national employment law boutique, and on secondment in-house in both the private and public sectors. She regularly presents training and at conferences on employment and health and safety issues. In addition, she is an experienced independent investigator, and holds a certificate in workplace investigations from the Association of Workplace Investigators, as the only internationally recognised course of its nature.

Stewart Dalley, Partner, Dalley Sundar
Stewart has experience in representing clients at the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, Family Court, District Court and High Court. Stewart is the Chair of the Auckland District Law Society’s Immigration and Refugee Law Committee. He is experienced in all aspects of immigration and refugee law, assisting clients with complex visa applications, deportations, humanitarian appeals, and refugee claims. His wealth of experience in the trade unions in the UK, coupled with his knowledge of immigration and employment matters saw him selected by the government to be a member of the Migrant Worker Exploitation Consultation Group which recommended various measures to protect migrant workers in the workplace.

Aaron Martin, Principal Lawyer, New Zealand Immigration Law
Aaron Martin is one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded practitioners of immigration law. Holding a law degree from the University of Auckland, Aaron has decades of experience in assisting private individuals, SMBs, and corporate clients. He is a member of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI), a professional association for New Zealand migration advisors and those who use their services. Aaron’s early experience as an immigration consultant for Malcolm Pacific has given him considerable skill in evaluating complex cases, including those requiring ministerial intervention, appeals, and character or medical waivers. An immigration lawyer for 25 years, he has a sterling reputation and an excellent working relationship with Immigration New Zealand. Aaron is also well-versed in general legal practice and possesses a thorough working knowledge of relevant tax laws and commercial issues facing Investor Category applicants and migrants seeking to establish a business in New Zealand. While he specialises in commercial issues, Aaron takes great pleasure in reuniting families and helping international students transition to the workforce and onto residency.

The Hon. Judge Treadwell, Immigration and Protection Tribunal
Judge Treadwell was a barrister and solicitor of Auckland, who was sworn in in 2021 and is the Chairperson of the Immigration and Protection Tribunal. He started practice as a staff solicitor with Daniel, Overton and Goulding and then Haigh Lyon in Auckland before becoming a member of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority in 1995. He has since held appointment with a number of immigration tribunals and authorities and has been the Deputy Chair of the Immigration and Protection Tribunal since its establishment in 2010. He has extensive experience in immigration matters and is the present secretary of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges, having been a member and chapter president since 1998.