BOOTCAMP has been an NZPPA online event since 2022, delivering practical payroll knowledge, compliance guidance, and operational insights for new and developing payroll practitioners.

Designed as a professional development event for new and developing payroll practitioners, BOOTCAMP provides practical, real-world guidance from experienced payroll professionals working in the industry today.

Across the morning, six sessions will cover:

• Payroll fundamentals and operational best practices
• PAYE, ACC, and ESCT compliance essentials
• Employee leave and holiday pay requirements
• KiwiSaver onboarding obligations
• Employment law essentials for payroll professionals
• Termination processing and final pays

Who should attend?

• New payroll practitioners
• HR and finance staff involved in payroll processing
• Payroll administrators wanting a compliance refresher
• Professionals transitioning into payroll roles

Meet the BOOTCAMP 2026 Speakers

Neil Gardner has over 25 years of payroll operations and payroll technology experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. As Fusion5’s Industry Specialist for Payroll, Neil specialises in Holidays Act compliance, leave remediation, payroll systems, and complex Time & Attendance implementations.

Gabriella Barbara brings more than 25 years of experience across HR, Payroll, Recruitment, Procurement, and Time & Attendance technology. As an Account Director at Fusion5, she helps organisations simplify payroll and workforce management systems.

Vidhi Kachru is a Strategic HCM and Payroll Solution Leader with over 14 years of experience delivering payroll and HCM transformations across ANZ and APAC. She specialises in enterprise payroll ecosystems and value-driven solution design.

Natalia Mamea is the owner of Natalia Mamea Payroll Consulting Services and has over 25 years of payroll and business consulting experience. She specialises in payroll strategy, compliance, Holidays Act reform readiness, and operational improvement.

Katrina Vaughan is an NZPPA Payroll Consultant with over 18 years of payroll experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. Her expertise includes payroll systems, reconciliations, remediation projects, and payroll compliance.

David Jenkins, NZPPA CEO, will present key payroll compliance topics including PAYE, ACC, ESCT, and Employment Law Essentials. David will also act as MC for BOOTCAMP 2026.

What Will BOOTCAMP 2026 Include?

Session	Time	Topic	Presenter
	9:00 am – 9:05 am	Introduction to BOOTCAMP
1	9:05 am – 9:35 am	Payroll Fundamentals	Neil Gardner & Gabriella Barbara
2	9:35 am – 10:05 am	Understanding PAYE, ACC, and ESCT	David Jenkins
3	10:05 am – 10:35 am	Navigating Employee Leave & Holiday Pay in NZ	Vidhi Kachru
	10:35 am – 10:45 am	Break
4	10:45 am – 11:15 am	KiwiSaver Onboarding Obligations	Katrina Vaughan
5	11:15 am – 11:45 am	Employment Law Essentials	David Jenkins
6	11:45 am – 12:15 pm	Termination Essentials	Natalia Mamea
	12:15 pm – 12:20 pm	BOOTCAMP Wrap-Up