NZPPA 5th Annual Payroll Technology Showcase 2026

Date: 18 September 2026
Format: Virtual
MC: David Jenkins, NZPPA CEO
View the full Showcase Programme PDF

Key Event Message: Moving payroll forward means using technology with purpose—combining innovation with payroll expertise to deliver accurate, compliant, secure and reliable pay.

Sarah Roberts
Design and Research Lead, Datapay

Sarah Roberts is the Design and Research Lead at Datapay, a payroll platform that pays 1 in 6 New Zealanders. She spends her time talking with customers to understand what they actually need, then works closely with the team of designers, product managers and engineers to turn those insights into real-world solutions.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find her out in the hills in Christchurch, making the most of Aotearoa’s backcountry.

Peter Forbes
Founder, PayTools

Peter Forbes, PayTools founder, started his first business to help payroll over 25 years ago. During his years working alongside payroll teams, he saw first-hand the daily pressures, complexities and challenges they face. That insight sparked a mission: to build software that not only simplifies payroll operations but also improves the work lives of the people behind them.

Stephan Blumenberg
Director, Principal Consultant, Alxemy

Stephan Blumenberg is passionate about leveraging technology to optimise payroll and workforce management. As the Director and Founder of Alxemy, he oversees the implementation and support of enterprise payroll systems, HCM and workforce management solutions. With over 20 years of industry experience, Stephan specialises in complex problem-solving and providing strategic systems advice, ensuring organisations receive tailored and effective solutions to enhance their business operations.

Alxemy helps New Zealand businesses stay compliant, optimise operations and prepare for the future. With over 100 years of combined industry experience, the team delivers scalable, innovative solutions tailored to each organisation’s needs.

Their services include payroll, WFM and HCM software selection and implementation, PMO Setup as a Service, project management support, consultancy and ongoing support. By partnering with industry leaders such as Dayforce and MYOB PayGlobal, Alxemy provides systems that evolve with the needs of the business.

Anita Paling
Product Manager, TimeFiler

Anita Paling is a Product Manager at TimeFiler with 26 years of experience in the payroll sector. Her extensive payroll background gives her a deep understanding of the practical challenges payroll teams face, as well as the legislation, processes and systems that sit behind every pay run. At TimeFiler, Anita brings this experience into product development, helping ensure the technology is designed around the realities of payroll.

Ross Trowsdale
Sales Manager, TimeFiler

Ross Trowsdale has 8 years of experience in the workforce software sector and a strong commercial background. He brings a strong understanding of how payroll technology works in practice, particularly how systems integrate with other business platforms and processes. His commercial experience also gives him a broader perspective on what businesses should look for when evaluating payroll technology and automation.

Together, Anita and Ross bring a combination of hands-on experience, product knowledge and commercial insight, making them well placed to explain what happens behind the scenes when payroll software connects directly with IRD.

Vidhi Kachru
Solution Lead, RAMCO Systems

Vidhi Kachru is a seasoned solution leader with over 14 years of experience managing the end-to-end solution lifecycle, from discovery through to delivery, across diverse business environments. Her strong expertise across HCM and payroll systems gives her a unique understanding of the challenges faced by growing organisations managing complex, multi-layered payroll environments.

Over the past 8+ years with Ramco Systems Oceania, Vidhi has successfully led the onboarding of numerous clients across Australia and New Zealand, helping them transition from legacy systems to modern, automated and compliant payroll solutions.

Michael Patykowski
Solution Consultant, RAMCO Systems

Michael Patykowski is a Solution Consultant with RAMCO Systems, bringing practical experience in payroll and HCM technology and supporting organisations with the implementation and optimisation of modern payroll solutions.

Gabriella Barbara
Account Director, Fusion5

Gabriella Barbara is an experienced Relationship and Sales Manager with a strong background in channel management, business development and corporate account management. She has worked in the technology solutions sector in New Zealand since 1998, initially in ERP before moving into Human Capital Management in 2004.

With extensive experience working with medium and large organisations across Australia and New Zealand, Gabriella has supported customers with their Human Resources and payroll requirements, building strong relationships with customers, vendors and suppliers along the way. Her work is focused on understanding business needs and helping organisations identify technology and solutions that improve processes, efficiency and outcomes.

Gabriella’s technical and operational experience spans relationship management, supply chain management, finance and people management, giving her a broad understanding of business processes, return on investment and the role technology can play in creating competitive advantage.

Most recently, Gabriella works with customers around Jemini, Fusion5’s employee lifecycle solution. She is passionate about how technology can assist businesses while building enduring, productive working relationships.

• NZPPA Members: FREE
• NZPPA Non-members: $57.50 + GST