Introducing Digital Pins – NAMS Day professional development!
At 10:45am on day two of the Āpōpō Congress, better known as NAMS Day, all attendees will take part in a condensed formal learning programme.
What is a Digital Pin?
Similar to our award-winning Digital Badges, they are quick-fire micro-credentials based on an essential asset management topic. Unlike our badges, they will be completed during an in-person session at the Congress.
The Digital Pins are an interactive, multimedia learning experience. Each pin will be hosted by an experienced and expert facilitator, and involve discussions, polls, and quizzes – so bring a device if you have one. You will also have the chance to contribute and share your experiences with your group.
There are four pins to choose from (you can only pick one!):
CC 102 – Carbon Emissions Analysis in Asset Management
Explore the carbon impact of core infrastructure assets in this focused, in-person session. You'll get practical insights into emissions across road transport, buildings, and water assets – covering construction, maintenance, and operations.
Description
This 90-minute Digital Pin offers a targeted introduction to carbon emissions analysis in the context of asset management. Focused on three critical asset types – road transport, buildings, and waters – it explores where and how emissions occur across each asset’s lifecycle, particularly during construction, maintenance, and day-to-day operations.
Designed for asset managers who want to embed emissions awareness into decision-making, this session breaks down complex concepts into accessible takeaways. Whether you're new to carbon analysis or looking to refresh your understanding, you'll leave with a clearer picture of how infrastructure choices can influence our climate impact.
Facilitated by:
Dr Theuns Henning
Dr Theuns Henning is the Chief Executive for Infrastructure Decision Support (IDS), the Associate Dean International of the Faculty of Engineering and Design and the Director of the Infrastructure Management Post-Graduate Programme at the University of Auckland.
Dr Henning is also a founding member of the Climate Adaptation Platform, specialising in Asset Management, Performance Monitoring, Climate Adaptation, Performance-Based Contracts and Benchmarking. He holds a Master of Engineering (Transportation) from the University of Pretoria, South Africa and completed his PhD at the University of Auckland in 2009, where he was the recipient of the Foundation for Research and Technology Bright Future Scholarship.
He has completed several projects for the World Bank supporting countries with the integration of climate resilience into asset management. These countries include the Philippines, South Africa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, St Vincent and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr Henning is a published author of more than 50 international journals, Six Road Infrastructure Management (RIMS) Body of Knowledge Guidelines, and the primary author of four World Bank Guidelines for developing countries.
AM 203 – Lifecycle Planning
Dive into the operations and maintenance phase of the asset lifecycle in this focused, in-person session. Learn how smart planning and maintenance strategies can boost asset performance and support wider organisational goals.
Description
This Digital Pin explores one of the most impactful stages of the asset lifecycle: operations and maintenance. In just 90 minutes, you'll examine how day-to-day decisions and long-term strategies shape the performance, reliability, and value of infrastructure assets.
You'll also be introduced to practical ways operational planning and maintenance contribute to broader organisational objectives – from managing risk and cost to ensuring service delivery. Whether you're directly involved in maintenance planning or supporting strategic decision-making, this session will sharpen your ability to connect on-the-ground activities with long-term outcomes.
Facilitated by:
Steve Browning
Steve Browning is the Chief Solutionist at Strategic Asset Solutions Ltd, and the current Vice President of Āpōpō.
Steve is an asset management specialist with extensive experience working with infrastructure assets in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada.
He enjoys providing strategic advice to asset owning organisations, utilising technology to assist optimised decision-making and securing funding by helping tell the infrastructure investment story.
Steve is an experienced communicator, who has delivered asset management training to staff at all levels of organisational seniority. He is passionate about raising the profile of infrastructure asset management.
AM 303 – Knowledge Management
Unlock the value of data in asset management with this practical in-person session. You’ll explore how good data design and collection processes underpin confident decision-making across the asset lifecycle.
Description
Good decisions rely on good data – and this Digital Pin is all about making that happen. In this 90-minute session, you’ll explore the fundamentals of data design, collection, and maintenance, with a focus on how structured information supports asset management practice.
You’ll learn how to specify data requirements, define quality criteria for data collection, and understand what it takes to keep your data relevant over time. If you’ve ever struggled with gaps in your asset information – or want to prevent them – this session offers practical guidance to strengthen your knowledge management approach.
Facilitator tbc
AM 432 – Making Nature-Positive Infrastructure Decisions
Get hands-on with infrastructure decision-making in this interactive session. You'll explore how natural capital considerations can support more balanced, informed, and effective choices.
Description
This Digital Pin invites you to step into the role of decision-maker, navigating real-world infrastructure scenarios that involve complex environmental factors. With a focus on natural capital, you’ll explore how to assess trade-offs and align decisions with long-term public value.
The session blends discussion and practical activities to strengthen your ability to make decisions that go beyond cost alone. If you’re looking to build confidence in applying broader value thinking to asset planning and prioritisation, this is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills.
Facilitated by:
Aimee Matiu and James Lear
Aimee Matiu is Pou tokomanawa: Māori Advisory at Pattle Delamore Partners (PDP)
Strong relationships with hapū and iwi are at the core of Aimee’s approach, ensuring that the knowledges, perspectives and values of mana i te whenua are authentically incorporated into decision-making. With expertise in te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori, she works to align tangata whenua priorities with regulatory frameworks to support effective and informed decisions.
Facilitating multi-disciplinary teams, identifying cultural values, and supporting mana i te whenua aspirations are key aspects of her work. She also brings extensive knowledge of te ao tūroa, te ao Māori and Te Tiriti, transforming these concepts into engaging learning experiences that shift thinking and enhance understanding.
James Lear is an infrastructure consultant at PDP, and an Āpōpō Asset Management Associate (AMA).
James specialises in all things water. He combines a passion for creative problem- solving and systems thinking with technical expertise in stormwater, drinking water and wastewater. This synergy empowers him to tackle complex environmental and infrastructure challenges for a range of public and private sector clients, with solutions backed by a strong business case.
James has played a significant role in solving critical water sector challenges at both national and regional-scales, including his involvement in New Zealand's water reform, development of several industry guideline documents, regional business-casing and capital programming, and providing water infrastructure asset management services to a range of local government clients.
