2026 SESNZ CONFERENCE
SESNZ Conference
24th-26tH November 2026,
Wintec, Hamilton | Kirikiriroa
SESNZ is pleased to announce our 36th annual SESNZ Conference will take place from the 24th to the 26th of November 2026 hosted by Wintec, Hamilton | Kirikiriroa
We will bring together leading experts, practitioners and researchers to share their knowledge and insights. Keep an eye out for announcements about special conference events for our members.
Key Dates
Abstracts |
Registrations |
Conference |
| Open: Monday 1st June | Registrations open: July | Programme release: Approx 17th November |
| Reviewed: From Monday 15th June | Early-bird registration closes: 15th October | SESNZ 2026: 24-26 November |
| Submission deadline for all abstracts: 9th September | All presenters to have registered to guarantee a place in the programme: 22nd October | |
| Abstract review results notification: 1st October | Registration closes: 10th November |
Conference highlights include:
- A two day programme spread over three days offering insight and expertise in sport and exercise science research and practice whilst allowing for easy travel before and after
- Oral and poster presentations of original Sport and Exercise Science research
- Awards available to reward outstanding research
- All presented research abstracts published in The Journal of Sport and Exercise Science (JSES)
- Early-bird and Member discounts available AND new Group Discounts
- A selection of leading invited speakers with topics relevant to a range of Sport and Exercise Science disciplines
- Themed sessions including:
- Sport Science Insights from practitioners
- Clinical Exercise Physiology dedicated stream sessions
- Occupational Human Performance
- Female Athletes
- Research and Innovation: Connecting NZ academics and industry (R&D presentations from key industry organisations)
- Performance Analysis
Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand Annual Conference 2026
Official SponsorsFancy becoming a Sponsor in 2026? Email Vanessa on natmanager@sesnz.org.nz to find out more.
Platinum Sponsor 2026
Gold Sponsors 2026
SIlver Sponsors 2026
Other Sponsors 2026
Keynote And Invited Speakers
Coming Home: From Wintec to The All Blacks to the Baltimore Ravens
Dr Nic Gill: Keynote speaker
Chaired by Glenn Kearney, Research Manager, Strategy & Innovation Team, High Performance Sport New Zealand
Performance Physiologist panel
Performance Physiology Panel
Behind every moment of peak performance lies a precise blend of science, innovation, and teamwork. In this session, Performance Physiologists lift the lid on how physiology drives success in high performance sport. Through applied research, data-driven monitoring, and creative problem solving, these experts will reveal how physiology helps transform potential into performance on the world stage.
Glenn Kearney, HPSNZ, Panel Chair
Prior to taking up his current position as Research Manager at HPSNZ in late 2022, Glenn was a performance nutritionist in NZ for Athletics NZ and Canoe Racing NZ leading in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He was also a member of the NZ Olympic team as head of Nutrition for the games which culminated in Aotearoa having its biggest ever medal haul despite the underlying pandemic constraints.
Glenn has also spent a considerable amount of time overseas, primarily in the UK where he worked as Lead nutritionist for the British Athletics team (2009-2013), following by the lead nutritionist role for the LTA (2013-2018). During this time he continued a deep dive into elite Tennis where he was contracted by the ATP to educate elite players worldwide and privately by Andy Murray. Those years proved to be the most successful for Andy Murray, winning Wimbledon for a second time and ending 2016 as World number #1. The British Davis Cup team also enjoyed success during this time by winning the Davis Cup – ending a 79 year wait for success in the global team tournament.
Glenn studied at the University of Otago where he completed a Exercise Science degree (Phed), a Nutrition degree (BSc), followed by an MSc (Dist.) with the topic of his research being comparing acute diet manipulation in Elite Rugby Union players. This work combined with his teaching of Sports Nutrition at the Human Nutrition department was spotted by New Zealand Rugby. Shortly after finishing his teaching and research at the University of Otago he began working for the All-Blacks rugby team (2002-2008) becoming the first Nutritionist to travel widely with the team in a support and research capacity.