Key Dates 

Call for Abstracts Opens:
1 November 2026

Abstract Submission Deadline:
11:59pm NZT on 15 January 2027

Notification of Acceptance:
No later than 1 March 2027

Deadline for Author Registration:
15 March 2027

Presentation (slides) submission deadline:
20 April 2027

Conference Dates:
27-29 April 2027

Call for Topics

The theme of the INCOSE New Zealand 2027 Conference is “Engineering better outcomes at every scale.”

INCOSE NZ invites presentations exploring how systems engineering and systems thinking can help us achieve better outcomes, from individual products to major infrastructure programmes and societal challenges.

We welcome contributions covering topics such as:

  1. Systems thinking and complexity: Understanding interdependencies and addressing challenges across technical, organisational and societal boundaries.

  2. Stakeholder needs and outcomes: Defining success, managing requirements, balancing priorities and making better decisions.

  3. Design, architecture and integration: Developing and integrating effective solutions across disciplines and technologies.

  4. Risk, safety and assurance: Managing uncertainty, improving resilience and building confidence in outcomes.

  5. People and collaboration: Human factors, teamwork, leadership and organisational effectiveness.

  6. Digital engineering: Modelling, simulation, MBSE and evidence-based decision-making.

  7. Lifecycle and sustainability: Operations, sustainment, continuous improvement and long-term benefits.

These topics are intended as guidance, not limitations!

What are we looking for?

We are especially interested in presentations that connect systems engineering approaches to outcomes achieved, lessons learned or opportunities for improvement.

Contributions relevant to New Zealand's industries, projects and communities are particularly welcome, as are applications of systems engineering in smaller or less traditional settings.

Full papers are not required. Abstracts will be reviewed by the conference organisers to select presentations for inclusion in the programme.

Abstract and Presentation Terms and Conditions

General Information

All abstract submissions will be reviewed by the INCOSE NZ Event Committee. The Event Committee may accept or reject abstracts and their decision is final. The outcome of abstract submissions will be emailed in March 2027. Presenting authors (“Presenters”) must register for full-admission to the Conference.

Online submission via the Abstract Submission Form is the only method for submitting abstracts to the New Zealand Systems Engineering Conference 2027. All abstracts and presentations must be in English.

All questions about abstract and presentation submittals should be sent to incosenz@gmail.com.

Conference Presentation Information

The New Zealand Systems Engineering Conference 2027 is a technical exchange event. Accepted abstracts will grant the presenting author a 20 minute programme slot, plus 5 minutes Q&A time.  The presenter's work will be a verbal presentation, which will be recorded by INCOSE NZ. Presentation slides are mandatory. Video clips, props and graphs are encouraged but not compulsory. The New Zealand Systems Engineering Conference 2027 is not accepting conference papers or poster sessions.

Presenting Author Registration Required

Presenting authors are required to register and pay to attend the Conference by XX March 2027. Co-presenters may register after XX March 2027. Co-authors who are not presenting are not required to register unless wish to attend the event. If a Presenting Author has not registered by XX March 2027, their submission will be removed from the technical program.

Original Work

Abstracts should represent original work. This does not preclude the use of data that has been previously presented or published; however, some aspect of the abstract should be unique for this Conference. 

Copyright

Note that the Abstract becomes the copyright of INCOSE NZ, and will appear in the Conference Program in written and/or electronic form, on the conference website. The presentation will also be recorded, unless expressly refused by the presenter(s). 

Republication and Reproduction

INCOSE NZ will distribute an electronic copy of all presentations to full-admission Conference attendees at no additional cost. INCOSE NZ reserves the right to charge a fee for distribution or sale of an electronic copy of all presentations to non-attendees after the Conference.

INCOSE NZ may record any or all Conference Presentations and re-host them at the official INCOSE NZ YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@incosenz , unless expressly refused by the presenter(s). INCOSE NZ will distribute a link to video recordings to full-admission Conference attendees at no additional cost. INCOSE NZ reserves the right to charge a fee for distribution of presentation recordings to non-attendees after the Conference.

Author/Co-Author Names

By submitting an abstract, the submitting author agrees that INCOSE NZ may use their name, co-author names, and presentation title in Conference promotional materials, if the abstract is accepted. The submitting author must ensure that the presenting author and all co-authors are aware that their name will appear in the abstract, associated presentation, and promotional materials related to the Conference.

Privacy Information

INCOSE NZ will collect information about authors and presenters, including names and contact information. INCOSE NZ may use author and presenter names in promotional materials related to the Conference. INCOSE NZ will only use the contact information provided by submitting authors for the purposes of: (1) determining whether to accept an abstract for presentation; (2) communicating with the submitting author during review of abstracts; (3) communicating with the submitting author and/or presenting author for coordination of presentations prior to the Conference; (4) other purposes related to the planning and conduct of the Conference.

Abstract Information and Guidance

Abstracts must be submitted using the electronic Abstract Submission Form (link available 1 Nov).

Please ensure the following before submitting an abstract:

  • All authors are aware that their name will appear with the abstract and associated presentation and all authors agree to the submission and presentation.

  • All copyright issues are resolved by all authors before submission.

  • The abstract must be submitted in English.

If a submitting author needs to modify a submitted abstract, please contact incosenz@gmail.com.

Abstract Submission Requirements

Presentation title

The title should be short (no more than 80 characters), informative and contain keywords.  The first word in the title should be capitalised as should any proper nouns. ALL CAPS should NOT be used. Abbreviations and acronyms can be capitalised as required. 

Abstract Length

The abstract must be 100-300 words in length. 

The word counter in the abstract submission form interprets non-alphanumeric characters as word separators i.e. “R&D” will be counted as 2 words.  Non-alphanumeric characters at the start or end of a word will not increase your word count i.e “100%” will be counted as a single word, and so would “$100”.

Abstract Structure

The abstract body should define the precise subject of the presentation to the audience. The abstract body should, but is not mandated to, contain: 

  1. A description of the problem, or main objective of the work you will present.

  2. The methodology you used.

  3. Your main findings.

  4. A description of why the contribution of your work is valuable.

Do not include the abstract title, author names or references in the abstract body. 

When using non-standard abbreviations, spell out the name in full at the first mention and follow with the abbreviation in parentheses.

Abbreviations may be used in the title, provided the abbreviation is written in full in the body of the abstract. 

Headings and references should not be included in the abstract body.

Authors

The full name, affiliation, and email address of all contributing authors is to be provided in the Abstract Submission Form.

After Submission

Upon successful abstract submission, the submitting author will receive a confirmation email.  In order to automatically do this, the Abstract Submission Form will record the Submitting Author’s email address.  

Please email incosenz@gmail.com if you are unable to locate the confirmation email or have queries on the submission process.

The abstract should not be resubmitted for any reason. 

INCOSE NZ representatives may reach out to the submitting author using their provided email address to request clarifying information after an abstract has been submitted.

Abstract Acceptance

The submitting author will be notified via email about whether or not their abstract was selected for presentation at the Conference.