Talk submission guide
If you’ve never submitted a talk proposal before, the process can seem confusing, even a bit daunting. This guide is here to help.
At NZ Tech Rally, we want to make our talk submission process as transparent and supportive as possible. This guide walks you through exactly what we’re looking for in a great talk proposal, and hopefully helps take the pressure off along the way.
A quick note: this advice is specific to our event and our selection process. While some tips may apply elsewhere, every conference has its own criteria and quirks, so always check the details.
Let’s walk through our 2027 talk submission form, question by question.
Talk title
Keep it short, clear, and compelling. Your title should give people a strong sense of what your talk is about and hint at the tone or energy behind it.
Imagine attendees only see your title when deciding which session to go to. Would they understand what it's about? Would they choose your talk over four others running at the same time?
Avoid long or vague titles (usually generated by AI chatbots). In a multi-track format, shorter titles are easier to scan and more likely to grab attention. Shorter titles also are great for YouTube thumbnails for your final talk recording.
Tip: It’s often easier to write your title after you’ve written your talk description.
Examples:
Tamara Buckland’s NZ Tech Rally 2026 talk
Allen Geer’s NZ Tech Rally 2023 talk
What is your talk about?
Give us a clear overview of your talk in 100 words or fewer. Focus on what the talk will cover, the story or idea you’re exploring, and the core message you want to share. It helps us understand the substance of your talk and where it best fits in the programme.
Keep it straightforward and focused. No need for polish, just help us see what your talk is really about.
This section is only for the talk selection committee and won’t be published.
Example:
After burning out early in my career, I started looking at how we reward “always on” behaviour in tech teams. This talk explores how burnout shows up in high-performing teams, why we miss the warning signs, and what team leads can do to build healthier, more sustainable cultures.
Who is this talk for, and what will attendees take away?
When we review submissions, we think first and foremost about our attendees.
If someone gives you 25 minutes of their time, what will they walk away with?
That’s why we tend to avoid talks that feel self-promotional or read like a product or company pitch. We’re looking for talks that share useful insights, experiences, and learnings that others can apply or reflect on.
Personal stories are welcome, especially when they’re used to highlight lessons, frameworks, and ideas that others can learn from. A story for story’s sake, without broader relevance, is less likely to be selected.
Help us understand:
Who is this talk for? Be specific — junior devs, team leads, designers, product managers, etc.
What are their takeaways? What might they learn, feel, reflect on, or do differently after?
A strong submission includes 3 bullet points outlining what your audience will take away. It shows that you’ve thought deeply about the value of your talk and who it’s for.
Do you have a track in mind for your talk?
We have five tracks for our 2026 conference:
Engineering & Platforms
Product, UX & Design
Testing & Quality
AI, Data & Ethics
Community, Culture & Wellbeing
If your talk fits clearly into one or more of these, select the checkboxes. It helps us with scheduling and balance across the day.
We can also choose any talk to be a keynote talk.
Why do you want to speak at NZ Tech Rally?
We’d love to know what’s motivating you to speak at this event.
Maybe you want to share a hard-won lesson, tell a story you haven’t seen represented before, or give back to the tech community in Aotearoa New Zealand. Whatever it is, we’re keen to hear it.
There’s no right or wrong answer. It just helps us understand your “why”.
This section is only for the selection committee and won’t be published.
Are you ok with this talk being recorded?
We do our best to record all talks. We then post our talk recordings on our YouTube channel, so they can be shared with a wider audience beyond the conference. It’s a way to showcase your work and reach people who can’t attend in person.
However, we understand that not everyone or every employer is comfortable with this, especially if your talk includes work done at your organisation. That’s why we ask upfront: to avoid surprises or delays later in the process.
If you prefer not to be recorded, that’s completely fine. Your submission will still be considered equally.
Tip: If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to check with your reporting line manager before submitting your talk.
Got links to past talks, blog posts, or projects?
This is an optional question, so no worries if you have no links from your past talks, blog posts or projects. We understand most meetups and local conferences do not provide talk recordings. This question doesn’t impact talk selection process, as this will be hidden during blind evaluation rounds (as it’s a personal identifier).
If you still have questions on the talk submission form, then please email us at speak@nztechrally.nz and we’ll be in touch.