AI Assemblers Speaker Series Online – Libby Lavrova

Online Speaker Series

We are thrilled to announce a special event in the AI Assembler Pro Speaker Series, where we are dedicated to cultivating innovative thinkers within our community. Our mission is to move beyond passive use of technology by showcasing pioneering experts and the creative applications of their work. Join us to be inspired by diverse career paths, groundbreaking projects, and the personal journeys of those actively forging the way in AI.

As an exclusive benefit, all of our valued AI Assemblers have automatic access to our distinguished guest speakers.

Limited Guest Spots Available: We offer only a few highly sought-after spots for guests interested in experiencing the value of joining the AI Assembler community. Register your interest promptly, and we will notify you if you are successful in securing a place.

This is an online event, so you can join us from the comfort of your home, office, or anywhere you have an internet connection, connecting our community throughout New Zealand (Kiwis 🇳🇿) and across the globe.

Featured Speaker: Libby Lavrova

Beyond the Chatbot: Engineering Autonomous Agent Workflows with IBM watsonx

We are delighted to welcome Libby Lavrova, AI Technical Specialist at IBM New Zealand, as our featured speaker.

Libby is a highly decorated professional within the New Zealand technology sector. Her technical excellence and impact have been widely recognised, most recently as a Finalist and Highly Commended recipient for the Technical Award at the 2025 Women in ICT Awards (WIICTA). This accolade celebrates her deep engineering expertise and her ability to provide exceptional business value through specialised technical and pre-sales roles.

What is an Agent? Moving from Conversation to Action

While we are all familiar with AI “chat” interfaces that answer questions, the next frontier is the AI Agent. An agent is a more advanced type of AI that doesn’t just talk—it acts. Think of it as a goal-oriented system designed to complete a task from start to finish. While a standard chatbot is reactive, an agent is proactive and capable of working across different software systems to get a job done.

Key Technical Insights Libby Will Share:

• Agent Architecture: How agents use tools and memory to move beyond simple chat responses and perform real-world tasks.
• Engineering Trust: Implementing robust AI governance so your agents remain reliable and secure in an enterprise environment.
• Real-World Orchestration: A look at how IBM’s latest innovations are being used by New Zealand organisations to scale their automation.
• Practical Innovation: Lessons from Libby’s journey, from winning national app competitions to architecting AI strategies for global partners.

About Libby Lavrova

With over eight years of experience at IBM, Libby has built a reputation for co-creating intelligent experiences that sit at the centre of business transformation. Her journey includes four years as a Cognitive Engineer in the telecommunications industry, where she led teams in designing and deploying sophisticated virtual assistant platforms across New Zealand and Australia.

Beyond her technical remit, Libby is a prominent advocate for diversity and talent development. She serves as the Co-Chair of Women@IBM and was recently featured in the “Talent with a Purpose” series by IBM A/NZ. Her unique perspective combines rigorous technical training in computing systems with a passion for helping Kiwi organisations navigate the complexities of generative AI and data modelling.

Take the Next Step: Secure Your Place

For AI Assembler Pro Members: If you are an AI Assembler Pro, you are already part of our community of innovative thinkers! Please check your calendar — we should have already added you, but you can fill in the form below if you don’t see it there!

For Launchpad Community Members (Free): We have reserved a limited number of guest spots for our valued Launchpad community members who are keen to experience our exclusive speaker sessions. To register your interest in attending, please fill in the form below, and our team will be in touch if a spare spot is available for you!