Our Speakers
Our Speakers
The good humans who support our mission and give their time to share their knowledge.
Katherine Buttar
Kath, Senior Sustainability Advisor for Queenstown Lakes District Council, specialises in waste management and sustainability strategies, focusing on community-led solutions for a circular and regenerative future.
Katrine Gellatly
Kat is a sustainability consultant based in Alexandra who exclusively works with Breen Construction and Homes. She has played a pivotal role in guiding Breen's sustainability initiatives, including implementing ISO 26000, developing carbon reduction targets, and monitoring the company's environmental performance.
Kristy Jones
With 10 years in construction and a Master’s in Environmental Management, Kristy drives sustainability at Cook Brothers Construction, integrating social, environmental, and economic considerations into every project.
Aaron Thulé
Aaron Thulé, a UC Berkeley graduate, has worked in politics, law, and disaster relief. Now in Wānaka, he drives sustainable community transitions with Wao Aotearoa.
Mike Baker
Mike Baker, TMCo’s Managing Director, is a chartered engineer, Green Star Accredited Professional, NABERSNZ Assessor, and Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority partner. He’ll lead the Carbon Counting workshop at Wao Summit 2024.
Ben Hunter
Ben Hunter, a senior Hydraulic and Mechanical engineer at TMCo Queenstown, brings extensive experience in net-zero carbon designs and advanced building services from Ireland and Canada.
Jo Underwood
Jo, a Wānaka-based Registered Architect, specializes in sustainable, high-performance design for residential and commercial projects, including Passive House and Homestar, both in NZ and abroad.
Stephan Mäusli
Stephan, Managing Director at Hector Egger New Zealand, has extensive experience in construction and prefabricated timber. He delivers high-tech timber solutions for diverse building projects.
Tony Calder
Tony, Director at ahha Architecture, is a carpenter and designer who focuses on enhancing functionality by understanding human, environmental, and technical needs. He combines buildability with material knowledge to create optimal solutions.
Arthur Lee
Arthur is the Sustainability and Development Officer at Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust. He specialises in Passive House design and carbon assessment, focusing on high-performance residential developments.
Julia Blackford
Julia, a food scientist with 20 years’ experience, specialises in plant-based products, sustainability, food resilience, and food systems amid the climate and energy crisis.
Josh Atkins
Josh, a Queenstown builder and certified Passive House and Homestar expert, leads Compound Builders in creating innovative, energy-efficient homes with top architects and consultants.
Miranda Brown
Miranda, an artist and biophilic designer, connects people to nature through her sustainable designs and art, enhancing wellbeing and inspiring environmental stewardship.