Our Speakers
Our Speakers
The good humans who support our mission and give their time to share their knowledge.
Prof. Glenn Banks
Glenn Banks is an Aotearoa New Zealand academic. Banks gained a PhD from The Australian National University, Canberra in 1997. He taught for 11 years in Geography at UNSW (ADFA, Canberra), and moved to Massey University in 2008. Banks is currently a full professor of geography at Massey University. He served as Head of School (People, Environment and Planning) between 2016-2022.
Scott Willis
Scott Willis is a Green Party List MP, based in Dunedin. Scott grew up in rural Otago, exploring the hills, mountains, waterways and bush.
The connections between people and with nature are an essential part of who we all are. Scott and his partner Jenna lived overseas in neo-peasant and activist communities, where Scott worked as an intern at the European Parliament.
Dr. Kayla Kingdon-Bebb
Dr. Kayla Kingdon-Bebb is a well-known environmental policy leader and advocate. She believes Aotearoa’s most crucial (and undervalued) asset is nature – and has a particular interest in seeing our ocean and fisheries restored to a state of health and abundance.
Michael Laws
Michael Laws is the New Zealand First Candidate for Waitaki. Michael Laws has spent more than four decades serving New Zealand through Parliament, local government, broadcasting and public advocacy.
Born in Wairoa and raised in Whanganui, Michael graduated with First Class Honours in History from the University of Otago before completing a Master of Arts in Creative Writing at Victoria University. He was awarded a University Grants Committee Postgraduate Scholarship and was also a New Zealand Universities debating champion.
Miles Anderson
Miles is the National MP for Waitaki.
Mr Anderson has been a farmer for more than 20 years and has served on the Federated Farmers board and as chair of its Meat & Wool Industry Group.
“It’s an honour to be elected as National’s MP in Waitaki. I am working hard to meet as many people as I can across the electorate."
Hon Damien O'Connor
The Hon Damien O'Connor is a Labour Party List MP and the spokesperson for Trade & Export Growth, Defence, Land Information, Regional Development.
Hon David Seymour
The Hon David Seymour is the Deputy Prime Minister, MP for Epsom, Minister for Regulation and the ACT Party Leader.
Dr. Melissa Robson-Williams
Dr Melissa Robson-Williams is the portfolio leader for the ‘Catalysing Change’ research group at the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao.
Lisa Marie Murch
Lisa Marie Murch is the Te Pāti Māori candidate for Te Tai Tonga in the 2026 General Election.
Born and raised in Murihiku, Lisa brings lived experience, education, service, and a deep commitment to whānau Māori across Te Waipounamu.
Larry Blair
Larry Blair is a specialist generalist, combing a wide range of skills and experience to synthesise various diverse topics into easily understood and actionable information underpinned by energy and biology.
Skye Macfarlane
Skye Macfarlane is the Southern Regional Coordinator for Garden to Table, working with schools to teach tamariki practical food skills that build resilience and community. A naturopath, medical herbalist, nutritionist, and public health graduate, she also co-founded the Vern Paddock Project organic market garden and leads formulation for Wild Dispensary.
Susan McIntyre
Susan is a Senior School Teacher and Teacher in Charge of Enviroschools and Garden to Table at Queenstown Primary School, bringing environmental passion to sustainable learning.
Gary Hough
Gary Hough manages KiwiHarvest’s local food rescue operations, connecting surplus food from businesses with charities supporting people experiencing food insecurity.
Theo Richard
Theo Richard is an engineer, sustainability practitioner and organic gardener at the Sherwood, championing low-tech solutions, food resilience, community gardens and regenerative growing.
Babu Blatt
Babu Blatt is Programme Manager at Wao Aotearoa, facilitating the Southern Lakes Kai Collective and strengthening food resilience through collaboration, education and community led initiatives.
Michael Sly
Michael Sly is the founder of Waste to Wilderness, a regenerative waste initiative transforming food scraps from the hospitality sector into valuable compost and healthy soils. Passionate about closing nutrient loops, Michael is exploring innovative approaches to waste reduction, local food production, and regenerative agriculture in Central Otago.
Michael Rewi
Mike founded and is CEO of Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust, providing environmental, health and social outcomes for vulnerable communities across Central Otago and Aotearoa.
Nicky Gray
Nicky is the Queenstown Enviroschools Facilitator. She is passionate about education and the environment.
Dr. Nancy Wong
Dr. Nancy Wong is the Pacific Communications & Partnerships Lead with the World Health Organization (WHO). A senior strategic communications leader with more than a decade of experience, Nancy works at the intersection of policy, technology, public interest and risk.
Finley Watkins
Finley Watkins leads Walter Peak’s gardens, native nursery and ecological restoration, championing sustainable growing and resilient landscapes that connect people with food, nature and place.