Our Speakers
Our Speakers
The good humans who support our mission and give their time to share their knowledge.
Florence Micoud
Florence is a nature advocate and regeneration practitioner with a Master of Economics and diploma in Sustainable Practice. She promotes sustainable gardening, land regeneration, and community wellbeing in Wānaka.
John McCrae
John, a third-generation farmer at Glendhu Station, Wānaka, is known for innovative, sustainable farming on 1,300 hectares, focusing on organic practices, soil health, and community engagement.
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.
Rochana Moon
Rochana Moon, founder of Wise Moon Wellness, is a herbalist and naturopath offering consultations, workshops, and herbal products, focusing on plant-based holistic wellbeing in Wanaka.
Zoe Hawkins
Zoe Hawkins, an internationally awarded copywriter and founder of Brand+Butter, now hosts Creative Juices, an open mic for spoken word and music, while promoting regenerative businesses.
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.
Nature’s Symphony/Johnny Scott
Nature’s Symphony blends diverse music, storytelling, and education to inspire creativity, culture, and regenerative action, co-created by community in immersive, nature-driven experiences.
Emma Horgan-Heke
Emma, CEO of Sustainable HB and EHA board member, has expertise in large-scale project management, regenerative practices, and community building, with roles in climate action and resilience.
Mark Anderson
Fifth-generation farmer Mark, with his wife Madeline and their children, leads a 560ha dairy farm in Waiwera South, championing holistic and nature-aligned farming practices.
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.