Our Speakers
Our Speakers
The good humans who support our mission and give their time to share their knowledge.
Vicki Spearing
Vicki, a top agent at NZ Sotheby’s International Realty, founded Bellbird Developments to advocate for energy-efficient homes and thriving communities with sustainable real estate solutions.
Sam Stubbs
Sam Stubbs is the co-founder of Simplicity, one of NZ’s fastest growing KiwiSaver plans. Sam was previously CEO of Tower Investments. Sam is a father of four children who dreams about simplicity and sailing around the world.
Jana Davis
Jana Davis (Waitaha, Kāti Mamoe, Kāi Tahu) is Chief Executive of Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd, driving Māori-led environmental and regional development, and is involved with Mata-Au River Trust and Kāi Tahu ki Tuawhenua.
Campbell McNeill
Campbell, Director at ahha Architecture, has 12 years of experience in architecture, focusing on urban regeneration, design, and education. He leads Ecology and Health + Wellbeing at ahha and is training in the International Well Building Standard.
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.
Dr Susan Wardell
Susan, a Social Anthropology lecturer at the University of Otago and award-winning writer, explores emotion, care, and mental health in relation to climate distress.
Sofia Cinque
Sofia is a sustainability advisor and manager at Chunky, promoting reuse over single-use. She shares zero-waste tips on @earthic.life and connects menstrual cycles with environmental health.
Charlotte Friedrich
Charlotte supports creatives and innovators in aligning with nature's rhythms. A certified Menstruality Mentor with a background in wellbeing psychology, she leads a wellbeing practice and consults for Aro Hā.
Laura Molles
Originally from Southern California, Laura studies animal behaviour and conservation, focusing on acoustic communication. She combines her expertise with technology at Digilab for non-invasive monitoring tools.
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.
Sarah Forder
Sarah, with a BSc in Environmental Science and MSc in Conservation Biology, has 17 years with DOC and extensive conservation experience. She now works with Southern Lakes Sanctuary.
Aimee Blake
Aimee, a systems thinker and storyteller, co-founded Girls who Grow and chairs Future Farmers. She’s a senior consultant at EY, a 6th-generation farmer, and yoga teacher.
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.