Wao Summit 2025 Speakers
Wao Summit 2025 Speakers
The good humans who will be gracing the stage at this year’s Wao Summit 2025.
Zeb Horrell
Zebulon, raised on a Southland sheep farm, champions rural regeneration and vitality through events like Burning Horse Festival and Future Whenua Summit, promoting ecological concepts.
David Norton
David is an Emeritus Professor, with 40+ years in ecology. He now consults through Biodiversity Solutions Ltd., helping farmers integrate biodiversity and advising Pure Advantage on reforestation for climate resilience.
Jesse Herbert
Jesse Herbert is the founder and owner of Freshlink Grocer in Wānaka. He equates wholefood with “kai,” reflecting his family's sustainable lifestyle.
Dr David Beaumont
David, author of Positive Medicine, is a Consultant Occupational Physician specialising in worker health and former President of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Trish Love
Trish, a Mechanical Building Services Engineer turned sustainable design consultant, established Tricia Love Consultants in 2001 and also lectures at UNITEC and facilitates certification programmes.
Janice Lee
Janice Lee is a disability advocate focused on empowering people through independent living skills, food resilience, and sustainable gardening, including projects with Kainga Ora and Koha Kai.
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.
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.
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.