Our Speakers
Our Speakers
The good humans who support our mission and give their time to share their knowledge.
Sam Gibson
Sam/Hamiora (AKA Sam the Trapman) is a trapper and conservationist, founded the Eastern Whio Link project, restoring native whio to Waioeka rivers. He lives in Gisborne with his family.
Mawera Karetai
Mawera Karetai is a mum, community activist, governor, lecturer and supervisor. Mawera's work is centred around enabling others to identify and achieve their goals, from a personal, through to community level.
Galeno Chua
Known as Mr. G, Galeno Chua is an ai and greentech startup founder, and business coach for startups for the New Zealand Government, United Nations Development Programme in Cambodia and for the Social Tides programme for ai and impact startups across the EU.
Rochelle Francis
Rochelle Francis advocates for local food systems, ensuring access to affordable, nourishing, and sustainable food. She leads climate initiatives in Southland, promoting biodiversity and community well-being.
Dr Jim Salinger
Jim, 2024 New Zealander of the Year, is a climate change expert who uncovered New Zealand warming in the 1970s and contributed to the Nobel-winning IPCC.
Jane Llyod
Jane, a food system expert with 20+ years’ experience, founded Springhouse Consulting in Wānaka. She addresses food system resilience and sustainability through global and local perspectives.
Dr Greg Bodeker
Greg, director of Bodeker Scientific, has over 130 published papers in climate science, co-founded Red Sky AI, directs Kentron Ltd, and is an adjunct professor at Victoria University.
Paul Spoonley
Paul Spoonley, emeritus professor at Massey University, is a New Zealand sociologist specialising in social change, demography, and policy. He has authored 27 books and is a regular commentator in the news media.
Ron Bull
Ron’s work integrates his deep connection to titi harvesting traditions with his extensive experience in tertiary education. Ron has dedicated 20 years to developing education and curriculum, utilising historical contexts to construct and understand contemporary biculturalism in Aotearoa.
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.
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.
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.