Our Speakers
Our Speakers
The good humans who support our mission and give their time to share their knowledge.
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.
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.
Ewan Mackie
Ewan Mackie has 20 years’ experience in ski tourism and environmental conservation, leading trapping, planting and threatened species projects across the southern South Island.
Julia Blackford
Julia is a food scientist with 20 years experience in food tech and product development. In the last 10 years she has focused on research and development of plant based alternative products and sustainability impacts within food design.
Clinton Chambers
Meet Clinton Chambers - leader, visionary and strategic thinker with a strong set of values that drives everything he does. Owner of Taste Nature organic supermarket, cafe and apothecary, the business is built on Clinton's vision to create a sustainable, ethical, and local economic system that supports the wellbeing of individuals, engages our community, cares for our planet, furthers our education, and is in harmony with nature.
Arna Craig
Arna established her digital marketing agency Fever Pitch in Wanaka in 2011. Working with business across the spectrum in size and industry has given Arna a unique lens into digital communication strategy and business development.
Dr. Denise Quinlan
Denise is the Founder of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience (NZIWR), Associate Lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), and a published academic researcher.
Monique Kelly
Monique is co-founder and General Manager of Wao Aotearoa, a charitable trust based in the Queenstown Lakes District.
Alison Corthell
Alison Corthell is a yoga teacher, wellness advocate, and sustainability leader whose work is rooted in creating healthier people and a healthier planet.
Dr. Kate Meyer
Kate Meyer is a sustainability scientist, engineer, and creator of Planetary Accounting, an internationally recognised, peer-reviewed framework that translates global limits for nature into actionable metrics. She is also the Founder and CEO of the Planetary Accounting Network – a charitable trust whose purpose is to inspire and enable people to operate within the planet’s environmental limits.