Wao Summit 2024 Speakers
Wao Summit 2024 Speakers
The good humans who will be gracing the stage at this year’s Wao 2024 Summit.
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.
Monique Kelly
Monique, is the Co-Founder of Concept Store Revology, General Manager at Wao, and UN ILO consultant on labor rights, focusing on carbon-zero and regenerative futures.
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.
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.
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.
Matthew Cutler-Welsh
Matthew, Senior Manager - Residential at the New Zealand Green Building Council, has 15 years in energy efficiency, leads environmental rating tools, and hosts podcasts on green building.
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.
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.