Jana Davis

Jana Davis, Waitaha, Kāti Mamoe, Kāi Tahu. Jana is a strategic leader and expert in relationship navigation, with a deep passion for aligning commercial delivery with broader social, cultural, and environmental outcomes.

Jana serves as Chief Executive of Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd, a Rūnanga-owned environmental company dedicated to fostering regional economic development within the realm of te taiao, our natural world. With an extensive global career in the energy sector, process, and crew resource management, Jana brings a wealth of experience to his mahi. He is passionate about solving problems in team environments, building strong work cultures, and empowering leaders in decision-making.

Jana is also on the establishing executive management team for the Mata-Au River Trust, a partnership between Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Contact Energy that was formed following the installation of the Lake Dunstan hydro scheme. Additionally, Jana is a current member of Kāi Tahu ki Tuawhenua, a mandated rōpū focused on ensuring Papatipu Rūnaka presence is facilitated in the upper lakes.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Jana has a deep passion for diving, fishing, and snowboarding.

We are all walking in the footsteps of our tīpuna, in order to navigate forward, first we need to know where we have come from… that’s the journey. Keep looking forward, keep moving forward, but don’t forget where you come from. Its all about identity, and destiny, its starts here in our headwaters flowing ki uta ki tai! Mauri ora!

Jana will be delivering the Insights from Te Tapu o Tāne masterclass during the Wao Summit 2024.