Wao Summit 2024 Speakers
Wao Summit 2024 Speakers
The good humans who will be gracing the stage at this year’s Wao 2024 Summit.
Tony Calder
Tony, Director at ahha Architecture, is a carpenter and designer who focuses on enhancing functionality by understanding human, environmental, and technical needs. He combines buildability with material knowledge to create optimal solutions.
Mark Anderson
Fifth-generation farmer Mark, with his wife Madeline and their children, leads a 560ha dairy farm in Waiwera South, championing holistic and nature-aligned farming practices.
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.
Dr Carly Green
Carly, with 20+ years in climate change mitigation, founded Environmental Accounting Services and advises on land use, carbon standards, and policy from her home in Wānaka.
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.
Arthur Lee
Arthur is the Sustainability and Development Officer at Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust. He specialises in Passive House design and carbon assessment, focusing on high-performance residential developments.
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.
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.
Julia Blackford
Julia, a food scientist with 20 years’ experience, specialises in plant-based products, sustainability, food resilience, and food systems amid the climate and energy crisis.
Jodie Jarvis
Jodie, a first-year PhD student in Social Anthropology at the University of Otago, studies the emotional impact of climate change to aid those facing similar struggles.
Josh Atkins
Josh, a Queenstown builder and certified Passive House and Homestar expert, leads Compound Builders in creating innovative, energy-efficient homes with top architects and consultants.
Miranda Brown
Miranda, an artist and biophilic designer, connects people to nature through her sustainable designs and art, enhancing wellbeing and inspiring environmental stewardship.