Archives: Speakers

Te Wānanga o Raukawa

Dr Mahina-a-rangi Baker is a kaitiaki and environmental planning expert who works with her hapū, iwi and other Māori groups. Her work includes practice, research and governance of planning processes. She is also a lecturer at Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

Victoria University of Wellington

Jonathan Boston, ONZM, is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy in the School of Government at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. His research interests include climate change policy and anticipatory governance. Recent books include A Radically Different Planet: Preparing for Climate Change (BWB, 2024).

Victoria University of Wellington

Professor James Renwick is a climate researcher of long standing. He has served as a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) over the last 20 years, was a Climate Change Commissioner 2019-2024, and was awarded the Prime Minister’s 2018 prize for Science Communication.

BERL

Hillmarè is the owner and Chief Economist at BERL, with over 30 years’ experience across New Zealand, the Pacific, and Africa.

She has advised the World Bank, governments, Māori-owned and private entities, bringing deep expertise in trade, sector dynamics, and translating complex, cross-cultural economic issues into practical strategy for diverse industries and policy environments globally.

Victoria University of Wellington

Dr Cathrine Dyer is a Lecturer in Climate Change at Victoria University of Wellington specialising in environmental politics and international climate change policy. Cathrine has an academic background in development studies with a strong focus on climate justice and the dynamics of climate policy underreactions. Cathrine is a climate science and policy commentator and regular guest on Bernard Hickey’s The Hoon podcast.

University of Otago

Morgan is a PhD student at the University of Otago. He is researching the mechanics of government finance in New Zealand which aims to show how government spending actually works.

Massey University
Ngāti Tukorehe, Rauakawa ki te Tonga

Professor Huhana Smith (College of Creative Arts, Massey University) co-leads multidisciplinary, Māori-led collaborations for freshwater, wetlands/saltmarshes, and climate change for Te Ūpoko o te Ika/lower North Island and co-chairs the Joint Action Climate Committee for the Manawatu Region. She uses indigenous research methods, artistic design, scientific data and mapping technologies to expand solutions for te taiao enhancement.

Complex Conversations Lab, University of Auckland

Dr Anne Bardsley (MNZM) is Co-Director of the Complex Conversations Lab, University of Auckland. Anne’s recent workexplores the use of deliberative democracy to enhance collective decision-making, including working with the Computational Democracy Project to test a geo-located version of Pol.is for nationwide agenda setting. Anne was recognised as a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for her contributions to science and the state in 2020.

Independent economist

Dr Ganesh R. Ahirao is an economist, delivering insights from the perspective of whakapapa, whenua, and whai hua (value). His commentary centres on natural, physical, and community resources, as distinct from financial accounts. Formerly Chair of the Productivity Commission, Ganesh was previously Research Director at BERL and academic roles at Victoria University. He currently holds a range of voluntary governance positions in charitable and for-purpose organisations.

Victoria University of Wellington

Dr Mike Joy MSc, PhD (Ecology) is a Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer in Environmental Science at Victoria University of Wellington. Research includes ecological modelling, freshwater bioassessment, environmental policy, biophysical limits to growth and the role of energy in society.

Recipient of numerous awards including the Callaghan Medal for science communication from the Royal Society of New Zealand 2023.