Events

Dan Hikuroa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Whanaunga, Pākehā) is a father, surfer, paddle-boarder, gardener, loves the taiao and is an Associate Professor in Māori Studies, Waipapa Taumata Rau-University of Auckland. Dan is an established world expert on weaving indigenous knowledge and science to realise the dreams of the communities he works with. Dan has been spearheading alternative ways of assessing sustainability, including braiding indigenous knowledge and epistemologies into policies, assessment frameworks and decision-support tools.

Dan is UNESCO New Zealand Commissioner for Culture, member of Pou Herenga, Māori Advisory to the Climate Change Commission, has key roles within New Zealand’s Centres of Research Excellence, National Science Challenges and advises national and regional government, communities and philanthropic trusts.

Victoria is an environmental health risk assessor with 20 years professional experience across consulting, research, academia, and government.   Her primary work focuses on the assessment of the human health and ecological effects of chemicals in the environment, with a particular interest in assessing novel or emerging contaminants.   

Victoria currently runs her own consulting firm, Terravale Consulting, while also being active in academia and industry roles.  These additional roles currently include working on a PhD, teaching M.Sc. students in PNG, reviewing new guidance documents for WHO, and developing risk assessment training materials for ANZ practitioners.

Professor Bradley Moggridge is a proud Murri from the Kamilaroi Nation living on Ngunnawal Land in Canberra and is a researcher in Indigenous water science with qualifications: PhD (Science), MSc (hydrogeology with 23yrs IAH membership) and BSc (environmental science). He was previously an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra. Moggridge is a Board member with the NSW EPA, National Youth Science Forum and Biodiversity Council and a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a Governor of WWF Australia and President of the Australian Freshwater Science Society. He is a Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust and Alumni of the International Water Centre.

Ton has over 25 years of experience in driving organizational adaptation to technological advancements and business model disruptions across the globe. From pioneering open data exploration in 2000 to spearheading early IoT solutions and leading global transformation programs, Ton has consistently been at the forefront of innovation.

His role as an early adopter of ML/AI for just-in-time supply chain optimization, smart cities development, and enhancing manufacturing and operations efficiency, environmental management, and ESG reporting underscores his commitment to leveraging technologies for tangible business outcomes.

As we navigate the recent surge in Artificial Intelligence, Ton prompts us to reflect on its true potential within our organizations. What role does AI play? Where and how should we apply it for maximum impact? And ultimately, is the dichotomy between AI adoption and traditional business models a false one?

Dr Lokesh Padhye obtained his Masters and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. He is also a registered professional engineer (P.E.) with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Engineering New Zealand.

Dr. Padhye’s research group focuses on understanding and improving water quality for natural and built environments. His group’s research is focused on the identification, fate, and toxicological relevance of emerging and legacy water pollutants. The ongoing research also involves the synthesis and application of novel photochemical and electrochemical catalysts and adsorbents for advanced water treatment and reuse. Dr Padhye is also deeply committed to working with indigenous communities in New Zealand and other Pacific Islands to help increase Oceania’s resilience to water stress issues related to climate change through the Oceania Water Research Consortium (OWRC) and Circular Innovations (CIRCUIT) Research Centre.

Phil has led parallel careers: IT and software development have been his mainstays since the early days of the web. He simultaneously pursued an interest in regenerative agriculture with a focus on climate adaptation and mitigation. and this led him into production and practical applications of biochar as an environmental solution. He sits on the executive boards of the New Zealand and Australasian peak bodies for the biochar industry and is involved in policy development, education, advocacy, and outreach across the sector.