Zoe Studd - Co-founder and director of Mountains to the Sea, Wellington Zoe’s topic is Love Rimurimu (Giant kelp) and restoring Wellington’s underwater forests. Growing up in Wellington her early experiences snorkelling led to a life-long connection to the ocean. She has worked for the past 16 years helping to connect people with the environment. Lecture information: To book for [...]

Professor Claire Freeman Professor Freeman is Programme Director for the Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Victoria University of Wellington, Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation. Her main research interests are Environmental Planning, for and with children and young people, diversity, sustainable communities, places, and conservation planning with a focus on urban biodiversity. She has published books and academic [...]

Senior Lecturer Dr Chrissie Painting  Chrissie is Senior Lecturer in Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, and a Principal Investigator at Te Pūnaha Matatini Centre of Research Excellence. She is a behavioural ecologist focussing on what drives diversity in animal mating systems with a particular interest in exaggerated traits (weapons & ornaments), and the fascinating mating strategies that accompany them. [...]

Professor Ian Barber Prof. Barber specialise in the study of dynamic historical environments including new uses of the past using innovative and interdisciplinary theory to investigate changing relationships between material and social environments. He has studied Māori and Moriori archaeology; cultural change and contact; archaeological resource management and politics; anthropology of revitalisation and religion; agricultural innovation and introductions in New [...]

Professor Peter Dearden Peter is Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry at University of Otago, and Co-Director of Genomics Aotearoa, Deputy Director of Bioprotection Aotearoa. Peter’s research focuses on genomics to support conservation and primary production and developing new technologies in insects to either improve their use in primary production or develop novel pest control strategies. He will [...]

Senior Researcher – Wildlife Ecology John Innes John grew up in Taranaki and worked at the then Forest Research Institute in Rotorua, followed by time with Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research (Hamilton). He has charted the diverse paths of ecosanctuaries of various kinds and chairs the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel for Maungatautari, the only large (3,300 ha) pest-fenced ecosanctuary. [...]