keynote plenary Speakers
Dr Ganesh Rajaram Ahirao (Ganesh Nana)
Chair, New Zealand Productivity Commission Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa
Dr Ganesh Rajaram Ahirao (Ganesh Nana)
Chair, New Zealand Productivity Commission Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa
Ganesh is a first-generation New Zealander, born, bred, and educated in Te Whanganui a Tara. His interest in economics originally emanated from his love of numbers, which in turn arose out of his passion for cricket.
Ganesh was recently appointed Chair of the Productivity Commission Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa, after 22 years at the consultancy Business and Economics Research Limited (BERL).
Prior to BERL, Ganesh acted as primary caregiver to his pre-school children while also employed as part-time lecturer at Victoria University. Before children, Ganesh managed to explore some parts of the world – including working in England as a researcher in the House of Commons gaining experience with IMF and OECD economic models. On his way home to Aotearoa he spent several months visiting family and ancestral lands across India.
Ganesh believes economics is fundamentally about people and their communities, and is best reflected in our collective role as kaitiaki o taonga.
Sir Peter Gluckman
President, International Science Council
Peter Gluckman became President of the International Science Council in October 2021. His term will continue until the General Assembly of 2024. He is also an ISC Fellow and a member of the Fellowship Council, as well as a member of the Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability.
Peter Gluckman is an internationally recognized biomedical scientist, and currently heads Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures at the University of Auckland. From 2009-2018 he was first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and from 2012-2018 Science Envoy for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was foundation chair of the International Network of Government Science Advice (INGSA) from 2014-2021.
He trained as a paediatrician and biomedical scientist, publishing over 700 papers and several academic and popular books in animal science, developmental physiology, growth and development and evolutionary biology and evolutionary medicine. A key theme of his research has been on understanding how a baby’s environment between conception and birth determines its childhood development and life-long health – and the impact that this knowledge has for individuals and whole populations. He co-chaired the WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (2013-2017). He is chief scientific officer of the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences.
Peter Gluckman has written and spoken extensively on science-policy, risk assessment, science-diplomacy, and science-society interactions. In 2016 he received the AAAS award in Science Diplomacy. He has received the highest civilian and scientific honours in New Zealand. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of London, of the Royal Society of New Zealand a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK) and a member of the National Academy of Medicine (USA). He holds a Distinguished University Professorship in the University of Auckland, New Zealand and honorary chairs at the University College London, University of Southampton and National University of Singapore.
Leaupepe Rachel Karalus
Chief Executive Officer , K'aute Pasifika
Leaupepe Rachel Karalus is the chief executive of K’aute Pasifika Trust. K’aute Pasifika Trust is a charitable trust providing health, social, education and other wellbeing services to people from all backgrounds using Pacific models of care. Rachel is of Samoan descent with aiga connecting to Fasito’outa, Safotu, Luatuanu’u and Salelologa.
Rachel’s background is in law having practiced as a litigation lawyer for many years in Auckland, Wellington and in the Waikato Region. Rachel is a director of Habitat for Humanity Central and First Credit Union.
Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua
Chair, Tainui Group Holdings
She was appointed to the Board in November 2017 as a representative of Te Arataura, the executive committee of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato.
Hinerangi is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, the current Chair of Moana NZ and former Chair of Paraninihi Ki Waitotara Incorporation. She is also a director of Sealord, Watercare and several iwi commercial entities. In 2017 Hinerangi was named the Maori Woman Business Leader of the Year.
(Missy) Riria Te Kanawa
Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui-o-Tainui, Ngāti Porou
Partner - National Industry Lead - Māori , KPMG
Riria is a partner at KPMG New Zealand, and leads KPMG’s service and contribution to Māori businesses and organisations. She has a strong interest in identifying signals and drivers of change as a valuable tool for rethinking and reimagining strategy and approaches. Riria is the lead author of KPMG’s Maui Rau report series that looks at how Māori might take advantage of the signals and drivers to advance the prosperity of their people. She has overseen KPMGs maturing as a workplace where Māori can thrive and in doing so, a business that is more in tune with the requirements of its Māori clients.
Riria is also a director of Auckland Uniservices Limited and a reserve trustee of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, a former trustee of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board, a former associate director of Wakatu Incoporporation and former chair of her local hapū land incorporation.
Iris Pahau
Tangata Whenua Co-Chair, Aotearoa Sustainable Development Goals Alliance
Ka titiro ake au ki Te Taitokerau me ngā Iwi o Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa me Ngāti Kuri ki ōna awa, ki ōna maunga whakahī.
Ka tau ake ngā roimata ki runga i te whāriki o Karepōnia, me Mahimaru anō
Ka huri ake au ki Mōtītī te Motu o Ngāti Awa, ka tangi ake, ki a rātou
E noho ana au ki Taumarunui.
Iris the Director of AWE Consultants Limited, has served in various governance roles over the years.
Iris is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure the health and wellbeing of our people and our planet. Iris works in a co-governance framework within Te Tiriti o Waitangi model of practice, ensuring the dreams and aspirations of our tupuna | ancestors become a reality without prejudice or discrimination.
Carolyn Savage
Tangata Tiriti Co-Chair, Aotearoa Sustainable Development Goals Alliance
As a registered Architect and a New Zealand Green Star Accredited Professional, Carolyn has a strong drive to develop environmentally sustainable developments and buildings for the future. “The importance of what we create today, so they can last tomorrow, is as important as the way we work within our unique landscapes.” Her experience spans close to 30 years working on environmental and sustainable design outcomes and was NZIA Auckland Branch Environmental Chair for approximately 10 years. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their implementation in 2015 has seen Carolyn apply these across the design and construction sector. She was a contributor to the People’s report on SDG13 Climate Action (2019) and written Green Star Achievement Plans for contractors and contributed to the Green Star Design for Scott Base Redevelopment (Antarctica). Completing her Masters in SDGs, Business and Sustainability (2022), she has increased her work and consultancy in this space.
Mayor Paula Southgate
Mayor Paula Southgate was first elected as Hamilton’s mayor in 2019, and then re-elected for a second term in 2022. Prior to this, she served as Councillor for Waikato Regional Council for 12 years, where she gained a reputation as a strong advocate for sustainable development and community engagement. Focused on improving Hamilton’s safety, affordable housing, and sustainable transport options, Mayor Southgate also champions the city’s response to the ongoing threat of climate change. Mayor Southgate is a passionate supporter of Hamilton's arts and culture scene and is committed to making the city a more inclusive and equitable place for all its residents.
Pamela Storey | Waikato Regional Council
Pamela Storey is the chair of Waikato Regional Council.
This is her second term on the council. She was chair of the Strategy and Policy Committee from 2019 to 2022.
Originally from the United States, Pamela moved to New Zealand with her Kiwi husband in 1996. They have owned and operated a dairy farm in Te Hoe, North Waikato, since 2001.
Pamela has a Master of Business Administration focused on Governance and Leadership, and extensive governance experience across corporate, education, the primary sector and non-profit settings. This has included establishing renewable generation projects and creating employment opportunities in energy efficiency and environmental initiatives.
She supports the growth and development of all communities, both rural and urban, with a focus on sustainability, and enjoys helping business and community groups grow their connections and develop strategic pathways.
It’s important to Pamela that Waikato rural towns are able to offer employment and economic endeavour to support the wellbeing and connectedness of their communities.