Masterclass: Communicating Sustainability

Jon Duffy became CEO in 2020. Jon has enjoyed a varied career in the consumer protection field including roles as Assistant Privacy Commissioner, Head of Trust & Safety at online marketplace Trade Me and as a Senior Investigator at New Zealand’s competition authority, the Commerce Commission.  

Alongside its core work of product testing and review, under Jon’s leadership, Consumer NZ is focussing its research and advocacy efforts on the big issues facing consumers in Aotearoa New Zealand. Jon and his team also keep traders honest by calling out illegal or unethical conduct when it occurs.   

Jon speaks regularly on consumer issues and is increasing concerned with how dysfunctional market structures and muted competition in critical sectors are benefitting a small minority and delivering poor outcomes for the rest of society. From supermarkets to transport, banks to electricity, as we respond to climate change and the cost of living our consumer landscape needs to change and begin delivering outcomes that are fairer, sustainable and benefit society longer term. Jon and his team are helping to harness the collective power of consumers to achieve this, before it’s too late.   

Jo Bye (Ngati Kahangunu, Ngati Pahauwera) has been part of the EECA executive leadership team since joining there in July 2020 as GM of Marketing and Communications. She heads up the ‘hearts and minds’ strategic focus area and leads social behaviour change around energy efficiency, energy emissions and climate change, and the conservation of energy for New Zealand.  

Prior to that, Jo held executive leadership and strategic commercial marketing and sales roles in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, in industries including fast-fashion retail and health and beauty with some iconic and diverse brands, international blue chip organisations and local start-ups. She has particular expertise in strategic brand development and social behaviour change, and is passionate about supporting New Zealand’s shift towards being a low-carbon, climate-resilient society.  

Vincent is an award-winning communications expert with 30 years experience in media and advertising. A creative thinker and business leader, he’s launched multiple brands, including Idealog, Good and Stoppress, and helped establish the Science Media Centre. He is the host of the podcast ‘This Climate Business’, is an advisor to the Climate VC fund and works with numerous brands to tell their sustainability story. He is a Director of Better Aotearoa, an impact agency specialising in communications.

Angie Farrugia joined B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand as Director of Communications in 2022 to build the profile of the B Corp movement in the region. Bringing more than 20 years of communications and marketing experience across Australia and the UK, Angie has led strategic brand development, storytelling, engagement and campaigns for a wide variety of organisations, from large enterprises and household brands to non-profits, start-ups, and social enterprises.   

Co-Founder of Karma Drinks and All Good and the creative co-conspirator behind the online electricity retailer Powershop, Simon Coley is interested in designing consumer goods and services that do good. He’s created brands and products that inspire people to buy into an equitable and sustainable world, making things better, by design.

There’s a simple mantra that repeats through the work made possible by Simon and collaborators who’ve generously shared their talent and belief that changing the way we consume can, and should be, exciting.

To win the competition for consumer choice, products and services that do good need to stand out and perform better than their competition. Simon's experience and real world examples demonstrate how products that look good, taste good, and do good, can make massive change. 

Dr Karaitiana Taiuru has written and consulted extensively about incorporating te ao Māori views and Te Tiriti principles into communications, technology, education, recruitment, branding and marketing.  He is also a member of the Intellectual Property Office Māori TradeMarks Māori Advisory committee.

Years ago, Gemma was charged for a single Jetstar flight multiple times in a ticketing error – they refused to refund her money. Taking on a giant airline (and winning) gave her a taste for the complexity of consumer rights 

With a background in journalism, data and communications, she started her advocacy journey at CHOICE, Australia’s consumer organisation.  

Currently she is the head of research and advocacy at Consumer NZ, where she is responsible for leading the investigative, communications, advocacy and grants teams. She is passionate about demystifying complex consumer information and driving change through advocacy to empower New Zealanders.  

Alec is a Partner at KPMG New Zealand, co-leading the firm’s Climate Change, Decarbonisation, ESG and Sustainability practice, and is also a lecturer in Sustainable Business at AUT University. As a Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, Alec has focused his career on addressing the breadth of sustainability challenges and opportunities that are increasingly shaping our communities, society and economy. This has included a range of leaderships positions in academia, business and the public sector, most recently as Director of Sustainability at Kāinga Ora and leading the Chief Sustainability Office at Auckland Council through the development of Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan.

As head of marketing for ecostore Angelina works closely with the team to deliver product, marketing and communications solutions to more than 15 markets internationally.  ecostore is a leading New Zealand company that specialises in environmentally friendly, sustainable household, personal care and baby products. With a focus on transparency and ethical practices, ecostore prioritises the health and wellbeing of its customers and the environment.

Prior to joining ecostore Angelina worked on leading and challenger brands across business strategy, marketing and communications internationally and in New Zealand. 

Angelina is a passionate advocate for sustainability and believes that through the power of collective change we can make material, sustainable impact.   Enabling people to make small steps for the environment will help shape a greener, healthier and more environmentally conscious world.

Founded in 2006 with a focus on sustainability, Wright Communications continues to be at the forefront of ESG reporting and sustainability storytelling. Managing Director Nikki Wright leads a team of 12 talented communications professionals at her agency which is based in Shortland St, Auckland.  The agency supports a broad range of companies, public sector and not-for-profit organisations and has been named the PRINZ Agency of the Year three times.    

Nikki values long-term partnerships with clients and uses PR to lead on issues that matter to all of Aotearoa New Zealand. Through her work with some of New Zealand’s leading brands, she has developed a deep understanding of the value that a sustainability focus brings to an organisation and of international best practice for ESG reporting.  

Laura Gemmell is the CEO of Government ecolabel Eco Choice Aotearoa. Eco Choice certifies products and services that adhere to strict environmental standards, are safe and fit for purpose. 

Laura’s background is in journalism, communications and international development. She has had significant experience working in emergency contexts throughout Africa and the Middle East; driving award-winning global public engagement campaigns and inspiring meaningful action. 

Having time and time again seen climate issues undermine work to end poverty and exacerbate conflicts, she is committed to driving awareness and action around the intersection of environmental sustainability and social justice. 

Laura is a mum of two rambunctious boys who describes herself as an impatient optimist. 

Natalie is of Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Kahungunu and Whakatōhea descent and raised in Ōhinemutu, Rotorua. She spent her childhood between Rotorua and the small east coast beach town of Maketū. She now lives in Tauranga Moana where she resides with her husband Brendan, raising their twins Cash Taiporutu and Charlie Rawinia.

Natalie has spent over 20 years working in national and international marketing and communications roles before making a conscious decision to work with Māori and indigenous organisations, helping them find their voice and connections. Sustainability and looking after te taiao, moana, awa and ngāhere, are incredibly important kaupapa to the organisations that Atawhai partner with.

Over the last 15 years, Al Yates has been Managing Director of Wind Farm Group, an independent wind developer and more recently CEO of Climate Positive Certified 100% Renewable retailer Ecotricity. 

Al has been involved in a number of start-ups in the telco, IT and tourism sectors, including Brightpoint and Snowplanet. 

He has served for a number of years on the NZ Wind Energy Association and, more recently, is heavily involved in the promotion of electric vehicles and solar generation. Al is on the board of ChargeNet and is a member of the Electricity Authority Market Development Advisory Group. 

Al has a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship. 

Julia has worked at Kiwibank for over 6 years and in that time has developed their sustainability strategy, which has included developing their first sustainability framework and delivering their first external sustainability report.  She now leads the Purpose and Sustainability team at the bank which is supporting the organisation to deliver and report on the progress they are making towards their Purpose goals of making tamariki, Kiwi and Aotearoa better off by 2030, and building a sustainable, purpose-led business at the same time.  Prior to Kiwibank, Julia worked in eco-tourism overseas, at other banks in New Zealand and at the Sustainable Business Network. 

Kate is Head of Communications at trans-Tasman sustainability firm thinkstep-anz. She leads a team of plain English professionals who ‘translate’ the company’s technical sustainability work into plain English executive summaries, sustainability reports and case studies that clients can understand and act on. In 2022 thinkstep-anz won three Plain Language Awards including Best Plain Language Technical Communicator. 

Kate’s background is in corporate communications, stakeholder engagement and change management. She has worked in many industries including aviation, transport, energy, tourism, financial services and education. 

Kate was fortunate to stumble on the website of the Plain English Campaign (UK) early in her career. She says that ‘once you’ve seen these techniques you can’t unsee them!’ 

Kylie is a well-known journalist, experienced in strategic communications, science writing and media relations.  

Kylie enjoyed a successful, high-profile 15-year+ career as an editor, general manager and communications professional across print, online and user-generated digital platforms before joining GoodSense as a Tāmaki Makaurau-based senior consultant in 2016. The published author and natural food and health advocate now focuses on strategic communications, science writing and media relations. Prior to this mahi, Kylie was formerly Deputy Editor on Next Magazine, New Zealand Women’s Weekly and Woman’s Day. She enjoys supporting values-led organisations to harness the power of impactful storytelling to improve the health of people and the environment.  Kylie is also a dynamic and informed speaker, workshop facilitator and a certified TetraMap trainer.  

Kylie holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (Journalism major), is a member of the Science Communicators Association of New Zealand and a certified Iyengar yoga teacher.  

Rod is a passionate strategist, product designer and creative thinker from Chile. Throughout his career, he has been a strong advocate for decolonising design practices, placing emphasis on inclusive and empathetic human-centred thinking. Over the years, he has tackled complex design challenges across a diverse range of industries, such as healthcare, insurance and daily services. Rod is part of the Rare with Google programme and a design mentor in ADPList.   

Giselle is an experienced digital product designer deeply passionate about AI, accessibility and digital inclusion. Giselle’s focus on designing beautiful, intuitive and accessible products, including leading the design of multi-platform digital experiences and design systems, has led to true impact and improvement in the lives of New Zealanders. 

David is the founder and director of Hardwired, a strategic consultancy specifically designed to help businesses meet the considerable challenges they face connecting to, acquiring and retaining customers. Hardwired does this by way of a unique combination of neuroscience, psychology, human behavioural science and brand communication expertise.  

David has more than 30 years of expertise in business, brand and marketing strategy, culture development and practical people leadership.  

David’s early background was in brand design and technology marketing; he went on to launch several successful businesses in New Zealand. He has worked in many parts of the world including being part of the foundation team of a San Francisco start-up business specialising in industrial psychology applied to recruitment.   

This sparked a deep interest in the psychology of human behaviour and its application to business culture, brands, customers and revenue growth. This led to the development of a unique psychology based, predictive research toolset which in turn led to Hardwired.  

“What have I learnt about business? We dramatically underestimate the power and value of human emotional connection” 

Antonia is a textile designer and climate advocate. Guided by curiosity and passion for making an impact, she is committed to finding creative solutions that leverage innovation, problem-solving and relationship-building skills.

Fiona is one of NZ’s most experienced communicators of sustainability, with 25 years’ experience. She was speech writer for the UK’s chief sustainability advisor for four years and Oxford University’s first PR advisor on the environment. In NZ she has worked on sustainability communications for organisations of all sizes and at different stages of their sustainability journey since 2000. She has Honours and Masters degrees from the University of Cambridge, specialising in Environment and Development.

Andy has almost 20 years’ experience in journalism, fundraising and communications. His focus is on value shifting for global well-being. He holds a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and a Permaculture Design Certificate. Andy has been a founding writer for Good magazine and Element magazine with the New Zealand Herald. He has also been a lead writer for Idealog. Andy has worked all over the globe for some of the world’s leading environmental NGOs. Clients have included WWF, Greenpeace and Oxfam.

Tori is focused on promoting a culture where people are supported, celebrated and innovative ideas are allowed to flourish.  After over a decade working in travel and tourism, where she was Area Manager of Expedia Group, she transitioned to a focus on sustainability. She had become increasingly concerned about global and local challenges and the slow pace to adopt better systems. In her role at SBN she oversees advisory work, network engagement and maximising impact. She is focused on helping businesses move from extractive to regenerative practices, prioritising positive social and environmental impact alongside profitability.

Patricia is our brand and design strategist, in charge of inspiring people to fall in love with our work. She’s an insightful designer specialising in brand strategy, emotional design and storytelling. Her professional experience includes identity systems, visual communication, corporate design and marketing in the creative industries, the NZ government and private sector. Patricia holds a Master of Design (AUT University), a Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies (Media Design School) and a Bachelor of Graphic Design. Patricia loves design innovation inspired by sustainability.

Phil’s career in media and communications has involved him as a writer, photographer and video producer. Over the past decade he has been raising awareness of environmental issues and promoting their solutions at both local and global levels. Phil credits a rural upbringing for his connection to the land and ongoing dedication to sustainability.

Maeghan is our Digital Marketer, in charge of expanding our network and impact through digital channels. Her professional experience has been in Marketing agencies. While completing a Bachelor of Management Studies majoring in Marketing and Digital Business from the University of Waikato, Maeghan found a passion for sustainability in business that aligns with SBN's work in creating systems change. She is currently working on her Masters in Sustainable Development Goals at Massey University. In her spare time, you will find her hiking, camping, or at the beach.