Learn about the critical role and value of nature action in your business. This is your chance to get ahead of the curve.
Integrating nature into your work can help prepare for long-term sustainability, reduce risks, enhance your brand reputation and unlock new opportunities for finance, innovation and growth.
The event
Join the Symposium on 14 August for practical panel discussions, workshops, one-on-one expert advice and networking.
Understand your business's impact and reliance on nature. Learn how to integrate nature into your business and collaborate with Tangata Whenua and community groups on regeneration projects.
Throughout the day you’ll be able to connect with others and share your experiences of wins and challenges.
The event will conclude with networking drinks.
Want to get your boots muddy? Book a half-day field trip on 13 August to explore successful community, iwi and landowner-led projects across Greater Auckland. You will see first-hand the role of business in regenerating nature.
Topics
Symposium topics will include how to take action to integrate nature into your business, partnerships and collaboration, Mātauranga Māori, nature based solutions, communications, finance, climate and nature, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), regulations and frameworks, biodiversity markets/credits, measuring success, government priorities, reporting, supply chains and more.
Attendees
The Symposium is primarily aimed at:
- Sustainability professionals wanting to learn more about nature and biodiversity.
- Business owners and managers who need to know it all.
- Nature professionals and practitioners.
- Community groups wanting to understand business needs and build strong partnerships.
- Students and young professionals keen to upskill in this growing field.
Register today to secure your spot!
This is the only event of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to learn about meaningful actions you can take to protect and restore nature! Book a separate field trip ticket for 13 August when registering for the Symposium.
Symposium tickets include morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and networking drinks.
Digital tickets are available, which comprise a link to watch a livestream of the event as well as a recording to watch at any time afterwards. In-person attendees will also be sent a recording of the event. Please note that the livestream/recording will include the plenary sessions but not workshops,
View the AUT campus map here. The event will take place in building WG.
Keynote session
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Indigenous knowledge and values for business nature action
Presented by Te Horipo Karaitiana, Miraka
Te ao Māori, the Māori worldview, highlights the interconnected relationship between all living species. Māori businesses are influenced by principles such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship), manaakitanga (hospitality, generosity, care and giving), and whakapapa (genealogy and intergenerational connections). This calls for businesses to act as responsible guardians, embracing sustainability and making decisions that prioritise people, planet, purpose and profit. This keynote address will showcase Māori businesses led by indigenous wisdom and values and the role these play in business nature action.
Panel sessions
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Shifting from ambition to meaningful nature action
There is an increasing awareness of the importance of nature for businesses. However, many organisations don’t know where to start, while others don’t know how to elevate their action for meaningful nature outcomes. This session showcases businesses taking credible nature action within their operations. Through their examples you will gain an understanding of how to implement impactful biodiversity and nature action in your business.
Speakers
Facilitated by Kate van Praagh, GM Sustainability, Genesis Energy
Mike Murphy
Managing Director, Kōkako Organic Coffee RoastersRegenerating the habitat of the endangered Kōkako
Learn how the team at Kōkako Organic Coffee Roasters found a genuine and compelling way to contribute to growing the numbers of endangered kōkako in the Pongakawa Forest in the Bay of Plenty. This has been done through a combination of product sponsorship, donations and annual working bees. As well as helping kōkako numbers, the project has forged stronger employee collaboration, engaged a wider audience in conservation and created a longstanding partnership with the Rotoehu Ecological Trust.Helen Paul-Smith
Co-founder & Director, ŌKU New ZealandApplying Mātauranga Māori in business practice
This talk explores the application of mātauranga Māori principles in the sustainable business practices of ŌKU New Zealand. It highlights the orgnaisation's journey to regenerate native bush and collaborate with landowners to restore and economically enhance their whenua. It examines the challenges, strategies, and outcomes of building a B Corp certified business that prioritises the health of Papatūānuku and supports cultural, social, and environmental wellbeing.Olivia Whitaker
L’Oréal Group Sustainability ManagerPreservation and sustainable use of biodiversity - targets and initiatives
Across a global portfolio of leading beauty brands, biodiversity is a vital factor in the design and performance of L’Oréal products. Olivia’s talk will cover how the Group has integrated biodiversity into its global sustainability programme, L’Oreal for the Future. It will explore some of the targets and initiatives the Group is working towards to preserve the beauty of the planet.Belinda van Eyndhoven
Head of Sustainability, WestpacThe role of the finance sector in enabling the nature positive transition
Belinda will discuss why natural capital matters to the finance sector and why it should matter to all businesses, what the finance sector is currently doing to support a nature-positive transition and what she sees as opportunities for business action. -
The transformative role of collaborative action
Business plays a vital role in investing in on-the-ground restoration and regeneration projects. Collaborative action by all of society is fundamental for the transformational change required to halt and reverse the loss of nature. This session showcases partnerships between business, philanthropy, government, community and frontline projects to accelerate action, innovation and funding for nature regeneration.
Speakers
Facilitated by Abbie Reynolds, Country Director, The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand
Co-presenters:
Pip Newland
Head of Sustainability & Risk, Orion New Zealand
Ana Gray
Member of the Wairewa Rūnanga executive team35-year funding partnership between business and mana whenua
An insight into the partnership between Wairewa Rūnanga and Orion New Zealand to re-establish up to 280 hectares of indigenous forest on Te Pataka o Rakaihautū in Banks Peninsula. This talk covers the formation of the agreement, partnership in action and the benefits of working together.Ash Bickley
Project Lead, Love WānakaAccelerating local action, innovation and funding
Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown seek to disrupt the traditional tourism narrative, inviting visitors - and the industry that supports them - to play an active role in the restoration and regeneration of the environment. By providing opportunities for the tourism community to come together to protect the places they live, love, or do business in, these initiatives provide the framework for a more cohesive and connected tourism ecosystem that places te taiao (natural world) at the centre. These initiatives accelerate local action, innovation, and resourcing for community-led change.Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
Iwi-led restoration - relationships, reciprocity and opportunities
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will speak to Ko Te Pūkakī – our long-term restoration kaupapa. Sharing key principles and learnings around relationships, reciprocity and opportunities.Abbie Bull
Z Energy New Zealand
Engaging your organisation and being a good funder
How to engage an organisation in the importance of biodiversity and leverage connection to be a good funder. -
Integrity, communication and governance principles of nature action
Our expert speakers will share real-life examples across a range of topics including:
- How their nature action has been communicated externally and with their management, c-suite and boards
- How they applied their nature positive integrity principles, building claims to be proud of
- Opportunities and challenges around implementation, including benefits of aligning with community and iwi priorities for restoration of natural capital and the difficulty of finding metrics to communicate with the diverse interested parties in business nature performance
Speakers
Facilitated by Robin Mitchell, Nature Positive
Lucy Bennetto
Founder, Bennetto Natural Foods CoOn using our brand as a voice for nature
Learn about Benetto Natural Food Co and the nature and conservation projects it supports in Aotearoa New Zealand. Hear how the company plans to support conservation at local business levels as it expands into overseas markets, including special projects in the UK and Australia.Kirsty Brennan
Environment and Sustainability Business Partner, Lyttelton Port CompanyTaking a collaborative catchment approach in implementing TNFD
Lyttelton Port Company is the only New Zealand-based business to sign up as a first-mover on the Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosures. LPC's nature positive journey began in 2019 with a biodiversity positive ambition target. Working in partnership and taking a catchment approach to management are ways the business is looking to meaningfully achieve this target. Kirsty will share insights into the steps LPC has taken to disclose impacts and dependencies on nature and collaborate on action for biodiversity outcomes.
Dave Maslen
Chief Customer Officer, The New Zealand Merino CompanyEnabling ecosystem impact at scale – A regenerative wool case study
More speakers to be announced.
Workshop sessions
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Redefining your business’s relationship with nature
Facilitated by Nature Positive
A hands-on workshop that will provide a basic understanding of how to start redefining the relationship your business has with nature.
Businesses across all sectors have a relationship with nature. Their operations or supply chains depend on nature and its ability to supply valuable goods and services. Uncover the nature impacts of your operations, both positive and negative. Understanding and communicating these impacts provides an important perspective when creating and implementing a nature strategy to navigate the risks and opportunities.
A nature strategy, using nature-based solutions can support your business to reduce nature and climate-related risks from regulation and customer preference. Nature-based solutions can also count towards climate or nature mitigation targets. Investing in nature as a solution has other co-benefits, including building trusted community relations based on common interest.
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Creating an action plan for nature
Facilitated by Sam Rowland (Programme Manager - Nature, Sustainable Business Network) and Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb (Chief Executive Officer, WWF-New Zealand).
Want to take meaningful action for nature, but don’t know how to start? This workshop will guide businesses and landowners to create a plan for meaningful nature action in their operations or on the land they manage or own.
Develop your understanding of where you interact with nature. Be guided through a series of steps to create a plan for nature action in your business.
We will focus on nature-based solutions that support resilience. Learn about high-level impacts and dependencies on nature, upskilling your team, investment in nature and the benefits for climate and communities.
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Partnerships and investment - we’re all in this together
Facilitated by Bec Stanley (Principal Advisor, Auckland Council), Izabela Joshi (Senior Partnerships Specialist, Auckland Council) and Steph Vercoe (Impact and Investment Lead, Sustainable Business Network).
Investing in nature often involves collaboration and partnerships between businesses, NGOs, tangata whenua, government agencies and local communities.
We hear businesses ask:
- How do you develop meaningful partnerships with on-the-ground nature projects?
- How do you know what a good project is to support?
We hear nature regeneration projects ask:
- How do you start a partnership with business?
- How do you effectively pitch to businesses for the investment you need to succeed?
This interactive workshop provides an opportunity to collaborate and learn from businesses, philanthropic organisations, local government, NGOs, tangata whenua and local communities. Learn about their expectations, success measures and how to enter into successful partnerships.
The workshops will run concurrently. Participants will be asked to select one at a later date. Workshops are not available to online participants.
Ask the experts
Get free advice from experts in the room during the lunch break (12.45pm - 1.45pm). This is a chance to dive deeper into topics and ask questions across four key areas.
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Government
Ministry for the Environment | Biodiversity Markets and Nature-based Solutions
Auckland Council | Bec Stanley, Principal Advisor – Conservation Partnerships | How Local Councils can help you on your nature investment journey
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Business
Tītoki Landcare| Adam Purcell, Restoration Ecologist / Director | Restoration Advice
Miraka | Brendan Haigh, Kaitiaki | Māori values and business nature action
Westpac NZ | Joanna Silver, Head of Sustainable Finance | Sustainable Finance
Nature Positive | Robin Mitchell, Co-Founder | Advice on taking nature action
Sustainable Business Network | Fiona Stephenson, Head of Communications and Marketing | Avoiding greenwashing and greenhushing
Sustainable Business Network | Matt McClymont, Partnerships and Project Manager| How to invest in nature projects
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Philanthropy
Foundation North | Connie Lee, Advisor - Strategic Partnerships| Philanthropic funding
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NGOs
WWF-NZ | Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, Chief Executive Officer
Trees that Count | Robyn Hauge, Chief Executive Officer
Save the Kiwi | Michelle Impey, Chief Executive Officer
The Nature Conservancy | Abbie Reynolds, Country Director
Plus speak to to various community, landowner and iwi groups showcasing their projects.
Networking opportunities
There is plenty of time to network with other businesses, nature experts and nature regeneration projects throughout the day. This includes networking breaks, lunchtime stalls, networking drinks and short videos showcasing some of the best nature regeneration projects around Aotearoa New Zealand.
Field trips
Choose one of two field trips on 13 August at registration. Thanks to our wonderful regeneration project partners for hosting these special opportunities.
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Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Māia
Location: Ōrākei
Project type: Iwi-led project
About the project: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei (NWO) Whai Māia was established in February 2013 to advance the cultural, social and environmental aspirations of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei including, but not limited to, the fostering of all aspects of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei tikanga, reo, kawa and kōrero.
Field trip: Visit Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s community garden in central Auckland. See initiatives to restore the site as a centre of mātauranga-led nature regeneration. It’s also home to a plant nursery and landscape gardening team. Hear from NWO about the significance of reclaiming and regenerating the Pourewa reserve for the hauora (wellbeing) of iwi and local community. Get involved with weeding and potting, planting in the garden, mulching, and releasing revegetated areas.
Project partners: Iwi, hapū, whānau, community, government, SMEs
More information: https://ngatiwhatuaorakei.com/
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The Forest Bridge Trust
Location: Rodney
Project type: Landowner-led project
About the project: The Trust aims to inspire, support and resource people who own, occupy or manage land, to protect and enhance ecosystems and native species. This is done through fencing native forest, controlling invasive species, revegetating and restoring waterways.
Field trip: Visit the Mataia Restoration Project in Glorit on the Kaipara Harbour. See initiatives started more than 10 years ago to create safer corridors for taonga species to flourish. Hear from farm manager Jenny Hood how conservation work synergises with farm operations. Hear from local hapū about the integrated efforts supporting iwi aspirations for Atuanui and surrounding whenua. Team members will talk about efforts to expand the local kiwi population. Get involved with some conservation activities such as five-minute bird counts, trapline checking and plant releasing.
Project partners: Landowners, businesses, iwi, community, government, tertiary education
More information: https://www.theforestbridgetrust.org.nz/
Speakers
Speakers include corporates and SMEs acting on nature, tangata whenua and not-for-profit leaders working closely with businesses to halt and reverse nature loss. Below are the speakers confirmed so far. Watch this space as we’ll be adding more soon.
Te Horipo Karaitiana
MirakaTe Horipo Karaitiana brings more than 40 years of experience from a wide range of governance and executive roles in the private, public, Māori and community sectors. Te Horipo was instrumental in the establishment of Miraka, a Māori owned dairy company founded on thge Te Ao Māori worldview of the interconnectedness of people and nature. His affiliations include Ngāi Tūhaitara, Kati Kuri, Ruahikihiki, Kai Te Pahi, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Rapuwai, Hāwea and Ngāti Kahungunu. Te Horipo is renowned by his peers in the innovation and primary industry arenas as a thought leader with experience and the capability to integrate Western knowledge and Mātauranga Māori.
Mike Murphy
Kōkako Organic Coffee RoastersMike Murphy is the Managing Director of Kōkako Organic Coffee Roasters, an Auckland-based coffee company that supplies certified Fairtrade, organic and climate neutral coffee to homes and businesses all across Aotearoa New Zealand. Mike is a passionate sustainability advocate, having taken a leadership position in the coffee sector with Kōkako’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and quality, delivering industry-best practice sustainability reports and an excellent cup of coffee.
Helen Paul-Smith
ŌKU New ZealandHelen Paul-Smith is Co-founder and Director of ŌKU New Zealand. She is committed to creating businesses that not only prosper but also positively impact Aotearoa New Zealand. ŌKU New Zealand works to regenerate native bush and partner with landowners eager to revitalise the health of their whenua and create a sustainable revenue stream in the process. Drawing on the rich heritage of mātauranga Māori principles, ŌKU New Zealand is a B Corp certified enterprise built on a solid environmental foundation inspired by wisdom handed down from Helen's tipuna (ancestors). Helen's role allows her to make key business decisions that prioritise the wellbeing of Papatūānuku.
Ash Bickley
Love WānakaWith a professional and academic background in social development and change leadership, Ash is a passionate and experienced advocate for holistic and community-led innovation for the enduring benefit of both people and place. As the project lead for the Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown Community Funds, this energy is being channelled into the protection and regeneration of a special region in Te Waipounamu, ensuring that tourism is, and can be, a positive driver for climate, conservation, and biodiversity efforts across Wānaka and Queenstown – two places very close to her heart.
Kirsty Brennan
Lyttelton Port CompanyWith an environmental science and management background of 20 years in Australia and New Zealand, Kirsty is now applying technical knowledge and practical experience to improve nature positive thinking and solutions within the industry. Kirsty's role at Lyttelton Port Company involves environmental management, sustainability reporting and planning as well as project lead for Biodiversity Positive. Lyttelton Port Company is underway with biodiversity impact and risk assessments and is working towards its first disclosures under the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TFND) this year. Lyttelton Port Company is one of five organisations committed to improving the long-term health of the catchment and harbour through collaborative action.
Lucy Bennetto
Bennetto Natural Foods CoLucy Bennetto is the founder of Bennetto Natural Foods Co and a previous high school English and drama teacher with a love of chocolate. Lucy made her first chocolate bars from scratch in 2010. The journey began from the kitchen bench top with a spice grinder, a box of organic cocoa beans, some eager students as taste testers and a few side trips to the jungles of Peru and the Dominican Republic. Thirteen years later, Lucy's chocolate is still made with the same values, dedication to taste, ethical sourcing, and quality. As the founder of a certified B Corp and climate-positive business, her passion for health, organic food, and giving a voice nature are the driving forces behind the brand.
Dr Robin Mitchell
Nature PositiveDr Robin Mitchell is a restoration ecologist with more than 25 years' experience of nature-related strategy and project development for business and finance. As co-founder of Nature Positive, he now focuses on supporting leading New Zealand companies to set integrated nature and climate targets and meet them through investing in nature-based solutions. Through collaboration, his aspiration is to build the capacity, verification tools and sustainable finance flows for Aotearoa New Zealand to transition to a nature positive economy. He has co-authored guidance for the business and finance sectors with the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, World Bank Group, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Science Based Targets Network and the UN Decade on Restoration.
Pip Newland
Orion New ZealandPip Newland is the Head of Sustainability & Risk at Orion New Zealand, the lines company for central Canterbury. Pip says it's been a privilege to have been involved in the Tautoru Mautai kaupapa from its inception.
Ana Gray
Wairewa RūnangaAna Gray (Kāti Irakehu, Kāi Tahu) is on the Wairewa Rūnanga executive team and a member of the steering group for the Tautoru Mautai partnership. Ana says the partnership enables generational advancement of whānau, hapū and relationship to their whenua.
Belinda van Eyndhoven
WestpacBelinda van Eyndhoven is the Head of Sustainability at Westpac. She will be talking about the role of the finance sector in enabling the nature positive transition.
Olivia Whitaker
L’Oréal GroupOlivia is a passionate environmentalist and social justice advocate, who is committed to using her diverse skill set to help address today’s most urgent social and environmental needs. She has a background in sustainability consulting and was a member of National Australia Bank’s inaugural climate and sustainability solutions team. In November 2022, Olivia joined the L’Oréal Group as Sustainability Manager for Australia and New Zealand. In her role, she is responsible for leading and supporting projects and initiatives connected with the Group’s global sustainability program “L’Oréal for the Future”. Olivia works with teams across the business and with external partners to help drive the L’Oréal Group’s transition towards a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.
Abbie Bull
Z Energy New ZealandAbbie is a sustainability professional leading business transformation in the energy sector. She has worked across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in conversation and environment roles.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
Ko Māhūhū ki te Rangi te Waka, Ko Maungakiekie te Maunga, Ko Waitematā te Moana, Ko Ngāti Whātua te Iwi, Ko Tuperiri te Tangata, Ko Te Tāōū, Ngāoho, Te Uringutu ngā hapū,Ko Orākei te Marae, Ko Tāmaki Makaurau e ngunguru nei!
Māhūhū ki te Rangi is the waka, Maungakiekie is the mountain, Waitematā is the harbour, Tuperiri is the ancestor, Ngāti Whātua is the Iwi, Te Tāōū, Ngāoho and Te Uringutu are our sub-tribes, Orākei is our marae, Through us – Tāmaki Makaurau will flourish!
We are Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the tangata whenua of Tāmaki with our mana over the land and sea being underpinned by take tupuna (ancestral relationships), take raupatu (taking of the land and sea by traditional warfare), ahi kā (unbroken occupation) and tuku whenua (traditional gifting of land).
Our pepeha is at the heart of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei culture and identity placing us at the heart of the Tāmaki Makaurau landscape and calls for all peoples to flourish together. Tāmaki Makaurau, e ngunguru nei!
Abbie Reynolds
The Nature ConservancyAbbie Reynolds is The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Country Director for Aotearoa New Zealand. She has more than two decades of change-making leadership experience in the sustainability, climate and environmental sector.
Abbie is one of New Zealand’s most respected sustainability leaders, with experience as chair of Westpac's Sustainability External Advisory Panel and as a director of Auckland Transport. She is also completing a NEXT Foundation Fellowship focused on ways to accelerate the uptake of solutions that address both climate change and biodiversity loss.
Abbie was a past CEO of Predator Free 2050. Prior to that role, she held the post of executive director of the Sustainable Business Council, where in 2017 she co-founded the Climate Leaders Coalition. This led to a 2019 Women of Influence win and the opportunity to present at the United Nations as part of the NZ Government's report on its Sustainable Development Goal performance.
Abbie has been a trustee for Sustainable Coastlines and Voyce Whakarongo Mai and served on the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisors' "Rethinking Plastics Panel" and the Government’s Electric Vehicle Leadership Group.
Dave Maslen
The New Zealand Merino CompanyDave Maslen is a respected advocate for sustainability in the wool industry, as Chief Customer Officer at The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) he has been instrumental in delivering the largest supply of ethical wool in the world to the global market.
Sitting on NZM’s senior leadership team, Dave has primary responsibility for the company’s sustainability, innovation, and research programmes while also managing key international relationships with retail brands, supply chain partners, and industry organisations.
A core part of Dave’s role involves connecting businesses and growers who share sustainable values to create long-lasting relationships with the drive to do better for our world, this includes coordinating sales into all markets and managing both B2B and B2C marketing activities.
Since 2020 Dave has led NZM’s ZQRX wool sourcing programme, this initiative was designed to go beyond the company’s world-leading ZQ on-farm, and to support growers to implement regenerative farm practices, and to establish the methodologies and data systems to monitor
impact.
Sam Rowland
Sustainable Business NetworkSam Rowland is the Programme Manager for Nature at the Sustainable Business Network. The programme focuses on supporting businesses to implement nature-positive initiatives and creates opportunities to increase investment from the private sector into frontline nature projects.
An ecologist by training, Sam’s background is in implementing large-scale national programmes, focusing on biodiversity and carbon monitoring, biodiversity strategy and nature investment. She has worked with the government, communities, landowners, iwi and businesses to support their aspirations around nature regeneration and action.
She is the Co-Chair’s Eastern Whio Link, a catchment group that works across 30,000ha of farm and conservation land to increase whio (blue duck) numbers from Te Urewera to East Cape. Sam chairs Blue Cradle Foundation, an ocean regeneration and marine literacy organisation. Blue Cradle is an IUCN member. Sam represents the organisation on the IUCN New Zealand Committee.
As an avid nature-lover, Sam is often found in the bush searching out fungi and plants, or walking down the numerous Tairāwhiti coastlines looking for rocks and shells
Kayla Kingdon-Bebb
WWF-New ZealandKayla Kingdon-Bebb is the Chief Executive of WWF-New Zealand, one of Aotearoa’s leading eNGOs. Since 1975, WWF-New Zealand has supported evidence-based, pragmatic solutions to deliver a future where humanity lives in harmony with nature. We work with iwi and hapū, local communities, fellow eNGOs, government, and industry to advocate for and deliver improved environmental outcomes in Aotearoa, throughout the Pacific, and in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic regions.
Having previously served as Director of Policy at the Department of Conservation, Kayla has extensive experience in the machinery of government and across a wide range of environmental policy issues. She has a PhD and MPhil from the University of Cambridge; her doctoral and master’s research focused on Treaty law, indigenous customary law and legal pluralism in the context of natural resource management policy.
Kate van Praagh
Genesis EnergyKate is an award-winning sustainability professional with 20 years’ international experience managing sustainability strategies and executive-level governance for organisations including Westpac NZ, Nestlé UK, Vodafone and Panasonic.
Kate currently leads Sustainability at Genesis, which is focused on supporting Aotearoa's transition to a low carbon future and supporting a more equal society through energy wellbeing and helping prepare rangatahi for the future of work through STEM skills and pathways to work.
Before Genesis Kate spent 10 years at Westpac NZ leading its sustainability programme covering climate change action, financial wellbeing and people and communities, and managed the bank’s external and internal sustainability governance. Highlights included Westpac NZ being the first NZ bank to issue a green bond, and the first to pay a Living Wage, as well as its leadership on climate change and gender diversity.
Prior to Westpac NZ, Kate was based in the UK, managing sustainability projects and reporting for clients including Panasonic and Vodafone, and spent four years at Nestlé UK managing sustainability programmes and ESG issues including palm oil, packaging and marketing to children.
