‘Brilliant minds’ explore tech to help the planet

International cleantech expert Lucy Chatburn will offer cutting-edge insights at the Blue and Green Technology Conference in Auckland in December.

Based in Italy, Chatburn is a principal consultant at Cleantech Group, which offers advice to government, non-profit and industry leaders about global trends in sustainable technologies.

The British government has sponsored her trip to New Zealand, where she hopes to strengthen connections between change makers in the two nations.

Chatburn will take part in a panel discussion at the conference, which will be held at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland on 2 and 3 December.

“In New Zealand, there’s a great base of innovative technologies that are going to help solve tomorrow’s, and increasingly today’s, climate problems.

“We can support them in building connections to international markets, which will provide growth opportunities,” she says.

Chatburn is involved in a United Nations programme supporting 10 low and middle income countries to accelerate cleantech innovation.

Her role involves offering advice to governments, policymakers and ecosystem builders on the best ways to nurture and scale up cleantech innovations.

She also helps industry leaders seize opportunities to invest in new technologies.

“Innovation is going to help us solve climate change issues and will provide economic growth opportunities as well.

“Cleantech allows you to do more with fewer resources. It has expanded to include technologies to adapt to climate change, such as weather forecasting, wildfire detection, and flood-resilient infrastructure,” she says.

European Union ambassador to New Zealand Lawrence Meredith will open the conference, which aims to strengthen ties between Aotearoa and Europe.

Organised by the University’s Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society - Ngā Ara Whetū – the conference will cover everything from waste reduction technologies to cleaner new fuels.

Ngā Ara Whetū co-director Professor Jacqueline Beggs says many governments around the world are failing to protect the natural environment or cut greenhouse gas emissions, so researchers and businesses need to pitch in to help solve environmental problems.

“Extractive and polluting practices are exacerbating climate change and biodiversity loss - and costing lives.

“We need innovative ideas to deliver the solutions we desperately need for the planet,” says Beggs.

The conference aims to create a platform where people can share “big, bold ideas”, she says.

“It will bring together brilliant minds from around the country and overseas to present cutting-edge research, industry panels, and discussions about government policies that could promote sustainable innovation.”

Ideas for clean-tech start-ups can be shared at the event, which will be attended by industry representatives.

Keynote speakers include:

• Neocrete co-founder Matt Kennedy-Good who aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one percent by 2033 with new carbon zero concrete.

• Cawthron Institute head of biosecurity and marine biologist Patrick Cahill, who is helping develop more environmentally safe antifoulant coatings for boats. 

• University of Canterbury Professor Aaron Marshall, who is chief science officer at Ternary Kinetics, a deep-tech startup developing a new class of liquid-phase hydrogen carriers for heavy transport. He is also the co-founder of Zincovery, which is commercialising low-emission zinc recycling.

• Dr Sean Simpson, a New Zealand technology entrepreneur and biochemical engineer. Simpson co-founded LanzaTech, which has developed a gas-fermentation platform that converts industrial waste gases into fuels, chemicals, and materials. In 2020, the company created LanzaJet to focus on sustainable aviation fuel and diesel production. He is a key part of the Ternary Kinetics leadership team.

• Angus Blair, a partner at Outset Ventures, a New Zealand deep technology fund and incubator.

• University of Auckland Associate Professor in Māori Studies Dan Hikuroa, who is UNESCO New Zealand Commissioner for Culture and an expert on weaving indigenous knowledge and science.

• E-Lyn Tan, a principal analyst in New Zealand Treasury’s Green Bond Team.

• Dr Florian Graichen, general manager of biomanufacturing and biotechnology at New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science Institute, which is driving the transition to a climate-resilient bioeconomy.

• University of Auckland Professor of Computer Science Gillian Dobbie, who has extensive experience in technology for environmental science, horticulture and health.

• Holly Beals, a programme director of Creative HQ’s Aurora Climate Lab, which offers a 12-week programme to help climate tech startups strengthen their purpose and commercial potential.

• Director of FOMA Innovation at the Cawthron Institute Heni Unwin, whose research focuses on aquaculture technologies, ecotoxicology and climate change.

• Jessica Venning-Bryan, co-founder of Factor, a climate-tech company building digital infrastructure for the new energy economy.

• University of Auckland Senior Lecturer in Engineering Science Dr John O’Sullivan, who is co-director of the Geothermal Institute.

• University of Auckland Professor JR Rowland, who is Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global & Graduate Research. She is a structural geologist whose research focuses on tectonic-magmatic-hydrologic interactions, particularly in rift settings.

• John Worth, managing director and CEO of sustainable mineral recovery business Geo40.Millan Ruka, owner and director of Mana Wairua Energy, a New Zealand-based marine energy company developing renewable solutions for Indigenous and off-grid communities in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

• Nigel Gormly, executive director of Waihou Capital. He advises companies on scaling up groundbreaking technologies and is developing investment platforms that address systemic failures in mobilising capital for sustainable solutions.

• Pablo Núñez Fernández, an experienced geologist and treasurer of the European Federation of Geologists.

• University of Otago Distinguished Professor Sally Brooker, co-leader of the German-NZ green hydrogen centre, He Honoka Hauwai, and a principal investigator with the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.

• University of Auckland Professor of Chemical Engineering Saeid Baroutian, who is executive director of the Circular Innovations (CIRCUIT) Research Centre. He is co-founder of Nurox Hydrothermal and Gaiatech – two cleantech start-ups offering technologies that sustainably treat healthcare waste.

• University of Auckland geospatial scientist Dr Thomas Dowling, who co-leads the Earth Observation Laboratory Aotearoa, which provides environmental and geospatial data.

Learn more and register here. Early bird discounts are available until 6 November.