Summit 2025 features a range of experts and leaders in Agribusiness, Maori innovation, Partnership, Supply Chains and Climate Change.
tania tapsell
mayor of rotorua
Mayor Tapsell is of Te Arawa descent and the first Māori woman elected as Mayor of Rotorua, a dynamic leader and advocate for strong, sustainable communities.
hon todd mcclay
MP for rotorua
Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs.
DR tanira kingi
chair Te Arawa arataua
Chair of Te Arawa Arataua and Whakaue Farming Ltd. Over 40 years of primary industry experience with 30 years as a research scientist in agricultural systems and economics.
hayden swann
Chair Whangara Farms
Hayden is an experienced Director, with key Agricultural Governance roles including Chair of Whangara Farms, Chair Mangaotane Farm Trust and Chair Beef and Lamb NZ Kahui Maori Agribusiness.
andrew watene
KPMG – Head of Propagate
Leads a KPMG team who provide advisory services to food, agribusiness, and export orientated companies and help boards manage risk and grow.
aisha ross
CEO – Parininihi ki waitotara
PKW are the largest farmer in Taranaki and Taranaki-based milk supplier to Fonterra with investments in fishing, forestry, horticulture and commercial property.
DR andy west
general partner – matū fund
Former CEO of AgResearch and Lincoln University, Andy is an entrepreneur who specialises in co-founding and supporting high technology start-ups.
sinead leahy
Principal Scientist – NZAGRC
At the NZAGRC, Sinead oversees the development of scientific research programmes and initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities.
hilton collier
CEO tairāwhiti whenua
Hilton Collier (Ngāti Porou) is the CEO of Tairāwhiti Whenua, the largest collective of Māori landowners in Aotearoa. With a career spanning 30 years, Hilton experience covers Māori agribusiness, whenua-based development, education, governance, environmental stewardship, and food systems.
paul Morgan
managing director, fomana capital
Paul has been at the forefront of economic development for the Māori community for more than 35 years, during which time he has had many directorships, roles with Government and private sector across agribusiness, science and industry.
kiran dayaram
scientist & business owner
Scientist with a passion for CO2 based technologies and their application to solve real world problems. Kiran is Co-founder & Partner at Bio Innovations based in Royse City, Texas. Previously, Kiran also held positions at Vitalis, LabWare, Lion, Holcim New Zealand and DB Breweries.
richard manning
company director
Richard has a long service as
a trustee for Māori whenua
throughout the Kai Tahu rohe,
particularly Rakiura. Drawing
on his business endeavours, he aspires to provide leadership, vision and empowerment in supporting Māori economic development.
ariana Estoras
Director, Māori Research and Partnerships, AgResearch
Leading the organisation’s strategic Māori direction including partnerships with Māori and kaupapa Māori research direction. Ariana also hold governance positions with AsureQuality and Dairy NZ’s science board.
Ben Purua
Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year for the Central Plateau region
Ben embodies resilience, transformation, and hope – emerging from a troubled past to become an inspiring leader in New Zealand’s agricultural sector.
tina Porou
Environmental Planner, Poipoia Consultancy
Tina Porou is a respected Māori environmental advocate and strategist with over two decades of experience advancing indigenous leadership in resource management, environmental protection, and climate resilience.
Tim Mackle
Chief Supply Chain Officer, Zespri
Tim has a PhD in animal, food and nutritional sciences from Cornell University New York, and a Bachelor of Agriculture Science (Hons) from Lincoln University. He is excited to support New Zealand growers and farmers to take their premium food to the world.
More speakers to be confirmed shortly…
