Professor Gillian Dobbie is from the School of Computer Science at the University of Auckland with over 20 years experience in Artificial Intelligence. Although she has a broad understanding of computer science, her passion is in getting the most out of data, which includes how data can be processed efficiently, and the insights we can gain from data. She says she is “keen to work with people who have a tricky problem they would like to solve using machine learning.” She has extensive experience in the application of technology in healthcare, environmental science and horticulture.

Professor Dobbie is the Chair of the Marsden Fund Council. She also co-directs the Centre of Machine Learning for Social Good (MS4SG) and the Natural, Artificial, and Organisation Intelligence Institute (NAOInstitute). Gillian is an elected Fellow of the New Zealand Royal Society Te Apārangi.

Holly Beals is an Innovation Specialist and Programme Director of Aurora Climate Lab at Creative HQ. A designer by degree, she has a diverse career working with innovation and impact focussed startups. As a graduate, Holly cut her teeth in business with her own furniture design studio and later held the Strategic Projects Director and CEO role at Goodnature.

Holly excels working with founders and guiding startups through complexity. Her expertise in technology development methodologies brings method to the madness for teams navigating complex scientific discoveries to meet real market needs.

“I believe innovation is our most powerful lever in tackling climate change, addressing complex systems challenges with practical, scalable solutions that work for people and drive lasting planetary impact.”

Aurora Climate Lab is a 12-week programme designed to help climate tech startups refine and validate their proposition and strengthen their commercialisation approach. Teams from across New Zealand are selected to receive coaching, mentorship, access to investment, tools and resources to help them advance at each stage of their growth.

Through her work in Aurora, Holly sets out to deliver a depth of technical and entrepreneurial support to meet the unique needs of Climate Tech Founders in New Zealand. Ultimately Aurora’s objectives are to develop the ecosystem around a startup and structured pathways for founders; increasing the number of climate tech companies in New Zealand and increasing funding into the sector.

At the Blue and Green Technology Conference, Holly will share insights on the intersection of design thinking, innovation, and impactful entrepreneurship, drawing on her extensive experience mentoring startups and leading accelerator initiatives.

Jessica is the CEO and Co-Founder of Factor, a climate-tech company building digital infrastructure for the new energy economy. Factor’s retail forecasting and pricing engine enables energy producers, distributors, and sellers to translate complex market signals into actionable, customer-ready products — accelerating the shift to low-carbon, resilient energy systems.

For more than a decade Jessica has been driving energy innovation across Aotearoa, Australia, and Europe, including as a co-founder of Flick Electric Co. and as CX and Growth leader at Flux Federation. She has built companies at the bleeding edge of energy transformation and brings expertise in scaling technology solutions that bridge commercial, regulatory, and customer needs.

Through Factor, she works alongside partners and clients in ANZ and Europe to position digital technology as a critical enabler of climate resilience and equitable energy transitions worldwide.

Prof JR Rowland is the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global & Graduate Research at the University of Auckland. She leads the School of Graduate Studies to enhance and grow the University’s graduate research offerings and advises on strategic international research collaborations to expand research partnerships. She currently chairs the inaugural Applied Doctorate Scheme Governance Group which is enabling top doctoral talent to bring science, tech, and innovation into the heart of Kiwi industry.

JR is a structural geologist whose research focuses on tectonic-magmatic-hydrologic interactions, particularly in rift settings. This sort of research is relevant to resources and energy, to understanding geohazards, and to understanding fundamental tectonic processes.

Committed to supporting Aotearoa New Zealand’s just transition to a low-carbon and sustainable future, JR plays a crucial role in training and mentoring future leaders to think critically and ethically about resources, energy and Earth systems.

Saeid Baroutian is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Executive Director of the Circular Innovations (CIRCUIT) Research Centre at the University of Auckland. A sustainability advocate and cleantech entrepreneur, his work focuses on waste minimisation and advancing the circular economy. Saeid is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Nurox Hydrothermal, and co-founder and Chief Technology & Operating Officer of Gaiatech – two cleantech start-ups commercialising cutting-edge technologies for the safe and sustainable treatment of complex healthcare and hospital waste streams.