Indigenous innovation is not new – it is ancient, place-based, relational, and rooted in generations of observation, experimentation, and adaptation. This session explores how Māori-led innovation and Indigenous knowledge systems are shaping new models of climate action, economic development, and community resilience.

This session will explore:

• How Indigenous worldviews reframe innovation from extraction to reciprocity
• The importance of connection and reconnection – to place, people, and purpose
• How communities generate innovation when the focus is collective benefit and intergenerational value
• The opportunities emerging when Māori and Indigenous leadership drive research, investment, and clean technology partnerships

Rather than asking “How can Indigenous communities adopt innovation?”
this session asks:

“What happens when Indigenous communities lead innovation?”

Speakers

Chair: Paola Boarin (University of Auckland)

Urban industry zones sit at the intersection of infrastructure, technology, and environmental performance. This workshop explores how innovations in clean technology, nature-based solutions, digital tools, and systems modelling could transform these zones into engines of climate resilience, equity, and regenerative growth.

Participants will gain insights into cutting-edge research and applications: from digital twins and green certification systems to blue–green infrastructure and data-driven design. The session features quickfire innovation updates from researchers and practitioners, followed by a moderated discussion on scaling and integration across policy, planning, and industry practice.

Speakers include:
Garry McDonald (Market Economics Ltd) · Zoe Avery (The Urbanist / UoA) · Robert Amor (UoA) · Simon Wilson (RDT Pacific) · Justine Bennett (GHD)

Panel Discussion: Reimagining Urban Industry: From Grey Zones to Green Engines

Innovations in Geothermal Extraction & Circular Design
Co-hosted by the University of Auckland Geothermal Institute & GEO40

This interactive workshop explores how geothermal systems can produce clean energy and recover high-value materials such as lithium and silica from geothermal brines. Participants will hear from researchers and industry leaders developing world-first technologies that turn geothermal by-products into valuable, circular resources. The session will feature short presentations, followed by a facilitated discussion and breakout activities where attendees will co-design solutions to real-world circularity challenges. Ideal for researchers, industry, policy-makers and investors interested in critical minerals, renewable energy, and sustainable materials innovation.

Speakers
John O’Sullivan, Senior Lecturer in Engineering Science (Co-Director, Geothermal Institute, University of Auckland)
Dr O’Sullivan has worked extensively in the global geothermal industry, specialising in reservoir engineering, modelling and resource assessment. He leads geothermal projects worldwide, from producing systems to green-field sites, and delivers training and knowledge-transfer programmes across Asia, South America, Africa, Europe and Australia.

John Worth, Managing Director & CEO, GEO40
John Worth has led GEO40 since 2019, scaling its silica-recovery technology for the geothermal power‐generation sector and pioneering direct lithium-extraction technology to supply the EV battery industry. With a background across geothermal, wind, wave and solar energy, he holds engineering and management degrees, plus postgraduate executive qualifications from Oxford, Harvard and Auckland.

Oceans are at the frontier of the clean technology revolution. CleanTech at Sea showcases exemplars of cutting-edge marine technologies – from wave energy and electrified marine transport to circular aquaculture and smart ocean data systems – demonstrating how innovation can transform the blue economy.

Envirostrat – New Zealand’s leading blue economy advisory and investment specialist — will facilitate the workshop and open with a short overview of global market and investment trends in ocean innovation.

Speakers & Technologies

Cleantech and climate tech innovation requires new ways of approaching the relationship between companies, the financial system and government to achieve their potential impact at global scale. New Zealand technologies have some of the technical solutions the world needs but our support ecosystem needs to evolve and grow to provide the right support and policy settings.

The session will incorporate the perspectives of Venture Capital, global engineering suppliers, and ecosystem enablers all seeking to support the Cleantech and climate tech sector to thrive.

Join this parallel session to participate in co-designing the support needed to take New Zealand innovation global at pace.

Participants:

Lucy Chatburn – Cleantech Group

Lachlan Nixon – Motion Capital

Nick Stonier – Worley

Cleantech Startup companies with a B2B business model need to gain the confidence of their partners for scale-up demonstrations, offtake agreements and integration into supply chains. New Zealand startups are increasingly navigating these supply chain aspects internationally and this session showcases these dynamics.

1. Critical materials and recycling technology innovators will pitch to David Govoni, President of the European Federation of Geologists.

David will provide feedback on the pitches about considerations to enhance success.

Companies pitching: Mint Inovation lithium battery recycling technology.

Other innovators TBC

2. Hydrogen and energy technology innovators will pitch to Cathy Clennett, Chair of Hiringa about integrating into the hydrogen supply chain and balancing supply with demand.

Companies pitching: Liquium – revolutionising the ammonia production process helping it align with renewable energy, lower the cost of production and operation.

Other innovators TBC

14:45 – 15:15 | Afternoon Break & Global Café
Informal chats with representatives from the EU

This workshop showcases cutting-edge technologies driving advances in biodiversity monitoring, conservation, and biosecurity. From genomics and AI-powered detection to drone and antifouling innovations, speakers will highlight tools shaping the future of ecological resilience in Aotearoa.

Programme highlights: Technology for kākāpō recovery

Jacqueline Beggs chairs the national Kākāpō Recovery Group and is a Professor of Ecology at the University of Auckland. She will summarise the technologies that have underpinned kākāpō recovery to date and highlight the key technological challenges facing the next phase of this iconic conservation programme.

DNADRV for monitoring insect biodiversity: eDNA meets AI

Richard O’Rorke and Aimee van der Reis (University of Auckland) lead the DNADRV team developing eDNA and AI-based tools for rapid, scalable biodiversity monitoring.

AI technology for stoat management

Daniel Wilson is Co-director of the University of Auckland Centre of Machine Learning for Social Good. He is developing advanced AI-driven monitoring and control systems to enhance stoat detection and management, offering new precision tools for protecting vulnerable native species.

Drones and species-specific toxin delivery

Cameron Baker leads Envicotech’s development of precision drone technologies designed to deliver targeted pest-control solutions and reduce environmental impacts.

Antifouling technology

Patrick Cahill heads the Biosecurity Group at the Cawthron Institute. He leads major programmes on marine pest eradication and antifouling innovation, developing next-generation, environmentally safe antifouling materials.

The session concludes with an interactive panel discussion – “From Blue Sky to Field Use” – exploring how biodiversity and biosecurity technologies can move from prototype to widespread adoption through collaboration between researchers, industry, iwi, and policy agencies

Hosted by the University of Auckland – Earth Observation Lab Aotearoa

Hackathon Aim

To explore how cutting-edge Earth Observation and remote sensing technologies can support climate adaptation and resilience in Aotearoa and globally. Enabling cross-sector collaboration to accelerate real-world impact.

Proposed Workshop Structure (1.5 hours)

1. Welcome & Framing (15 min)

• Facilitator: Tom Dowling
• Brief intro to the EO Lab NZ and its mission.
• Overview of the hackathon purpose, objectives and relevance to the conference theme (specifically climate adaptation and resilience).
• Acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Indigenous data perspectives.

2. Interactive Demo / Walkthrough (10 min)

• Overview of what has been achieved to date (this will be the second in a series of hackathons), the first is taking place at the FOSS4G Conference, a few weeks prior.
• Live demo or guided walkthrough of EO tools or platforms.
• Show practical outputs, e.g. visualisations, dashboards, geospatial layers, or data services.
• Let attendees explore via QR codes, links and pre-prepared notebooks.

3. Breakout Groups (50 mins)

Guided hackathon starts in small groups exploring:

• A set of exemplar problem spaces:
  • Urban vs. rural resilience planning
  • Event response
  • Carbon accounting

Tom and EO Lab team circulate to prompt and harvest insights.

4. Feedback & Q&A (10 min)

• Each group shares a key takeaway or idea.
• Invite broader audience questions.

5. Wrap-up & Next Steps (5 min)

• Highlight pathways for collaboration (data access, co-designed projects, internships, etc).
• Invite sign-ups for a follow-up community of practice or project interest list.