Blue and Green Technology Conference 2025 – Draft Programme

 

2–3 December 2025 | Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

Nau mai, haere mai! Join us for a dynamic two-day event bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and decision-makers to accelerate clean technology solutions for a climate-resilient future. Whether you’re from government, academia, or industry, this conference offers a powerful platform for knowledge exchange, partnerships, and action.

Further details coming soon.

New Zealand Cleantech Mission

  • The New Zealand Cleantech Mission is Strategic Partner to the Blue Green Technology conference. The strategic partnership aims to enhance innovators ability to generate sustainability impact and commercial success.

  • The Cleantech Mission will be hosting an invitation-only, full day, Cleantech Trek to innovator and commercial sites on in Auckland on 4 December. The Cleantech Trek will build links between innovators, investors, supply chain and policy experts to support the green transition of New Zealand’s economy.

For more information on the speakers please click here.

Day 1: Setting the Stage – CleanTech in Context

Tuesday, 2 December

08:00 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
Kickstart the day with informal networking.

09:00 – 09:40 | Opening Ceremony
Keynote address: EU Ambassador H.E. Mr Lawrence Meredith

Matt Kennedy-Good (Co-founder of Neocrete)

09:40 – 10:40 | Keynote Panel: Twin Transitions – Green and Digital
Hear from leaders and CleanTech pioneers on harnessing the twin transitions shaping our world:

  • Holly Beals (Aurora Climate Lab at Creative HQ)
  • Jessica Venning Bryan (CEO and Co-Founder of Factor)
  • Angus Blair (Outset Ventures)
  • Lucy Chatburn (UK Clean Tech Group)

10:40 – 11:00 | Networking Coffee Break
Recharge and connect.

11:00 – 12:30 | Research Plenary: CleanTech Frontiers
Explore cutting-edge transdisciplinary research from across Aotearoa:

• Saeid Baroutian (University of Auckland),
Transforming Waste Streams into Resource Streams
• Florian Graichen (Scion),
Catalyzing a Multi-Billion-Dollar Bioeconomy – New Zealand’s Next Growth Engine
• Aaron Marshall (University of Canterbury, Zincovery and Ternary Kinetics),
Electrons for Emissions: Electrochemical Pathways to a Zero-Carbon Future
• Sally Brooker (University of Otago),
Catalysing Change: Hydrogen Solutions for a Low-Carbon Future
• Chris Bumby (Victoria University of Wellington),
Next-generation ore: towards sustainable mining

12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch & CleanTech Expo (will be open to the public from 14:00 – 16:00）
Meet the innovators shaping the future. Featuring start-ups, research centres, and universities in an interactive expo space:

  • Futurity Bio-Ventures Ltd
  • Liquium
  • Shower Canary Ltd
  • Neocrete
  • SaproTech
  • Hiringa Energy
  • PhaseFoam
  • Ecomerit Technologies Pacific Limited
  • OpenStar Technologies
  • Zincovery
  • Future Post Limited
  • Oke Charity
  • Solarferm
  • Nurox Hydrothermal

14:00 – 15:30 | Industry Panel: Scaling Up CleanTech Solutions
NZ and EU CleanTech companies share what’s working, what isn’t, and where new partnerships are needed:

Duncan Stewart, Greenhouse Capital

George Reeves, Ruminant BioTech

Sean Simpson, Ternary Kinetics and LanzaTech

Millan Ruka, Ruka Marine Turbine

15:30 – 16:00 | Afternoon Break & Business Card Swap
Speed networking meets coffee break.

16:00 – 17:00 | Policy for Sustainable Innovation Roundtable
Strategic dialogue on policy, trade, and cross-border investment to enable scaleup of CleanTech:

E-Lyn Tan, Green Bonds, The Treasury

Nigel Gromley, Waihou Capital

Gill Dobbie, Chair Marsden Council

JR Rowland (Applied Doctorates Scheme (ADS)

17:00 – 19:00 | Welcome Reception
Supported by the European Union. Wind down with drinks, conversation, and a celebration of collaboration.

Day 2: Innovation, Investment, and Collaboration

Wednesday, 3 December

08:30 – 09:00 | Coffee & Breakfast Networking
Optional early catch-ups to energise your day.

09:00 – 10:30 | Parallel Sessions (Choose your focus)

Indigenous-Led Innovation

Leading Māori researchers and changemakers explore how Indigenous knowledge, values, and enterprise are shaping innovative responses to today’s climate, environmental, and social challenges. Guy Royal (Māui Toa), Heni Unwin and Te Rerekohi Tuterangiwhiu  (Cawthron), and Dan Hikuroa (University of Auckland) share insights into transformative projects that centre mātauranga Māori, community resilience, and innovation grounded in place and whakapapa.

Future Urban Industry: Tech Innovations for Sustainable Urban Zones

Paola Boarin (UoA) and Garry MacDonald (Market Economics) engage with industry and researchers on how clean technologies, circular systems, and digital tools are reshaping urban industry zones into climate-resilient, equitable, and regenerative spaces. This workshop features rapid-fire research updates and an interactive discussion on the challenges and opportunities for scaling innovation.

10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:30 | Thematic Workshops (choose your focus)

Geothermal Innovation

Join John O’Sullivan and GEO40 to engage with cutting-edge technologies and circular design strategies that transform geothermal byproducts into high-value resources – such as lithium and silica. Panel discussion on how these innovations can drive sustainable energy, mobility, and materials systems.

Tech for Nature – Emerging Innovations in Biodiversity and Biosecurity

Discover the latest tools transforming biodiversity and biosecurity management in Aotearoa – from genomics and eDNA to AI-powered detection. This workshop features a series of short research updates, followed by an interactive panel on real-world application and policy integration.

12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch
13:30 – 14:45 | Pitch & Partner: B2B & B2R Matching
Start-ups, scale-ups, researchers, and corporates pitch their ideas and connect with potential partners.

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

15:15 – 16:45 | Thematic Workshops (choose your focus)

Eyes on Earth Hackathon

Join Tom Dowling and the Eyes on Earth Lab for a fast-paced hackathon diving into how satellite data, AI, and creative coding can generate fresh insights into our planet’s most pressing challenges. Participants will collaborate across disciplines to prototype innovative solutions that turn Earth observation into action for sustainability.

Cleantech at Sea

Exemplars of how cutting-edge marine technologies – from clean fuels to circular aquaculture and smart ocean systems – can unlock climate resilience, economic opportunity, and environmental protection in the ocean economy.

16:45 – 17:00 | Closing Forum: Blue and Green Futures
Reflections and next steps.

17:00 – 19:00 | Networking Gala & Cultural Showcase
Celebrate innovation and connection with live music, kapa haka, and local cuisine.

Parallel Sessions

Indigenous-Led Innovation

More information to come soon.

Future Urban Industry: Tech Innovations for Sustainable Urban Zones

More information to come soon.

Geothermal Innovation

More information to come soon.

Tech for Nature – Emerging Innovations in Biodiversity and Biosecurity

Tech for Nature: Emerging Innovations in Biodiversity and Biosecurity

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

Eyes on Earth

Eyes on Earth: Harnessing Earth Observation for a Resilient Aotearoa

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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.

 

  1. Feedback & Q&A (10 min)
  • Each group shares a key takeaway or idea.
  • Invite broader audience questions.
  1. 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.
Cleantech at Sea

More information to come soon.

Why attend? 

– Spark partnerships across research, industry, and government
– Explore global opportunities in CleanTech and circular innovation
– Engage with Māori- and Pacific-led initiatives
– Connect with funders and export partners
– Be part of a movement towards sustainable futures

Days until conference

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Keydates

Registration opens: Now Open
Draft Program now on the website
Confirmed Speakers to be annouced
Early-bird ends: 6 Nov
Conference dates 2-3 December 2025

Contact us

Tiria Steer
Email: blue&greentech@auckland.ac.nz