Our 90th Anniversary conference speakers
We are working to finalize our program, but we are delighted to confirm these speakers. More will be added soon as we confirm them.
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Hon Kiritapu Allan, Minister of Conservation
(Image source: supplied) |
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Hon David Parker, Minister for the Environment
(Image source: NZ Parliament Website) |
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Hon Jaqcui Dean, MP for Waitaki, National spokesperson for conservation
www.jacquidean.national.org.nz (Image source: NZ Parliament Website) |
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Hon Eugenie Sage, Green party spokesperson for conservation
Environment select committee chair www.greens.org.nz/eugenie_sage (Image source: NZ Parliament Website) |
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Hon Simon Court, ACT party spokesperson for environment, climate change
Environment select committee member https://www.act.org.nz/simon-court (Image source: NZ Parliament Website) |
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Hon Angie Warren-Clark , Labour party, environment select committee member
https://www.labour.org.nz/angiewarrenclark (Image source: NZ Parliament Website) |
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Edward Ellison, Ngāi Tahu treaty negotiator, and NZ Conservation Authority chairperson
Otākou kaumātua, Ngāi Tahu tribal leader and Sheep & Beef Farmer from the Otago Peninsula. For over four decades, Edward Ellison has represented Ngāi Tahu through involvement with dozens of projects and organisations. www.kahurumanu.co.nz/our-people/edward-ellison (Image source: Department of Conservation Website) |
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Dr Jacinta Ruru, Otago University Indigenous Law Professor
First Māori Professor of Law, Fulbright Scholar, Fellow of the Royal Society of NZ and recipient of the Prime Ministers Supreme award for Tertiary Teaching. www.otago.ac.nz/law/staff/jacinta_ruru.html (Image source: Wikipedia) |
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Dr Les Molloy, FMC Patron and Wilderness area advocate
Les is widely considered the ‘father’ of Wilderness Areas in New Zealand. He wrote the Wilderness Policy (the document laying out the purpose and management of gazetted wilderness areas), and was the main architect of the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum concept. Backcountry article and biography to welcome him as FMC Patron, page 10, August 2020 (Image source: FMC website) |
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Jan Finlayson, FMC President
On the FMC Executive since 2015, and President since 2019, Jan has a wealth of experience in the mountains of NZ, and of the challenges faced by our outdoor community and the environments we love to recreate in. Her areas of special expertise are in the issues surrounding the South Island high country. (Image source: Wikimedia commons) |
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Dr Gerry McSweeny, Ecologist.
A founding member of the Nature Heritage Fund, past member of NZ Conservation Authority and Former President of Forest & Bird. Brief bio in Otago Daily Times, December 2020. (Image source: Facebook) |
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Warren Chinn, Invertebrate ecologist.
A long career with DOC as Invertebrate ecologist, with a particular interest in the effects of climate change on alpine biota and remote island surveys. A more extensive biography online. (Image source: Facebook) |
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Craig Potton, photographer and conservationist
One of NZ’s best known landscape photographers, Craig is an ardent conservationist and deeply experienced tramper and climber. www.pottonandburton.co.nz/about/craig-potton/ (Image source: https://www.craigpottongallery.co.nz/pages/bio ) |
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Geoff Spearpoint, FMC representative and Trustee at the Backcountry Trust.
Drawing on a lifetime of trans-alpine journeys through NZ’s backcountry, Geoff has been at the forefront of several essential mountain publications, such as Moir’s Guide North, The Canterbury Westland Alps (NZAC guidebook) and The Great Unknown. He also has a deep love for our backcountry huts, co-authoring Shelter from the Storm and A Bunk for the night. Geoff will be speaking in his role as a Trustee of the Backcountry Trust. www.backcountrytrust.org.nz/geoff.html (Image source: Backcountry Trust website) |
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Megan Dimozantos, FMC exec member and BCT North Island Projects coordinator.
With a strong background in the mountains and the building industry, Megan is well placed for her role at the Backcountry Trust. She is a current FMC exec member, and Chairperson of Rotorua Search and Rescue Incorporated. She’ll be speaking from her role with the Backcountry Trust. www.backcountrytrust.org.nz/north-island-project-coordinator.html (Image source: Backcountry Trust website) |
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Hamish Darling, President of Whitewater NZ
A Central Otago local, who began his paddling career with the Otago University Canoe Club and progressed to a season based in Livingston, Zambia. As he paddled one of the mightiest bits of whitewater on the planet, the Zambesi River, the knowledge that the rapids were earmarked for loss through hydro piqued his passion for defending rivers and paddling opportunities. (Image source: WWNZ website) |
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Robin McNeill, ex FMC President, NZ Conservation Authority board member.
Well known to FMC members for his highly popular Uncle Jacko’s Cookery Column, Robin is a long serving FMC member, and currently on the NZ Conservation Authority. For a day job he is a Space communications engineer based in Invercargill. (Image source: www.wilderlife.nz) |
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Erik Bradshaw, President of the Mountain Turk Club
Prolific adventurer, very well known for his solo winter traverse of the Southern Alps ad adventures with his young family. Erik was the driving force behind the ‘Turk’ hut concept, which grew into a project to place 5 of them on the Mahu Whenua covenanted land, to create a ski traverse between Treble Cone (Wanaka) and Coronet Peak (Arrowtown). Mountain Turk Club/About Eric and the Turks (Image source: www.wilderlife.nz) |
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Lauren Kelley, FMC Executive member Hailing from Florida, where overpopulation has placed huge pressures on the natural environment, Lauren has a strong appreciation for big adventures and small footprints. Inspired by a growing community of recreationalists undertaking low-carbon journeys, she has begun searching out hidden gems to explore closer to her own home on the West Coast. Lauren will speak on FMC’s Recreation Transition (low-carbon) campaign. (Image source: supplied)
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Tōrea Scott-Fyfe and Thomas Hadley Two accomplished trans-alpine trampers and mountaineers, who will talk about light feet, long trips, with tales from thier 3 month Alpine traverse from Arthurs Pass to Fiordland. (Image source: www.stuff.co.nz article)
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Drew Brown, NZOIA Tall Totara 2015 Pioneer for high school outdoor edcuation since the 1980’s, Drew has been recognised by the NZ Outdoor Instructors Association as a Tall Totara, for long-term service and excellence in the field of outdoor instruction. Tall Totara award news article. (Image source: https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/)
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