We are fortunate to have Julia joining us again as our MC this year. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across agribusiness, banking, financial markets and strategy, including roles with ANZ, KPMG, NZX and AWDT, Julia combines deep industry expertise with natural curiosity, sharp insight and a healthy dose of humour.

Jenny Marcroft is a New Zealand First List MP based in Kaipara Ki Mahurangi, and is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Media and Communications, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries. She is also a member of the Health Select Committee.

Chair of Ngāi Tahu Farming since 2019 and currently Chair of Pegasus Health Charitable Limited, Lyttelton Port Company Limited and Quarry Capital Limited and leading Awarua Rūnaka interests in aquaculture in their takiwā.

As General Manager – Seafood for Ngāi Tahu Holdings, Aaron leads the commercial operations of Ngāi Tahu Seafood and has played a key leadership role in advancing strategic growth initiatives, including the development of the Hananui Aquaculture Project.

For the past nine years, he has led the Hananui Aquaculture Project. This has involved identifying the site, evaluating the site’s potential, managing technical experts and developing the applications for the RMA, COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 and Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

Divisional Manager, Trade Policy and Negotiations at MFAT. Sara is responsible for developing and advancing New Zealand's trade policy objectives across the multilateral, plurilateral, and bilateral trade agendas.

Chief Commercial Officer - Scale AQ Seabased. Rising from fish farm technician to CCO, he has held leadership roles across some of the sector's most prominent companies, including Marine Harvest, Nutrimar, and ScaleAQ.

General Manager of Te Aupouri Fisheries Management Ltd and an elected member of the Far North District Council (FNDC).

Associate Professor Alexander Tups is a neuroscientist at the Centre for Neuroendocrinology at the University of Otago and Chief Scientific Officer of Aroma New Zealand and co-founder of a novel bioactivity testing facility for natural products, the Zealife Institute.

Bridget Giesen is Director Aquaculture at the Ministry for Primary Industries, where she leads work supporting the development and growth of New Zealand’s aquaculture sector.

Bridget brings extensive strategy, transformation and commercial experience across the public and private sectors, including aviation, Ngāi Tahu and NZTE.

Chief Science Officer at Cawthron Institute, where she leads Cawthron's research and consultancy groups, including its Aquaculture Group, as well as Cawthron Laboratories

James has been Chief Executive of Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ) since March 2026. He previously served as Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

Ian is an engineer and international business leader who this year founded StratoChill, a patented low cost packaging solution for temperature control during airfreight.

Richie Barnett is a former Kiwis rugby league captain, broadcaster and passionate mental health advocate. As an ambassador and Partnership Manager for I Am Hope foundation, he uses his own life experiences to inspire resilience, encourage open conversations about mental health, and help create better access to support young New Zealanders.

CEO of AKVA Digital, the software business unit of AKVA group that builds digital platforms for the global aquaculture industry.

Suzi is the founder and director of Suzi McAlpine Leadership. She’s a leadership developer, author, executive coach and speaker – supporting leaders and organisations throughout Australasia.

Nikki is General Manager People and Culture at New Zealand King Salmon, where she leads the company’s people strategy, workforce development and organisational culture initiatives.

Alistair Simmons is Operations Manager at Waimana Marine, a Marlborough-based aquaculture company specialising in the cultivation and harvesting of Greenshell™ mussels. He brings extensive experience in seafood production, processing and operations management, having held leadership roles across New Zealand’s seafood sector.

Stacey (Ngāti Mahuta ki te Hauāuru; Waikato; Tainui Waka, Kuki Airani) is the Chief Indigenous Innovation and Partnerships Officer (CIIPO) for Bioeconomy Science Institute. She has led the Māori Strategy, Partnerships and Enterprise team at Plant & Food Research since 2017.

Damian Moran is a senior aquaculture researcher and Team Leader within the newly formed Bioeconomy Science Institute. Located in Nelson, he helps develop research programmes and new capabilities that can be used in aquaculture production and supporting industries.

Lynette and her partner have been operating Orata Marine Oysters in the Mahurangi for 28 years and she is also President of the Mahurangi Oyster Association.

Rhys Manukau is Chief Executive of Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust and brings business development experience across private, public and iwi sectors.

Based in Boston, Andrew is the founder and CEO of Sedna Robotics. He is developing Warden (a small solar-powered autonomous surface vessel) and leading its deployments in New England across ocean monitoring, fisheries and maritime awareness.

Founders of The Kutai Guy, an award-winning, family-owned business producing premium smoked New Zealand green-lipped mussels.

Stephen is BNZ’s Head of Research and regarded as one of the leading economic and political spokespeople in New Zealand.

Chris Bishop is the Attorney-General, Minister of Housing, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Minister of Transport, and Associate Minister of Finance. He is the MP for Hutt South.

Melissa is a street-smart futurist and tech entrepreneur who helps leaders cut through noise, tackle change head-on, and build clear pathways to tomorrow.

Bioeconomy Science Institute

NMIT

Scale AQ

MPI

New Zealand King Salmon

Technolab

New Zealand King Salmon

SLR

SLR

Environmental Decontamination (NZ) Ltd

MT Farms

Victoria University of Wellington

Kernohan

Ocean Impact Organisation

Blue House

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon

Cawthron

Nofitech

Bioeconomy Science Institute

Cawthron

Earth Sciences New Zealand

Mogeo

Ocean Intelligence

AKVA

Biosecurity New Zealand

Earth Sciences New Zealand

Kernohan

Chair - New Zealand Salmon Farmers Association

Akaroa King Salmon

Deputy Chair - New Zealand Salmon Farmers Association

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon

Marine Farming Association