CleanTech

Speakers

• Rui Peng

  Critical

  Rui is a husband, father, entrepreneur, architect by training and a creative technologist by necessity. He is the co-founder of Critical. a company solving New Zealand's plastic stockpiling problem by transforming plastic waste into compelling products. They do this by partnering with significant NZ brands to turn their plastic waste into marketable products they can use and sell through their Critical. Plastic Product Stewardship programme.

  Rui is driven to align his deepest desire with the world's deepest need, using design & technology to solve society's biggest problems. Rui has built communities, mentored young people in design and business, rallied the people through his TEDx discussion and helped significant NZ commercial brands and ministries design their future as also Design and Innovation Manager with Ernst & Young.

• Carli van Zyl

  Kelp Save The World

  Carli van Zyl is Co-Founder of Kelp Save The World, who won the inaugural Climate X Sprint hosted by the NZ Climate Leaders Coalition. They are working to establish a seaweed industry which could switch Aoteoroa from fossil fuels to this ecologically positive renewable resource.

  The company is also actively undertaking research on seaweed as a source of bio-energy, bio-plastics, and natural fiber. KSTW believes seaweed is a triple threat against climate change, and sees New Zealand’s role in the global industry (with the 9th largest global Economic Exclusion Zone) as an exciting opportunity for both the local economy and the environment.

  As a chemist-turned biotechnology-entrepreneur, Carli recently exited a pharma based startup in the USA and has come back to New Zealand to focus on high impact technologies. She is passionate about seaweed as an ecological solution with particular interest in its ability to sequester carbon from our atmosphere.

Sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors who make our events possible.

• Waitemata Low Carbon Network

  The Waitemata Low Carbon Network is a diverse community of residents, groups and businesses passionate about making low carbon living, working and playing part of the distinct identity of central Auckland.

• Popcorn Collective

  The Popcorn Collective is a group of engineers and designers working to seed, support, and resource game-changing green hardware startups that are aimed at saving our planet and humanity from climate change.