Honourable Mayor Chitangala is a Climate Change Champion, community engagement leader, gender & Youth activist in Lusaka and beyond.

Dr Kemp is a Senior Program Specialist at IDRC’s Climate Resilient Food Systems Division. She oversees adaptation initiatives including the Step Change program.

Dr. Strachan is a Senior Manager in Climate Change Resilience, Coastal Management and DRR at ICLEI Africa. She has extensive experience in facilitating knowledge exchange between academia, policy, and practice to drive climate adaptation action in African cities.

Professor Sutherland is an Associate Professor in the discipline of development studies and works at the interface between social and environmental systems with a focus on sustainable development.

Both Zabeel and Toroa are students at Buller High School. Zabeel is head student for 2025. Both are actively engaged in community life, with strong generational ties to the Coast. They were part of the Westport Master Planning Design Week workshops and have presented to elected members as youth representatives.

Jamie has been Mayor of Buller District since 2019. He has significant experience leading communities through emergencies including three flood events during 2021-22. He has a strong understanding of the complex adaptation challenges facing communities and the need for a collaborative, long term, strategic planning approach, in partnership with government.

David is a founding Director of Isthmus and Fellow of the NZILA with thirty-five years’ experience in landscape architecture and urban design. His experience encompasses city, town and coastal environments, and his work has been awarded numerous times for its quality, innovation and contribution to regenerating Aotearoa.

Helen is a Principal of Isthmus and registered landscape architect with twenty-five years’ experience. She is urban design discipline lead for Isthmus’ three Aotearoa studios and is based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. Her work in strategic visioning, master planning and blue-green infrastructure specialises in regenerative and participatory design with communities.

Steph is the senior engagement advisor for the Resilient Westport adaptation programme. Steph was an emergency response coordinator during the 2021, 2022 Buller floods. She is a local business owner and resident and has held many key roles within organisations in the Buller community including the health and wellbeing sector.

Both Zabeel and Toroa are students at Buller High School. Zabeel is head student for 2025. Both are actively engaged in community life, with strong generational ties to the Coast. They were part of the Westport Master Planning Design Week workshops and have presented to elected members as youth representatives.

Paul is Council’s Project Lead for Westport Master Planning, seconded into this role from Joseph and Associates. Paul specialises in strategy and project management, with experience in adaptation planning and community engagement. He has played key Council and NGO roles in the post-disaster regeneration of Christchurch and Westport.

Dr. Strachan is a Senior Manager in Climate Change Resilience, Coastal Management and DRR at ICLEI Africa. She has extensive experience in facilitating knowledge exchange between academia, policy, and practice to drive climate adaptation action in African cities.

Helen Kerr is a Principal of Isthmus and registered landscape architect with twenty-five years’ experience. She is urban design discipline lead for Isthmus’ three Aotearoa studios and is based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. Her work in strategic visioning, master planning and blue-green infrastructure specialises in regenerative and participatory design with communities. Jamie Cleine has been Mayor of Buller District since 2019. He has significant experience leading communities through emergencies including flood events during 2021-22. He has a strong understanding of the complex adaptation challenges facing communities and the need for a collaborative, long term, strategic planning approach, in partnership with government. Paul Zaanen is Council’s Project Lead for Westport Master Planning, seconded into this role from Joseph and Associates. Paul specialises in strategy and project management, with experience in adaptation planning and community engagement. He has played key Council and NGO roles in the post-disaster regeneration of Christchurch and Westport. Stephanie Newburry is the senior engagement advisor for the Resilient Westport adaptation programme. Steph was an emergency response coordinator during the 2021, 2022 Buller floods. She is a local business owner and resident and has held many key roles within organisations in the Buller community including the health and wellbeing sector. Zabeel Scanlan and Toroa Charteris are students at Buller High School, and Zabeel is head student. Both are actively engaged in community life, with strong generational ties to the Coast. They were part of the Westport Master Planning Design Week workshops and have presented to elected members as youth representatives. David Irwin is a founding Director of Isthmus and Fellow of the NZILA with thirty-five years’ experience in landscape architecture and urban design. His experience encompasses city, town and coastal environments, and his work has been awarded numerous times for its quality, innovation and contribution to regenerating Aotearoa