Arindam Basu is an Associate Professor of Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury and is an Epidemiologist Medical Doctor (MBBS from University of Calcutta, Master of Public Health from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, PhD from Saint Louis University School of Public Health). He teaches Environmental Health at the University of Canterbury and was part of a research team that conducted a study on the social protection for Pacific Islander population in New Zealand; the research was funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council.

Yvonne Crichton-Hill is a registered social worker and Associate Professor serving as the Director of the Social Work programme at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Yvonne’s ancestry is Samoan and Palagi. Her research focuses on culturally responsive social work practice, particularly within Pacific communities. She employs qualitative, intersectional indigenous methods to develop and inform Pacific knowledge, research, and practice in the areas of family violence, indigenous social work responses to health, and social work education and practice. Yvonne has a background of social work practice in family violence work (women and children), and in work with Pacific families and communities and she is currently involved in serving a number of non- government Pacific and non-Pacific providers, and government organisations in governance and advisor capacities. Yvonne is passionate about enhancing the potential of Pacific people and working to make government, policy, and health and social sector activities more responsive to Pacific needs

Associate Professor at the University of Fiji, a Fiji registered nurse and nurse academic, coordinator nursing education and a member of the University Senate. Holds a PhD-Nursing (Massey University), Master of Arts in Applied Psychology, PG Diploma in Tertiary Teaching, Cert in Counselling and Bachelor of Arts in Management and Public Administration.

Esala Vakamacawai is an iTaukei Fijian with a medical background, especially in General Surgery. He is enrolled as a PhD candidate at the University of Canterbury and works at Pegasus Health Primary Health Organisation as a Pacific Health manager. Esala's work aligns climate change with its health impacts using a case study on Galoa island.

Georgia Behrens is Assistant Director in the National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit in the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and helped lead development of Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy. She leads the unit’s work on climate adaptation and resilience.

Vicktoria Blake is Principal Advisor Climate Risk and Resilience at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. Vicktoria chaired the Climate Change Scenarios for the New Zealand Health Sector Leadership Group and is co-chair of Sustainable Healthcare Aotearoa and an executive board member of OraTaiao Climate and Health Council

Kathryn Bowen is Professor and Deputy Director of Melbourne Climate Futures and Professor of Climate, Environment and Global Health at the University of Melbourne. Kathryn regularly advises the World Health Organization (WHO) on climate change and health, as well as other national and international organisations.

Peter Schneider is Principal Environmental Health Scientist in the Environmental Hazards Unit of Queensland Health. He was a key contributor in the development of the Queensland Health Climate Risk Strategy and Climate Adaptation Guidelines, as well as providing climate risk assessment training and supporting climate risk assessments.

Carolyn Tateishi oversees Canada’s federal lead office on climate change and health issues as Director and is a lead for the Health and Wellbeing system of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy. She works closely many domestic and international partners on efforts to build climate resilient health systems.

Kaeden Watts (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhoe) is a Principal Policy Analyst within the Aotearoa New Zealand Ministry of Health’s public health policy function, the Public Health Agency. Kaeden is responsible for leading the implementation of the Health National Adaptation Plan 2024–2027, Aotearoa’s first climate change and health strategy.

Yvonne Crichton-Hill is a registered social worker and Associate Professor serving as the Director of the Social Work programme at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Yvonne’s ancestry is Samoan and Palagi. Her research focuses on culturally responsive social work practice, particularly within Pacific communities. She employs qualitative, intersectional indigenous methods to develop and inform Pacific knowledge, research, and practice in the areas of family violence, indigenous social work responses to health, and social work education and practice. Yvonne has a background of social work practice in family violence work (women and children), and in work with Pacific families and communities and she is currently involved in serving a number of non-government Pacific and non-Pacific providers, and government organisations in governance and advisor capacities. Yvonne is passionate about enhancing the potential of Pacific people and working to make government, policy, and health and social sector activities more responsive to Pacific needs.

Kathryn Bowen is Professor and Deputy Director of Melbourne Climate Futures and Professor of Climate, Environment and Global Health at the University of Melbourne. Kathryn regularly advises the World Health Organization (WHO) on climate change and health, as well as other national and international organisations. Georgia Behrens is Assistant Director in the National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit in the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, and helped lead development of Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy. She leads the unit’s work on climate adaptation and resilience. Vicktoria Blake is Principal Advisor Climate Risk and Resilience at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. Vicktoria chaired the New Zealand Climate Change Scenarios for the Health Sector Leadership Group and is co-chair of Sustainable Healthcare Aotearoa and an executive board member of OraTaiao Climate and Health Council. Peter Schneider is Principal Environmental Health Scientist in the Environmental Hazards Unit of Queensland Health. He was a key contributor in the development of the Queensland Health Climate Risk Strategy and Climate Adaptation Guidelines, as well as providing climate risk assessment training and supporting climate risk assessments. NOTE: Peter Berry and Kaeden Watts are still to be confirmed as speakers.