Indigenous Innovation and Leadership - Risk and Resilience
Tracks
Indigenous Innovation and
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 |
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM |
Waitaki Room (hybrid) |
Speaker
Brett Huson
President
Aluu'taa
Beyond infrastructure: Indigenous approaches to climate risk and resilience
1:45 PM - 2:30 PMBiography
Brett D. Huson is a Gitxsan Nation member, President and Founder of Aluu’taa, and an award-winning author. He integrates Indigenous knowledge into climate adaptation, governance, and cultural infrastructure research. His work influences policy and planning, contributing to Canadian Geographic and advising the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Dr Ian Mauro
Executive Director
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
Beyond infrastructure: Indigenous approaches to climate risk and resilience
1:45 PM - 2:30 PMBiography
Dr. Ian Mauro is the executive director of Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions at the University of
Victoria. Mauro’s work explores climate change, Indigenous knowledges, and community-based
approaches. Mauro has developed numerous, award-winning climate-change initiatives, including:
Qapirangajuq: Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change, and Beyond Climate, and the Climate Atlas.
Miss Janna Wale
Indigenous Research And Partnerships Lead
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
Beyond infrastructure: Indigenous approaches to climate risk and resilience
1:45 PM - 2:30 PMBiography
Dr. Ian Mauro is the executive director of Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions at the University of Victoria. Mauro’s work explores climate change, Indigenous knowledges, and community-based approaches. Mauro has developed numerous, award-winning climate-change initiatives, including: Qapirangajuq: Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change, and Beyond Climate, and the Climate Atlas.
Janna Wale is Gitxsan/Cree-Métis, and is the Indigenous Research and Partnerships Lead at the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. Her research uses a complex human-environmental systems approach, bridging western and Indigenous science towards adaptation and climate resilience. She has won several awards for her work on Indigenous climate adaptation.
Brett D. Huson is a Gitxsan Nation member, President and Founder of Aluu’taa, and an award-winning author. He integrates Indigenous knowledge into climate adaptation, governance, and cultural infrastructure research. His work influences policy and planning, contributing to Canadian Geographic and advising the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Mrs Linda Faulkner
Chief Scientist Māori Environmental Research
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research / Earth Science Institute
Navigating change: A futures-thinking talanoa on how traditional knowledge can strengthen climate resilience in the Pacific and Aotearoa
2:30 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Frances Koya-Vaka’uta
Navigating change: A futures-thinking talanoa on how traditional knowledge can strengthen climate resilience in the Pacific and Aotearoa
2:30 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Siosinamele Lui
Traditional Knowledge Advisor
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program
Navigating change: A futures-thinking talanoa on how traditional knowledge can strengthen climate resilience in the Pacific and Aotearoa
2:30 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Ms Molly Powers-Tora
Pacific Strategy and Engagement Advisor
New Zealand Earth Science Institute (NIWA)
Navigating change: A futures-thinking talanoa on how traditional knowledge can strengthen climate resilience in the Pacific and Aotearoa
2:30 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Siosinamele Lui of Samoa is the Climate Traditional Knowledge Officer based at Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). For the past 8 years, she has supported collection and application of traditional climate knowledge for adaptation and resilience across the Pacific Islands.
Philip Malsale of Vanuatu is a senior climatologist with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) supporting regional climate monitoring and prediction. Philip researches weather, climate, and the application of traditional climate knowledge.
Linda is of Ngāti Rangi and Whanganui descent and joined NIWA in August 2024 from her previous role as Deputy Director for the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge. Linda’s career has spanned environmental policy, management and research with a focus on the interface between science and mātauranga Māori and creating spaces for the innovation potential of indigenous knowledge.
Molly Powers-Tora is an international development practitioner specializing in climate change resilience, program design and management, knowledge brokering, and capacity building. Over her 20-year career in Fiji and working across Pacific regional agencies, Molly has worked at the intersection of science, policy, public communication and education to build community resilience.
Erica (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Te Whānau ā Apanui) started at NIWA in 1995. She holds an MSc (University of Waikato) focused on blue mussel toxicity and a PhD (University of Auckland) investigating the effects of contaminants on shellfish. She currently works on a range of projects spanning both the marine and freshwater environments within the National Centre of Māori Environmental Research.
Alisi Rabukawaqa
Navigating change: A futures-thinking talanoa on how traditional knowledge can strengthen climate resilience in the Pacific and Aotearoa
2:30 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Dr Joeli Veitayaki
Strategic Adviser
Blue Prosperity Fiji
Navigating change: A futures-thinking talanoa on how traditional knowledge can strengthen climate resilience in the Pacific and Aotearoa
2:30 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
