Dr David Hall (tangata tiriti) is Executive Director of Toha Network Limited and Senior Lecturer for Climate Action at AUT. He served as Independent Specialist Advisor to the Finance and Expenditure Committee’s Inquiry into Climate Adaptation; Contributing Author to IPCC AR6 WG2 (Australasia chapter); and publishes widely on climate action.

Lavinia is a researcher based at the African Climate & Development, working towards understanding and developing innovation programs for climate action. She works at the intersection of research and practice, focusing on co-creating sustainable solutions. In addition, she is a design consultant and coach, supporting individuals and teams across sectors.

Presenter 1 - Lavinia is a researcher based at the African Climate & Development, working towards understanding and developing innovation programs for climate action. She works at the intersection of research and practice, focusing on co-creating sustainable solutions. In addition, she is a design consultant and coach, supporting individuals and teams across sectors. Presenter 2- Martin is the Director and Founder of PlanAdapt, Senior Climate Adaptation Innovation & Knowledge Broker, Curator and Facilitator of the Climate Co-Adaptation Lab, Advisor to International Climate Funds, UN agencies and national governments in LMICs for over 23 years on climate adaptation policy, practice and innovations from local to global scale. Presenter 3- Angie is Ngāti Porou and currently the Kaitohu/Director Tangata Whenua (indigenous people) alongside Dr Penny Hagen (Kaitohu/Director Tangata Tiriti), demonstrating a leadership model which acknowledges and values Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Angie leads the Lab’s indigenous-led system change methodology and practices focused on equitable and sustainable outcomes. Presenter 4- Dr David Hall (tangata tiriti) is Executive Director of Toha Network Limited and Senior Lecturer for Climate Action at AUT. He served as Independent Specialist Advisor to the Finance and Expenditure Committee’s Inquiry into Climate Adaptation; Contributing Author to IPCC AR6 WG2 (Australasia chapter); and publishes widely on climate action. Moderator - Gina Ziervogel is Director of the African Climate and Development Initiative and Professor in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her research focuses on climate change adaptation and development with a focus on urban governance and water and transdisciplinary approaches.

Martin is the Director and Founder of PlanAdapt, Senior Climate Adaptation Innovation & Knowledge Broker, Curator and Facilitator of the Climate Co-Adaptation Lab, Advisor to International Climate Funds, UN agencies and national governments in LMICs for over 23 years on climate adaptation policy, practice and innovations from local to global scale.

Angie is Ngāti Porou and currently the Kaitohu/Director Tangata Whenua (indigenous people) alongside Dr Penny Hagen (Kaitohu/Director Tangata Tiriti), demonstrating a leadership model which acknowledges and values Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Angie leads the Lab’s indigenous-led system change methodology and practices focused on equitable and sustainable outcomes.

Gina Ziervogel is Director of the African Climate and Development Initiative and Professor in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her research focuses on climate change adaptation and development with a focus on urban governance and water and transdisciplinary approaches.

Dr Barnett, Chief Director at SANBI, has over 20 years of experience pioneering biodiversity economy approaches, mainstreaming, ecosystem-based adaptation, and capacity building. She leads SANBI’s role as a Direct Access Entity for the Adaptation Fund and Green Climate Fund.

Ms Chilwane is a junior urban planner and researcher specialising in community-based planning, adaptation strategies, and water-sensitive urban design. With expertise in climate change response and local government adaptation planning, she contributes to policy development and sustainable spatial planning. She currently works with the CSIR's Urban and Regional Dynamics Group.

Jurgens Dyssel has 33 years of experience in emergency and disaster management, specialising in risk reduction, governance, response, policy, and legislation. As Chief Director at the National Disaster Management Centre, he oversees regulatory frameworks, intergovernmental forums, and compliance. He holds a Master’s in Disaster Studies and honors degrees in business and fire technology.

Dr Khangale is employed by Santam – an insurer – to lead the Partnership for Risk and Resilience, a programme to build resilience in selected South African municipalities by addressing risk through partnerships to reduce impacts of catastrophic events on lives, livelihoods and assets of policy holders and vulnerable communities.

Mr Lomberg has 31 years’ experience in financial services, holding senior roles at Santam, Sanlam, Old Mutual, and Metropolitan. He is Executive Director of the Climate and Disaster Resilience Fund, focusing on climate adaptation and municipal capacity. He has extensive expertise in business strategy, market development, and multi-sector partnerships.

Faith Nkohla, Director of Climate Change Adaptation: Socio-economic Sectors at the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South Africa, supports cross-sectoral integration of adaptation interventions, develops strategies for key sectors, and leads climate adaptation research. She also guides projects on climate risk mapping and resilience.

Ms. Pieterse is an urban planner and senior researcher at CSIR, specialising in climate adaptation, resilient development, mainstreaming and local government planning. Her research focus is on how local governments use adaptation planning research in policy and planning.

Ms. van Niekerk, principal researcher at CSIR, is an urban planner with 25 years’ experience in consulting, lecturing, and research. She specialises in geospatial planning support systems for spatial planning and climate adaptation. She led the development of the GreenBook, a tool aiding South African local governments in climate resilience.

Ms. van Niekerk, principal researcher at CSIR, is an urban planner with 25 years’ experience in consulting, lecturing, and research. She specialises in geospatial planning support systems for spatial planning and climate adaptation. She led the development of the GreenBook, a tool aiding South African local governments in climate resilience.

Mr van Staden has 25 years of experience in disaster risk management, specialising in geoinformatics, database management, and analysis. As Deputy Director at South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre, he has led risk assessment and early warning projects for 18 years. He holds degrees in Geoinformatics, Sociology, and Psychology, plus various ICT and management credentials.