Derek has spent 35 years as a lawyer in private practice, alongside 30 years of involvement in organic farm development and environmental activism. Derek has served as chair and director of several organic companies and grassroots organisations, including past roles as chair of organic certifier BioGro and chair of OANZ. He was also an early director of the Environmental Defence Society.

Since turning a bare 20-acre piece of land into a thriving certified organic mixed farm, Derek and his wife Roz have been commercially producing apples, juice, garlic and garden vegetables for the past decade. Derek sees regenerative, sustainable organic farming as the foundation for restoring our natural environment, increasing biodiversity, reversing climate change and providing nutritious food. Derek also currently works as a consultant with Ceres Organics, developing strong relationships with primary producers and building supply chains for New Zealand organic products.

Rob is a passionate advocate for organic and regenerative food systems and deeply committed to fostering sustainable practices within New Zealand’s food sector. As a Director and Advisor, Rob blends his expertise in community well-being initiatives with his dedication to advancing food systems that benefit both people and the environment.

Rob holds a degree in Applied Science from Massey University and serves as Director of Little Beauties Ltd, a specialty dried fruit company based in Nelson-Tasman, where he actively promotes sustainable food production.

With over 15 years of experience in ANZ commercial and Agri banking, Rob specialised as a Food and Beverage Sector Specialist, a role that fueled his commitment to connecting people across the food system and inspiring innovation, collaboration, and sustainable investment. He firmly believes that regenerative and long-term thinking within the food sector can drive positive social, health, economic, and environmental outcomes.

Rob currently resides on a 12-hectare mixed orchard and organic vineyard in the Nelson-Tasman region with his wife Niki and their four children, where they practice sustainable farming and contribute to the region's vibrant organic food community.

Merf is the Head of the Biological Husbandry Unit’s Future Farming Centre at Lincoln University. The Future Farming Centre is dedicated to the science and extension of permanent and whole-system agriculture, such as organic agriculture, agroecology, and regenerative agriculture.

Merf has over thirty years of experience as a grower, having managed organic vegetable farms in his native UK and adopted New Zealand, and as a scientist finding practical and effective physical, biological, and ecological solutions to agricultural challenges.

Robyn O’Brien has been called “food’s Erin Brockovich” by The New York Times. She is a leader in the good food movement and an advocate for organics. Robyn is a dual citizen of New Zealand and the US. Based in the US, she advocates for the growth of organic and regenerative agriculture, and works to develop reliable organic produce supply chains. As vice president of impact investment fund rePlant Capital, Robyn uses philanthropic capital to support farmers in their conversion to organic agriculture.

Robyn is passionate about New Zealand’s future as a clean and green nation. She holds ambitions to reduce regulatory risk for New Zealand’s organic producers and develop bridges for New Zealand organics in the US. She currently works with legislators, trade associations, grocery chains and major multinational food companies to better understand the changing landscape of consumer behaviour and expectations.

Viv has a strong vision of organics as a pathway to better health, a more holistic and caring economic system and a better planet for future generations. She has extensive experience in the food sector across both private and public organisations.

Between 2019 and 2022, Viv lead OANZ as CEO. Over the last three years she has worked extensively to supporting the launch of the Organic Market Report, has secured funding for and development of the Organic Sector Strategy, has travelled up and down the country conducting face to face consultation with the sector and worked hard developing a closer working relationship between OANZ and the Government.

Prior to OANZ, Viv was Head of Strategy & Business Development at Ceres Organics. As well as leading strategic planning, she was responsible for their Bulk, Produce, Health & Beauty and Export business units along with their store in Ellerslie. The experience gave her an excellent appreciation of the challenges faced by local and international organic value chains. Prior to this, Viv worked at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise leading the East Asia Food Programme, and at Nelson based Wakatu Incorporated as GM International for their Kono (food basket) business units.

A former Chief Executive of Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ), Brendan has been instrumental in shaping pro-organic policy at the central and local government levels, and has helped achieve some of the organic sector's most significant milestones both here and internationally. He is the founder of Buy Pure New Zealand, a platform that connects the world with New Zealand's finest organic, natural, and fair-trade products.

Brendan Hoare is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most experienced and committed advocates for organic and sustainable food systems. With over 30 years of practice spanning research, policy, community mobilisation, and international trade, Brendan brings a rare combination of on-the-ground expertise and big-picture strategic vision to everything he does.

Brendan's guiding vision is simple and bold: to make Aotearoa New Zealand an organic econation. That vision is personal as well as professional. When he's not working, you'll find him at Long Breath Farm, the certified organic property his family calls home on the West Coast.

A seasoned facilitator and communicator with deep cross-cultural experience across the Asia-Pacific region, Brendan is a trusted voice and a champion of the organic kaupapa.