Jenny-May Clarkson - Conference MC
We’re thrilled to welcome sporting and broadcasting legend Jenny-May Clarkson as our MC for Whakamanawa 2026. Jenny-May is a dynamic broadcaster, celebrated sportswoman, and advocate for community and cultural empowerment. With over 30 years of professional experience, she has excelled in roles spanning television and radio broadcasting, international sports, coaching, and social advocacy.
Tu Chapman
Tu is an experienced Māori leader (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Taranaki whānui) specialising in strategic commissioning, data-driven insights, and kaupapa-led system transformation. She leads across outcomes, data governance, communications, and sector engagement at a regional and national level. Read more.
Dr Lucy Hone
Dr Lucy Hone is a world-leading resilience expert and one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most trusted voices on how humans cope with loss, change, and uncertainty. Trained in resilience psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and holding a PhD in wellbeing science, Lucy is an Adjunct Fellow at the Universities of Canterbury and Pittsburgh. Her mission is to make resilience science practical, accessible, and honest — never sugar‑coated or simplistic. Read more.
Fonotī Pati Umaga
Fonotī Pati Umaga is a celebrated Samoan musician and dedicated Pacific and disability advocate, with a remarkable life story that has just been showcased in a new theatre work Music Portrait of a Humble Disabled Samoan at the Wellington and Auckland Arts Festivals. Read more.
Dame Marilyn Waring
Dame Marilyn Waring is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology. Marilyn is known internationally for her ground-breaking work in political economy, Counting for Nothing/ If Women Counted.. She served three terms in New Zealand’s parliament, was a member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the Councils of Creative New Zealand and Massey University, the QEII National Trust and the Institute of Judicial Studies, the WHO Council on The Economics of Health for All. She recently served on the People’s Select Committee into Pay Equity.
