Keynote Speakers

This page will be updated as new speakers are confirmed. 

Hon Nanaia Mahuta                                     

As a mother, and a constituent MP with 20 plus years’ experience who has come from ‘flax-root’ politics, Hon Nanaia Mahuta remains connected to the aspirations of people from all walks of life. Those who work hard for a living so that their children can do better, kaumatua, tradespeople, those who aspire to own their home, those who own small businesses and those who lead a range of services and organisations and huge iwi entities.

In the 2020 Labour Government, Nanaia became the first woman to hold the Foreign Affairs portfolio. She is also Minister of Local Government, and Associate Minister for Māori Development.

Steve Hutchison                                     

Steve is chartered professional engineer with a focus on wastewater network engineering.  He is currently the Wastewater Chief Advisor at Wellington Water where he has been working for the past five years.  Steve has an interest in all areas of wastewater engineering, including operations, planning and design, trade waste, treatment plant operation, resource consents and has been closely involved with the recent emergency responses in Wellington and the subsequent mayoral task force.

Talk title: Fixing our ageing wastewater networks.  

Jim Graham                                     

Jim is the Principal Technical Advisor with Taumata Arowai, joining the Establishment Unit in February 2020. He has 30 years experience working in the water sector, initially in Health Protection as a Health Protection Officer and Drinking Water Assessor. From 2005 until 2008 Jim worked at the Ministry of Health setting up the $150M Drinking Water Assistance Programme, assisting with the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act and the 2008 Drinking Water Standards. Nine years as a Principal Environmental Scientist with Opus, assisting water suppliers with compliance and risk management planning followed before he joined Water New Zealand as Principal Water Quality advisor. He was an expert advisor to the Havelock North Inquiry and has worked on a range of aid projects in the Pacific and Asia.

Breakfast Keynote Speaker