Innovation Summit, March 2025
From the inception of Predator Free New Zealand 2050, affordable and innovative technology was seen to play a critical role in the achievement of this vision. This focus has already resulted in the roll out of exciting new tools and techniques predicted to more than halve the original cost estimate for predator eradication across the country.
The recent Innovation Summit hosted by Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel brought together keynote speakers operating at the forefront of the technology revolution with local practitioners exploring the implementation of innovative solutions. Our hope is that the 2025 Innovation Summit inspires conversation and action that drives innovation forward.
You can view full video presentations from the 2025 PFHC Innovation Summit here.
Dr Helen Blackie, Ecologist & Research Lead, Critter Solutions
Having spent almost 20 years developing pest control technology from cutting edge camera sensors and intelligent traps to long life lures, Dr Helen Blackie Is regarded as one of New Zealand's leading ecologists supercharging Predator Free 2050. Her scientific expertise, knowledge of animal behaviour, development and commercialisation of novel technologies has been transformative and game-changing for conservation practice both nationally and internationally.
Travis Tupea, Ko Moehau ki Tai
A dedicated conservationist and community leader, Travis is Project Manager of Ko Moehau ki Tai, an iwi-led restoration initiative working to restore the mauri of Moehau maunga. As part of their role as kaitiaki his team are leading the charge on halting the spread of the exotic caulerpa seaweed in the Northern Coromandel. Travis shares his insights into an iwi-led approach to conservation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and integrating traditional Māori ecological knowledge with modern conservation practices.
Sara Smerdon, Mahakirau Forest Sanctuary
Sara is a field operations expert with sharp observational skills, who has led the intensive predator control programme at Mahakirau Forest Sanctuary near Whitianga for over a decade. As a staunch advocate for wildlife monitoring, Sara has recently uncovered groundbreaking - and deeply concerning - insights into the diet of key invasive predators. By applying eDNA analysis to the stomach contents of pigs, stoats, and ferrets, her research has confirmed predation on a whole suite of threatened species, including Archey’s and Hochstetter’s frogs, native skinks, the Northern Striped gecko, and several endemic bird species. These findings underscore the critical need for innovative mitigation strategies to protect Aotearoa’s most vulnerable wildlife.
Jeff Williams, Whisky Bay Biodiversity Project
Jeff is a passionate conservation practitioner with over a decade of on-the-ground field experience under his belt. As an early adopter of technology, Jeff is always eager to share his technical expertise and assist others who are interested in pest control. While Jeff resides in Coromandel town, he spends much of the year volunteering at five or six conservation projects around New Zealand. He was a founding Trustee of Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust. His presentation focuses on the potential of Long range Radio network (LoRa) sensors for increasing the efficiency of live capture traps.
