This year, we’re thrilled to have two MCs — David Downs and Toni Street. Both bring a wealth of professionalism, experience, and charisma, ensuring the event stays engaging and entertaining from start to finish.
MEET OUR MC'S
TONI STREET
Familiar face Toni Street is a beloved Kiwi broadcaster, sports commentator and television personality. An expert MC and speaker, Toni has presented morning shows, reported sport for One News both locally and internationally and won the title of Television Personality of the Year at the NZTV Awards. Street also became a Kiwi best-seller in 2022 with memoir Lost and Found, a profound, personal story of heartbreak and resilience.
Currently a host on the ever popular Coast Breakfast show, Toni’s personal, spin-off podcast We Need To Talk gives opportunity for her to dive deeper into the topics that interest her most and engage further with listeners, discussing the realities of wellness goals on a more intimate basis. Exuding that same down-to-earth confidence and calm authority whether she’s addressing a noisy crowd or chatting on a podcast, Toni Street’s perspective and industry cred will add finesse and warmth to any event.
David Downs
David Downs is a business leader, public servant, speaker, and author, currently CEO of The New Zealand Story, a government initiative promoting New Zealand globally. He previously held senior roles at NZ Trade and Enterprise and Microsoft and has founded and led several businesses.
A chartered member of the Institute of Directors, David chairs multiple organisations including The Icehouse, the Hi-Tech Trust, and the Well Foundation, and serves on government advisory groups.
A published author on innovation (No.8 Re-wired, Silver Linings), David is also a former comedian and actor, a semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year, and a cancer survivor who shared his journey in A Mild Touch of the Cancer and its documentary adaptation. His charity, Down with Cancer, supports access to CAR T-cell therapy in New Zealand.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, he co-founded sosbusiness.nz, a not-for-profit that raised over $2 million for 2,500 small businesses.
MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Jason Te Brake is Chief Executive Officer of Zespri, the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit, delivering premium fruit to consumers in more than 50 countries. Guided by Zespri’s purpose to help people, communities and the environment thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit - Jason is committed to creating sustainable, long‑term value for growers.
Appointed CEO in July 2024, Jason previously served as Chief Operating Officer, leading Zespri’s global supply chain and New Zealand operations. He played a pivotal role in steering the industry through recent quality challenges and delivering a record crop through meticulous planning and execution. His earlier roles include Chief Global Supply Officer, Head of New Zealand Supply and Commercial Manager. A chartered accountant, Jason’s career spans KPMG, AFFCO, ANZCO Foods and Miraka.
Under his leadership, Zespri is accelerating its ambition to be the world’s healthiest fruit brand, reflecting a deep commitment to health, nutrition and sustainability. At Momentum 2026, Jason will discuss Zespri’s 2035 strategy, built around three priorities: unleashing brand‑led demand, transforming global supply, and creating the product portfolio of the future, which will ensure Zespri continues to deliver premium quality and value while meeting evolving consumer expectations.
Kia Hallaji is a global Futurist who has lived and worked in London, Shanghai, and Singapore over the last decade — helping organisations around the world imagine what’s coming next. As Head of Futures at Synthesis, Kia has partnered with Zespri to explore what the future could look like and how our brand can stay one step ahead.
Kia’s work blends creative thinking with real-world insight, making the future feel less like guesswork and more like something you can prepare for. Expect a presentation that’s surprising, inspiring, and a little bit provocative — designed to spark fresh thinking and new conversations.
Carolyn Mortland, Executive Officer Sustainability, is passionate about helping the business thrive through being good for people and planet, building resilience and opportunities through collaborative and innovative solutions. She has over 25 years' experience in strategic, stakeholder and sustainability roles.
She is a purpose-led leader, and in more recent roles co-funded the Futureful organisation that connects job seekers to employers that do good, before moving into providing strategic advice and governance for public and private sector organisations. Carolyn was Director, Sustainability at Fonterra for six years, setting global targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, building nature-based partnerships and publishing audited sustainability reports.
From 2022-2024 she served on Zespri's Sustainability Advisory Board, providing solid advice and support on our sustainability strategy, She is a long-time kiwifruit supporter, with fond memories of being raised on a kiwifruit orchard in Tauranga.
Kok Hwee Ng is Chief Marketing Officer at Zespri, leading the company’s global marketing strategy and championing the voice of the consumer. With over two decades of brand marketing experience, Kok Hwee brings deep expertise in consumer insights, brand building and innovation. Since joining Zespri eight years ago, she has led transformative initiatives including Zespri’s global brand refresh and the development of its 2035 strategy, positioning the brand to meet evolving consumer expectations and drive sustainable growth. Kok Hwee oversees Zespri’s marketing vision to strengthen brand leadership and accelerate its ambition to be the world’s healthiest fruit brand. Her focus is on delivering bold, insight-led campaigns, enhancing digital engagement, and ensuring Zespri remains a trusted partner for healthier food choices worldwide.
MEET OUR WORKSHOP
PRESENTERS
Workshop 3:
Packaging - More than "just a box"
Ben Hughes
Global Packaging Strategic Projects Lead
Ben has a Masters degree in Marketing and International Mngt from Waikato University and has had roles in marketing, sales, packaging and general management. Ben has been based in the United Arab Emirates, United States and New Zealand looking after food brands and business in Africa, Middle East, India and across the Americas. He has worked for Zespri since 2012. One of Ben’s favourite packs is the Pringles tube “when others zigged, they zagged and stand out in an isle of chip bags”.
Amber Roestenburg
Packaging Operations Specialist
Amber Roestenburg is a Packaging Operations Specialist at Zespri with over a decade of experience in supply chain and packaging, based in Mount Maunganui. In addition to my professional role, I own and operate a kiwifruit orchard, giving me a unique, hands-on perspective that bridges the gap between growing and logistics. My dual experience ensures that Zespri’s fruit is packaged efficiently and meets the highest standards as it travels from orchard to global markets. I’m passionate about practical, high-quality packaging solutions and committed to supporting Zespri’s reputation for excellence and global success.
Walter van Pareen
Packaging Technical Lead
With over 30 years’ experience in chemistry, product development and business development, he has led initiatives across fruit coatings, cosmetics, and sustainable packaging. Walter began his career in multinational R&D, authored two patents, and founded a successful skincare raw materials venture. Since joining Zespri in 2022, Walter has focused on transitioning transportation packaging towards more sustainable solutions. His work bridges material science with fruit performance, overseeing trials of new packaging concepts, ensuring compliance with global food-contact regulations, and driving sustainability through life-cycle analysis and End-of-Life evaluations. He works closely across the supply chain to deliver packaging that keeps fruit fresher for longer and aligns with Zespri’s sustainability story.
Shari Webber
Sustainable Packaging Specialist
Shari combines her background in Product Design and Medicinal Chemistry to bring a unique, cross-disciplinary approach to packaging innovation. She began her career as a laboratory technician at Scion, contributing to both commercial and research projects, including material characterization and new packaging technology trials for Zespri. These early experiences sparked her passion for sustainable packaging solutions. Since joining Zespri in May 2024, Shari has taken a leading role in data analysis for technical packaging trials, conducting life-cycle assessments of packaging components, and supporting suppliers in meeting global food-contact compliance standards.
Nicole Reekie
Packaging Operations Specialist
Nicole has over six years in the NZ Supply Chain and a diverse global background in marketing, sales, and events. Driven by curiosity and a passion for problem-solving, she’s always asking “why” — challenging the status quo to uncover more effective methods and cost-saving solutions. Nicole thrives on trialling new ideas, being hands-on in the industry, and driving continuous improvement. Focused on people and collaboration, she believes true efficiency comes from understanding the full picture—from orchard to consumer—including systems, processes, and the people powering them both offshore and in New Zealand. Her proactive, inquisitive mindset makes her a key contributor to Zespri’s packaging sustainability targets and operational excellence.