Regional Anniversary Breakfast: Waitaha Canterbury

The regional anniversaries in each of our major metros are a good time to lift our heads and see what the future may hold in store for us. Some things change, and some stay the same. Our past and the decisions we all make today, will shape that future.

Join others working in urban development at our 2026 UDINZ Waitaha Canterbury Anniversary Breakfast being held at Atawhai Cafe from 8.00am on Tuesday 17 November.

The purpose of our anniversary breakfasts is to "Ka mua, ka muri",a whakatauki that many will know. It means "walking backwards into the future". It informs the concept for these events. The idea is we need to honour the past and the decisions of those that came before, but recognise we carry responsibility for the decisions we make (or enable) today because they too shape our collective future. 

Speakers:

Graeme Sumner, Chief Executive Officer for Lyttelton Port Company.

Graeme became Lyttelton Port Company’s Chief Executive Officer in September 2023. 

Graeme’s executive experience includes CEO of Airways NZ, the SOE responsible for the management and control of New Zealand’s airspace, as well as having an extensive international business providing products and services to 33 countries worldwide. Before joining Airways NZ in 2017, Graeme held various leadership roles in New Zealand and Australia, including Managing Director of Service Stream, Managing Director of Transfield Services New Zealand and Managing Director of Siemens New Zealand. Earlier, Graeme held General Manager level roles with New Zealand Post, Contact Energy and Telecom.

Claire Waghorn of Christchurch International Airport Limited

Claire Waghorn is the Sustainable Transition Leader at Christchurch Airport. She is trained as a Barrister and Solicitor with a focus on international climate law, with MSc International Relations (LSE, London), and LLB and BA (Hons) in Diplomacy and International Relations (UC, New Zealand). She is currently working towards accelerating the transition within the aviation sector towards zero emissions. Claire’s previous roles include Parliamentary Researcher for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, and Foreign Policy Officer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Claire currently sits as the Chair of the Zero Emissions Aviation Working Group, a member of the International Airport Carbon Accreditation taskforce, and the Regional Environmental representative for Airports in the Asia Pacific. She is also a Board Member for the New Zealand Centre of Global Studies.

NB: Please note the door price includes a barista coffee and a light breakfast but, once inside, the venue is also happy for you to place more substantial breakfast orders (at your cost) from the a la carte menu.