Robert Sullivan

Dr Robert Sullivan’s bestselling Hopurangi—Songcatcher: Poems from the Maramataka (Auckland University Press) was shortlisted for the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. His other shortlisted books include the epics Star Waka and Captain Cook in the Underworld, and the Polynesian poetry anthologies Whetu Moana, and Mauri Ola coedited with Reina Whaitiri and Maualaivao Albert Wendt. Whetu Moana won the Montana NZ Book Award. His children’s book Weaving Earth and Sky, illustrated by Gavin Bishop, was the New Zealand Post Book of the Year. The Māori poetry anthology he coedited with Reina Whaitiri, Puna Wai Kōrero, won the creative writing award in the Ngā Kupu Ora Māori Book Awards. He is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Massey University, and President of the New Zealand Poetry Society. Robert belongs to Ngāpuhi and Kāi Tahu iwi. His poetry speaks to an idealised, empowered New Zealand society for all and addresses the people who live there in the future. He is the current Aotearoa New Zealand Poet Laureate.

phil dooley

Dr Phil Dooley is a science entertainer, writer and trainer under the banner of Phil Up On Science. He is also Manager of Communications for ANU Physics (part-time) and has worked for ANU media office, USyd Physics and at JET nuclear fusion experiment in UK.

He became President of Australian Science Communicators in December 2024, having been involved with ASC for over 20 years.

He’s written for Cosmos Magazine, New Scientist, the American Institute of Physics and more and has been selected for the Anthology of Best Australian Science Writing three times. 

He’s performed his own brand of science, music and comedy in science shows and festivals around the world including Glasgow, Sydney and London. He has run training courses, made videos, written for, and organised pub gigs for ARC Research Centres, Professional Organisations, NGOs, Industry and University Departments. The pub gigs now number over 50, across six cities across Australia; while most have been on physics there have been many other topics, including food and death!

He has a PhD in Laser Physics and Cert IV in Workplace Assessment and Training.

bronwyn hayward

Bronwyn Hayward MNZM FRSNZ is a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury, where she directs the Hei Puāwaitanga Sustainable Citizenship and Civic Imagination Research Group. A leading voice in climate, sustainability, and youth politics, she has contributed as both lead author and coordinating lead author to multiple IPCC reports, including the Special Report on 1.5°C and the AR6 Synthesis Report—work that shapes how global climate stories are told. Her research spans democracy, environmental change, and intergenerational justice, and she collaborates on international projects such as CUSP and Voices of the Future, offering rich insights for communicators working to engage diverse publics on climate and sustainability issues.