About Us
Climate Navigator is on a mission to win the war on climate change by working together to find pathways to success through bold climate action. This mission is our foundation and underpins everything we do.
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We are a purpose-driven consultancy business.
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We are a social enterprise, committed to putting our money where our mouth, including by allocating a significant share of our profit to support climate action.
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We aim to make our services accessible and affordable for any organisation committed to bold climate action.
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We aim to be climate positive by offsetting at least 120% of our emissions through ecologically-beneficial forests.
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We believe that collaboration is critical, and seek to create an ecosystem of organisations working together to enable bold climate action.
If you are on a similar mission, say hello and let's explore how we might work together to grow our impact.
Meet Our Team
Sam Elder
Founder & Director
Sam is a systems thinker who thrives when working with others to address the major challenges and opportunities we face as a society.
She started out in the 1990s working on some of the world's highest-risk space programmes, including an early mission to measure sea surface temperature and so detect climate change. Since moving to NZ in 2005 her eclectic career has included:
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Coordinating NZ's largest Outcomes Based Investment science research programme.
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Creating industry-leading insight and analytics capability as the Retail Insight Manager at Meridian Energy.
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Building capacity in social enterprise, innovation and impact as Southern Director of the Akina Foundation.
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Supporting urban agriculture and youth development as a Director of Cultivate Christchurch Ltd.
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Developing a first of its kind 'Climate Change Integration' programme as a Senior Strategy Manager at the Canterbury Regional Council.
Along the way Sam has gained a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering; qualified as a UK Chartered Engineer; qualified as a Project Management Professional; and gained an MSc in Architecture (Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies).
In 2020 she chose to focus in on society's ultimate complex challenge - the urgent, must-win fight to combat climate change, and so Climate Navigator was born.
Call: +64 (0)21 245 8945
Rich Little
Director
Rich’s core talent lies in his ability to take complex matters and communicate them in a manner that is engaging and creative, while remaining faithful to the content. With some 30 years’ experience in C-suite roles in both private and public sectors, Rich is confident to challenge the status quo in a respectful and constructive manner, to declutter complex narrative, and create a compelling ‘big picture’ story to enable a clear call to action.
Rich completed a master’s degree in Science (Engineering Geology) from Canterbury University in 1991 and has spent most of his career as a consultant scientist specialising in water, energy, and communications. Rich’s career highlights include creating and leading a large water resources team at a multinational consultancy, consenting of ten renewable energy projects for Meridian Energy, and running business change initiatives at Meridian.
Rich is also the owner of Threesides Limited, a technical communications company that has clear synergies with Climate Navigator. Threesides’ ethos reflects Rich’s personal values, specifically that trust underpins everything we do with our people and clients.
Rich jumped at the chance to join Climate Navigator as a Director from the outset as the importance of succeeding is simply too important. And to be fair, the company founder in full flight does present an extraordinary case for bold change.
Rachel Montejo
Associate
Rachel has been a sustainability proponent throughout her 25 year career. She began as a chemical engineer for Dupont, working on ozone depletion reduction projects. From there she began to focus on pan-organisational, Six Sigma initiatives and received her Black Belt certification through programmes that reduced waste and increased organisational efficacy.
On moving to New Zealand, Rachel’s career turned towards innovation in the energy efficiency sector. Working for organisations such as Energy Mad, Meridian Energy and the University of Canterbury, she has led technical, continuous improvement, product strategy and various other project/programme teams. Rachel has worked for/with organisations as small as fledgling social enterprises through to some of the largest New Zealand businesses and multi-national corporations.
Rachel currently consults for and provides governance advisory support for several business-for-good organisations in Christchurch. She is working towards certifications in climate-related financial disclosures and climate governance.
Sam Elder
Founder & Managing Director
Sam is a systems thinker who thrives when working with others to address the major challenges and opportunities we face as a society.
She started out in the 1990s working on some of the world's highest-risk space programmes, including an early mission to measure sea surface temperature and so detect climate change. Since moving to NZ in 2005 her eclectic career has included:
-
Coordinating NZ's largest Outcomes Based Investment science research programme.
-
Creating industry-leading insight and analytics capability as the Retail Insight Manager at Meridian Energy.
-
Building capacity in social enterprise, innovation and impact as Southern Director of the Akina Foundation.
-
Supporting urban agriculture and youth development as a Director of Cultivate Christchurch Ltd.
-
Developing a first of its kind 'Climate Change Integration' programme as a Senior Strategy Manager at the Canterbury Regional Council.
Along the way Sam has gained a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering; qualified as a UK Chartered Engineer; qualified as a Project Management Professional; and gained an MSc in Architecture (Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies).
In 2020 she chose to focus in on society's ultimate complex challenge - the urgent, must-win fight to combat climate change, and so Climate Navigator was born.
Call: +64 (0)21 245 8945
Sam Elder
Founder & Managing Director
Sam is a systems thinker who thrives when working with others to address the major challenges and opportunities we face as a society.
She started out in the 1990s working on some of the world's highest-risk space programmes, including an early mission to measure sea surface temperature and so detect climate change. Since moving to NZ in 2005 her eclectic career has included:
-
Coordinating NZ's largest Outcomes Based Investment science research programme.
-
Creating industry-leading insight and analytics capability as the Retail Insight Manager at Meridian Energy.
-
Building capacity in social enterprise, innovation and impact as Southern Director of the Akina Foundation.
-
Supporting urban agriculture and youth development as a Director of Cultivate Christchurch Ltd.
-
Developing a first of its kind 'Climate Change Integration' programme as a Senior Strategy Manager at the Canterbury Regional Council.
Along the way Sam has gained a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering; qualified as a UK Chartered Engineer; qualified as a Project Management Professional; and gained an MSc in Architecture (Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies).
In 2020 she chose to focus in on society's ultimate complex challenge - the urgent, must-win fight to combat climate change, and so Climate Navigator was born.
Call: +64 (0)21 245 8945
Sam Elder
Founder & Managing Director
Sam is a systems thinker who thrives when working with others to address the major challenges and opportunities we face as a society.
She started out in the 1990s working on some of the world's highest-risk space programmes, including an early mission to measure sea surface temperature and so detect climate change. Since moving to NZ in 2005 her eclectic career has included:
-
Coordinating NZ's largest Outcomes Based Investment science research programme.
-
Creating industry-leading insight and analytics capability as the Retail Insight Manager at Meridian Energy.
-
Building capacity in social enterprise, innovation and impact as Southern Director of the Akina Foundation.
-
Supporting urban agriculture and youth development as a Director of Cultivate Christchurch Ltd.
-
Developing a first of its kind 'Climate Change Integration' programme as a Senior Strategy Manager at the Canterbury Regional Council.
Along the way Sam has gained a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering; qualified as a UK Chartered Engineer; qualified as a Project Management Professional; and gained an MSc in Architecture (Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies).
In 2020 she chose to focus in on society's ultimate complex challenge - the urgent, must-win fight to combat climate change, and so Climate Navigator was born.
Call: +64 (0)21 245 8945
Sam Elder
Founder & Managing Director
Sam is a systems thinker who thrives when working with others to address the major challenges and opportunities we face as a society.
She started out in the 1990s working on some of the world's highest-risk space programmes, including an early mission to measure sea surface temperature and so detect climate change. Since moving to NZ in 2005 her eclectic career has included:
-
Coordinating NZ's largest Outcomes Based Investment science research programme.
-
Creating industry-leading insight and analytics capability as the Retail Insight Manager at Meridian Energy.
-
Building capacity in social enterprise, innovation and impact as Southern Director of the Akina Foundation.
-
Supporting urban agriculture and youth development as a Director of Cultivate Christchurch Ltd.
-
Developing a first of its kind 'Climate Change Integration' programme as a Senior Strategy Manager at the Canterbury Regional Council.
Along the way Sam has gained a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering; qualified as a UK Chartered Engineer; qualified as a Project Management Professional; and gained an MSc in Architecture (Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies).
In 2020 she chose to focus in on society's ultimate complex challenge - the urgent, must-win fight to combat climate change, and so Climate Navigator was born.
Call: +64 (0)21 245 8945