Discover the people working through the Catalyst Trust to bring together great ideas, compelling speakers, while provoking innovative and creative thinking in the Wakatipu basin.
Key Stakeholders of The Catalyst Trust
Cath Gilmour, Catalyst Co-Chair
Cath started gathering like-minded people to create what would become Catalyst Trust in 2013, in the wake of the inaugural TEDx Queenstown and Aspiring Conversations, believing our community would be much richer for more diverse, ongoing and accessible such discussions. She’s been a journalist since the late 1970s, newspaper and freelance in NZ and overseas, and was a journalist/interpreter for both the New Zealand Antarctic Programme and Department of Conservation. She was a three-term Queenstown Lakes District Council councillor and is a trustee for Central Lakes Trust and Wakatipu Youth Trust.
AJ Mason, Catalyst Co-Chair
AJ is a technology strategist with experience fostering international and scientific linkages, in particular between New Zealand and the United States. In addition to agency work for a variety of international clients (primarily US, EU, and NZ) he has worked with the US State Department, the White House, New Zealand Parliament, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Lawrence Montague, Catalyst Treasurer
Lawrence is a qualified accountant and has been a member of The Institute of Accountants of Australia & NZ since 1994, involved in chartered accounting, auditing & tax. For the past 25 years, he has specialised in finance within the hospitality industry working in Papua New Guinea, Australia, UK, Rarotonga and more recently in Queenstown. He has also undertaken project work for the Chatham Islands airline and been head of finances for small to medium sized non-profit organisations.
Karen Attenborough
Karen is a chartered accountant with 20+ years experience, much of it in the finance sector. She is currently working for a dynamic business in the Queenstown tourism & property sector. She is passionate about Queenstown and the amazing mix of people here.
Daniel McClure
Daniel McClure is a marketing technologist, blockchain advocate, & entrepreneur with professional experience supporting Fortune 500 companies like PayPal through to small and local businesses around the globe. Originally from the UK he embraced the born global internet lifestyle. After several years of travel he launched Mixed Media Marketing in Queenstown and enjoys connecting with and supporting companies and individuals working on inspiring ideas.
Tim Buckley
Brand Consultant, Graphic Designer, Publisher and Creative. Owner and founder of Fluid Visual Communications, a dedicated design and brand management agency based in Queenstown. Tim is also co-owner and publisher of The Source Magazine, and the Front Room Gallery. Tim has a strong focus on community engagement and was one of the founding members of the Queenstown Coastguard unit. He is also a member of the newly-formed Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust.
Blair Fitzharris
Blair is a climatologist and Emeritus Professor of Geography at the University of Otago. He is also a consultant with 35 years of experience on climate matters related to resource development, mining, land use, energy (including hydro and wind power), topoclimate and mapping. Blair is a past member of Antarctica New Zealand’s Research Committee and of the Royal Society of NZ Standing Committee on Climate Change, former President of the Meteorological Society of NZ and former Chair of the NZ Mountain Safety Council.