17 September 2025 Predator-Free Futures: Innovation in Action

4:00pm – Arrival and networking

4:10pm – Welcome from Prof. Chad Hewitt, Provost, Lincoln University

4:15pm – Overview on what LU is doing in this space

4:20pm – Keynote presentation

4:45pm – Q&A

5:00pm – Networking

5:30pm – Event concludes

Tom Agnew, ZIP

Tom joined the Lincoln-based Predator Behaviour Team at the end of 2014, after completing a MSc at Lincoln University, majoring in Biosecurity/Bioprotection and Conservation/Ecology. With little previous experience handling or observing wild animals, a massive learning curve ensued! Tom eventually spent three years as the Predator Behaviour Team Lead, building an understanding of how predator species respond to new tools and techniques.

Now, as Development Director, Tom works closely with Al, and with our engineering team, to identify and accelerate development priorities that will help ZIP to achieve our predator elimination goals. He helps to drive development across the business, supporting our tīma to take new developments from initial idea through to implementation. Tom is one of the key drivers behind design and analysis here at ZIP, and his top-notch people skills help him share our learnings and mahi with other predator-free projects across New Zealand.

When time permits, Tom still enjoys crashing through the New Zealand bush, dodging wasps and testing the new and exciting technologies being trialed by the ZIP team.