Claire Waghorn’s commitment to sustainability is built on a profound sense of responsibility—one that extends beyond the traditional boundaries of business and governance. For Claire, sustainability is about more than hitting targets or meeting regulatory demands. It’s about creating lasting change through a deep understanding of our natural world and our place within it.

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This connection to the land and its cycles is reflected in her admiration for Tāne Mahuta, the giant Kauri tree that has withstood the test of time. Like the ancient tree, Claire’s vision of sustainability is about nurturing something that can thrive for generations. She draws on the wisdom of Mātauranga Māori, emphasising balance and interconnectedness, guiding her work in an increasingly complex global landscape.

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Her journey into sustainability wasn’t a linear one, but a response to a moment of reckoning. The passing of Jeanette Fitzsimons, an environmental leader Claire deeply respected, acted as a catalyst for change in her own life. “It felt like we were still moving backwards in climate action,” Claire reflects.

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This turning point led her to aviation, a sector often criticised for its environmental impact but also one that Claire saw as critical in the global fight against climate change. While aviation connects the world, it also contributes heavily to emissions, creating a paradox that Claire is determined to unravel.

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She chose this sector because it was one of the hardest to decarbonise, a space where real impact could be measured and where change felt not just necessary but possible. “We need to replace jet fuel with clean energy,” she insists, knowing that this shift will require unprecedented collaboration.

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She envisions a future where the “sailboat of the skies” is no longer a dream but a reality, where technology, innovation, and global cooperation converge to create a sustainable aviation model. But as Claire recognises, such a monumental challenge requires more than just technological innovation—it requires solidarity, the kind of unity that allows diverse sectors and perspectives to work toward a common goal.

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The role of Indigenous wisdom in Claire’s work cannot be overstated. She draws profound inspiration from the words and actions of leaders like India Logan-Riley, who challenged the global community to recognise the deep-rooted connection between humanity and the environment.

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“We must learn our histories, listen to our stories, honour our knowledge, and get in line or get out of the way,” Logan-Riley said at COP26, and these words continue to resonate with Claire. Her admiration for local Māori leaders, like Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa, reinforces her belief that the path to sustainability lies in listening to the land and respecting the knowledge passed down through generations.

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For Claire, these voices offer an essential perspective on the intersection of climate change and cultural identity, reminding us that the solutions to our modern crises are often rooted in ancient wisdom. This deeply rooted connection is essential for long-term sustainable change.

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New Zealand’s potential as a leader in sustainable innovation is something Claire believes in deeply. The country’s natural advantages—vast renewable resources, a strong regulatory framework, and a population connected to the land—position it as an ideal testing ground for sustainable aviation solutions.

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“We could be a proof of concept for the rest of the world,” she says, urging the country to lean into its strengths and show global leadership in areas like clean energy and sustainable transport. Claire’s work reflects this ambition, and she continues to push for greater collaboration and urgency in solving some of the world’s most complex sustainability challenges.

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It’s not about perfect solutions—it’s about continuous progress, about finding new ways to innovate and build connections across industries and disciplines. Claire’s work is a testament to the power of perseverance and the belief that even the most daunting problems can be solved with determination, collaboration, and empathy.

 

Her commitment to sustainability is not just a professional pursuit but a deeply personal mission to make the world a better place. And while the path ahead may be filled with obstacles, Claire’s message is clear: “Be like a braided river—find ways around obstacles, build connections, and always be kind.”

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This ethos drives her work, shaping her approach to sustainability and inspiring others to join the movement for change. With a vision rooted in compassion, innovation, and collaboration, Claire Waghorn continues to lead the charge for a more sustainable and interconnected future.

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Read Claire’s answers for Blooming Sustainability and take her valuable words of wisdom to heart: “Understand your why, and how to articulate that for others. Become really clear on what you stand for, because that allows folk to understand you and ideally to join you on your mission.”

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BLOOMING  Sustainability Questionnaire

Name: Claire Waghorn

Company & Title: Sustainable Transition Leader, Christchurch International Airport Limited

Website & LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-waghorn-2164b778/

 

* Guiding Values | Kaupapa 

If sustainability were a flower blooming in your life, what would it look like? What nurtures it?  

It would be an ancient tree, one that towers above the canopy and has deep roots throughout the forest, like the ancient Tāne Mahuta in Waipoua Forest. Sustainability, like Tāne Mahuta is about guardianship, understanding interconnections and dependencies, and respecting balance. The great Kauri has lived through so much, we could learn a lot from wisdom within Matauranga Maori.

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A quote, personal motto or whakataukī that reflects your vision:  

Margaret Mead (American Anthropologist) has given me several which I particularly like, this one seems particularly relevant;

"We are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems". 

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* Leading Change | Arataki

A key moment in your journey that shaped your path:  

When Jeanette Fitzsimons died in 2020, I felt struck by the life of this most incredible women who had poured so much of herself into climate and environmental action, yet at the same time, it felt like we were all still going backwards in these areas. I’d been a ‘climate generalist’ up until that point, and decided for my own wellbeing I needed to do something where I could measure impact – I wanted to pick a hard to abate sector (aviation), one that needed to change, and become a transition specialist where I could try to accelerate change and measure progress. I get wobbles on this path too, but it feels too important not to keep at it.

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What’s the main challenge you face in driving sustainability within your sector? 

At a very simple level with aviation – we are talking about connectivity, which in essence is a wonderful thing, but how we are doing it is harmful for our planet.

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Looking at how to fix this is full of complex interdependencies – stopping flight altogether would have huge implications - for families (many of us are global citizens with loved ones spread out across the world), access to healthcare (medical supplies, transplants etc these are all rapid transport requirements), our economy as we provide food to the rest of the world, the list goes on.  Reducing travel is another option – though this sometimes backfires. You reduce one area, and another area grows. After the Christchurch Earthquakes, flights decreased to Christchurch,  but grew in Auckland and Queenstown. Caps in the Netherlands have seen growth in Brussels.  For reductions, a whole network approach is required, whether regulated or at an individual behavioral level, this is not a decision for an airport to make, and there would still be emissions to address.  So we look to the technology – how do we displace jet fuel and replace is with a clean energy source, that can allow connectivity without emissions i.e. the sailboat of the skies. This requires innovators, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, energy companies, airports and regulators to be on the same page – and we are asking that this be done in record time. It is a monumental challenge, but our climate is too important, and the challenge is too big to shy away from.

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An area you need more support with: 

Solidarity for those working in really hard to abate sectors. We cant expect change if we are not in there involved working hard for it.

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An Indigenous perspective you admire and want people to be mindful of:  

There are so many here.

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I will never forget local rangitahi India Logan-Riley’s speech at the opening of the COP26 climate summit; she sets out how our global fates are intertwined, and this climate crises began with imperialist expansion. She is such a force, calls out mediocre leadership, and explains how our “Hands and minds made this present world, and our hands and hearts and minds will change it…This is an invitation to you. Learn our histories, listen to our stories, honour our knowledge and get in line or get out of the way,” Logan-Riley said.

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I loved Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa’s address on Waitangi Day – it was powerful, inspiring and so eloquently presented what a rational response to honouring Ti Tiriti looks like.

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Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is another, she’s an environmental activitist from Chad –an expert on adaptation and mitigation and advocate for the power of indigenous knowledge.

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Dr Vandana Shiva is a physicist, ecologist and eco-feminist from India, who is the most wildly joyful straight talking woman – making agriculture and earth systems fascinating. If she doesn’t leave you questioning a career change to become a small hold farmer, I’ll be genuinely shocked. She’s brilliant – loads of books and podcast interviews with her online, an absolute inspiration.

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Your best approach for engaging stakeholders in meaningful dialogue about ESG:  

Meaningful impact requires a “bi-lingual approach” , by which I mean learning to speak multiple “languages”, for example be fluent in sustainability but able to translate that into finance, or legal or engineering, or behavioural science. Impact is a team sport, so thinking about how to enroll others so they understand and can see the value in joining you, and get outside of your silo because we cant do any of this alone.

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What do you think is Aotearoa’s superpower in creating a sustainable future?  

We have the indigenous wisdom of mana whenua, the concept of kaitiakitanga and interconnections in nature. There is so much knowledge handed down intergenerationally and acts as the antithesis to the traditionally western practice of extraction and commodification of nature. Should we choose to listen, that is an incredible super power.

The other is our size. Aotearoa has every advantage in terms of renewable energy, accessible regulatory system, ability to be agile. We could be a test bed, a proof of concept for the rest of the world, we could demonstrate how good things could be – if we choose to. 

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 * Surfing the Green Wave | Kakariki

Books, podcasts, courses or other resources that profoundly shaped your approach to sustainability:  

My favourite podcast series was that from James Shaw, former Green Party Co-leader and Minister for Climate Change, called ‘ What comes after what comes next’, https://shows.acast.com/whatcomesafterwhatcomesnext

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Every episode serves as an inspiration in some shape – with remarkable guests across a raft of sustainability topics. I have listened and relistened and found so much value in these conversations.

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Events in Aotearoa or globally that you think are must-attend: 

I love the Climate Change and Business Conference hosted by Environmental Defence Society, the Sustainable Business Council and the Climate Leaders Coalition. It happens in Auckland around September each year. It is like a master class in ambition and levelling up for the sector – pushing new areas for consideration, calling out challenges and new approaches in the field of climate, but also increasingly nature and interconnected issues. 

 

A sustainable initiative or project in Aotearoa that deserves more attention:  

Recloaking Papatuanuku is a really beautiful initiative I would love to get more attention. Pure Advantage and Tāne’s Tree Trust, with a growing alliance of signatories, including mana whenua groups with their ancestral connections to the land, are calling on every person in Aotearoa New Zealand to support and commit to Recloaking Papatūānuku – an urgent and ambitious programme to restore our indigenous forests.

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If your work could plant one seed of change for the future, what would it be?  Our planet is too important to give up on – keep being relentless, keep building relationships, finding commonalities. Be like the braided river and find away around all the obstacles, and then be kind to others in the process.

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The leader(s) you endorse for a future edition of Blooming Sustainability: 

• Izzy Fenwick, the Aotearoa Circle

• India Logan-Riley, as above

• Megan Salole, League of Live Illustrators and epic change-maker

• Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, CEO of WWF New Zealand

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* One actionable takeaway for our readers to make a change today for a brighter tomorrow:
Understand your why, and how to articulate that for others. Become really clear on what you stand for, because that allows folk to understand you and ideally to join you on your mission.