About us
We're the people dedicated to climate action
The Climate Action Company is a team of Kiwis passionate about delivering results on the ground for communities and nature when it comes to responding to climate change.
Founded by climate scientist and final year PhD candidate Finn Ross and supported by an experienced team with wide-ranging expertise we are a team that is deeply connected to nature.
As lovers of New Zealand’s wild places, climbers, hikers, fishermen and adventurers, our team has seen the front lines of climate devastation in New Zealand, the Pacific and around the globe. Driven by our passion for nature, our focus is an unwavering commitment to remove carbon from the atmosphere and restore nature in the most impact-led way possible.
From working in businesses across multiple industries, we understand that companies do have limited budgets to spend on sustainability.
We want to ensure those funds are being spent as far as possible in a pragmatic, impact-led way on action. We don’t help companies do sustainability box-ticking, this is about real action, balancing the need for companies to have high-quality, world-renowned credentials, with the need to not waste funds on projects that don’t result in action.
Get in touch to learn more and hear about how we can support you and your business to fight climate change and protect nature.
Finn Ross
Founder and director
Finn is a climate scientist and Deakin University PhD candidate researching seaweed as a natural climate solution and a University of Canterbury Honours Alumni.
Finn has previously been co-founder of the NGO Let Them Fish and founding team member of Live Ocean. Finn also founded Bomb Bucha, is co-chair Future Farmers New Zealand, on the Otago Regional Department of Conservation board, hosts the Both Sides Now podcast and is on the scientific advisory board to the Kelp Forest Foundation.
Finn lives on Lake Hawea Station; which is pioneering environmentalism on-farm and was the first certified carbon-zero and bcorp farm in Australasia. Finn is a passionate adventurer and explorer and has led numerous pioneering climate action projects.
Benedict Kyle
Finance and Operations
Manager
Benedict is currently finishing a Masters in International Business at the University of Melbourne and is one of the core team members at the Climate Action Company.
Benedict works predominantly within the financial and operational segments of Climate Action Company, managing day-to-day finances, legal compliance procedures and product functionality.
Away from work and study, Benedict enjoys cycling, sport and all things outdoors. Benedict is a passionate environmentalist.
Geoff Ross
Chairman
Geoff, owner of Lake Hawea Station, Australasia's first certified net zero farm, is a founding Trustee of Pure Advantage and has held trustee positions at The Melanoma Foundation and The Endangered Species Foundation.
Former founder and CEO of 42 Below, Geoff has chaired Trilogy skincare, Ecoya Fragrance, and Savor Hospitality, and served as CEO of Moa Beer.
With 12 years in advertising, he held management and board roles at Saatchi & Saatchi and DDB. Geoff holds a B.Com and an honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Lincoln University.
Lucas Smith
Director
Lucas is the founder of Wool Aid, a merino bandage company who are helping to fight global plastic pollution. Before Wool Aid, Lucas developed walk-on, merino wool for blisters while working as a hiking guide on the Milford and Routeburn tracks.
Lucas is from the high country of the South Island and is deeply passionate about New Zealand and supporting farmers to restore nature.
Claire Barnes
Director
Claire is a sales, marketing and strategy specialist. Having led and grown the ECOYA brand from a start up to multi-national brand over the last 14 years.
Her previous background is in advertising and media and she is currently involved in several other new business ventures.
Claire is passionate about the outdoors and in particular native regeneration.
Partners
