Our Story

We started in 2019 with the goal to bring together specialists in machine learning, data infrastructure and geospatial analytics to help organisations solve difficult problems.

Since we started, we have helped many organisations around the world monitor and quantify change in the environment at property, city or national scales to support better decision making.

Our work has ranged from mapping land cover, buildings and vegetation at very fine scales for governments, cities and farmers to analyzing deforestation or the habitat of beavers in the Colorado River Basin. We have also built web enabled solutions to measure and report solar returns, monitor stormwater assets or measure fish length on vessels.

Our mission is to deliver Artificial Intelligence for Earth Observation (AI4EO) solutions to support global environmental security and economic prosperity as a trusted partner to governments, communities, and industry.

We are an AI centre of excellence for Lynker – an innovative science and technology organisation with world leading expertise in water resources, climate change adaptation, marine and coastal sciences.

In 2024 we joined forces with Silver Fern Farms to form Prism Earth Ltd, a joint venture company focused on revealing insights for sustainable land use.

Meet the Team

Matt Lythe

Executive Director
Matt has an extensive background in environmental science, geospatial data, technology and analytics. He has managed multinational data, technology and analytics projects in NZ and the UK and has served on the AI Forum. Matt holds a MSc. (Hons) from the University of Auckland in Earth Science and has ten publications in peer reviewed journals.
Justin Larking

ML Ops and Data Engineer
Justin is responsible for the deployment of Machine Learning workflows into production environments as well as delivering infrastructure and other IT services to our clients. An ML Engineer with a BEng from Massey University, Justin is passionate about all things Artificial Intelligence and has a strong background in deep learning and robotics.
Jeremy Hodge

Senior SQL Server Database Consultant
Over the past 26 years Jeremy has supported database operations in many industries. With strong problem-solving and SQL skills, Jeremy thrives on delivering efficient and sustainable data solutions for our clients. He is highly proficient in both the Microsoft-Azure and AWS, he is friendly, reliable, professional and fits in well with any team.
Dr Achim Gädke

Data Scientist
Achim is an expert in optimisation methods, data science, and numerical software engineering. Trained as an experimental physicist Achim has a keen interest in numerical modelling and computational methods. After a PostDoc at Victoria University of Wellington 2009 - 2012 he started working for startups in Wellington and enjoying the outdoor lifestyle in NZ.
Leigh Hunt

Senior Software Developer
With nearly 30 years' experience in the software development industry, Leigh has been working in the New Zealand IT community for 17 years, primarily in Full Stack Development, DevOps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He has a BSc in Computer Science and Software Engineering from the University of Birmingham, UK.es here
Mārie Emily Chapman

Geospatial Technician
Based in Hawke’s Bay, Mārie provides quality assurance and post processing to the geospatial and datasets produced by our models, bringing an intelligent and critical eye to the work. She has strong customer relationship skills, an ability to use innovation to drive efficiency, and a lifelong interest in natural and built environmental projects.
Maia Waipara

Geospatial Technician
Maia provides training inputs and quality assurance for our machine learning models and data products. This involves data capture, editing, and management of model data in desktop or web GIS applications. He has a strong interest and passion in Māori land development and using technology to make a difference in Māori projects.
Kate Lythe

HR and Finance
Kate looks after HR and Finance. She previously worked as a Financial Controller for Morgan Stanley in the United Kingdom helping prepare for the Euro conversion and Y2K. Kate also worked for Exxon Mobil NZ in Fuels Pricing and Contracts and overseeing retail franchises in NZ & Australia. She has a Bachelor of Commerce and a BA from Otago University.
Dr Graeme Aggett

Director
Dr Graeme Aggett has over 25 years experience in Hydrology, Hazard and Risk and Climate Change Impact Assessment. As Lynker Chief Scientist he has been the principal investigator on multiple international research projects (NASA, NOAA, USDA, World Bank and others). He has a PhD. from the University of Southern California and MSc from the University of Auckland.
Joe Linza

Director
Director and chairman of Lynker Analytics, Joe has launched, grown and operated multiple diverse organisations in the environmental consulting industry. Results oriented, he is focused on delivering innovation and having a positive impact on people and creating value for all stakeholders. Based in Leesburg, Virginia, Joe is a strategic thinker and planner. He is also President and CEO of Lynker Technologies.