Because the best type of change makers will always be intergenerational change makers.
A trailblazing innovator and sustainability advocate, Elisa Harley founded Enivo Pots as a teenager, driven by a bold mission to eliminate single-use plastics in horticulture. Her venture tackles one of the industry’s biggest environmental challenges: the 350 million plastic pots used annually in Aotearoa, New Zealand, 98% of which end up in landfill or are burned.
Elisa’s solution is as ingenious as it is impactful. Enivo Pots are biodegradable containers made entirely from New Zealand primary industry residue.
Designed to last six months in nurseries, they naturally break down in soil within a year, allowing plants to be planted pot and all—saving time, money, and the planet.
Her entrepreneurial journey began with kitchen blender prototypes and has since scaled to commercial manufacturing in Tāmaki Makaurau, backed by over $125,000 in grants and awards. Elisa collaborates with scientists, strategists, and patent attorneys to bring her vision to life. Her accolades include the Kings Trust Oceanic Sustainability Award, the Blue Sky Young Researchers Award, and being named Young Wellingtonian of the Year.
Beyond business, Elisa’s story is deeply personal. She speaks candidly about overcoming mental health struggles and champions the mindset of “see a problem, seek a solution.” Her advocacy extends to empowering intergenerational changemakers, calling for communities and industries to mentor rangatahi to create lasting impact.
A confident and compelling speaker, Elisa has shared her vision with over 13,000 people across major platforms—from National Young Leaders Day and the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame to global stages like the IUCN Congress, where she was one of 15 Young Changemakers worldwide.
