People

Our people are passionate individuals who bring their skills, expertise, and diverse experiences to our team. Some are local predator free legends and community conservation group members, and some have been drawn to our special place and purpose from afar.

We are always looking to connect with people, so get in touch if you are interested in learning more about our work.

Trustees

  • Peter has recently retired after a career as an executive, business owner and director in the agriculture, food retail and public health sectors. Most recently he was Board Chair of NZ Health Partnerships & Board Chair of Foodstuffs New Zealand. He has a strong connection to Hahei in the Coromandel.

  • Don is an experienced chair, director, strategic advisor and environmental planner. He is Chief of Strategy for Beca globally and Chair of Beca International Consultants Ltd. Don is passionate about biodiversity restoration in the Coromandel through a longstanding connection to Pauanui and Tairua.

  • Lettecia has been involved in landscape scale community conservation for over 20 years. She is Chair of the Moehau Environment Group, and in 2018 received the inaugural Kiwis for Kiwi “Good Egg” award celebrating leaders in kiwi conservation. She has iwi connections to Ngā Puhi o Te Popoto, Te Rarawa.

  • A green growth professional, Anna brings almost two decades’ experience integrating the value of nature in economic and financial decisions. Her work with WWF, The Nature Conservancy, Wetlands International and the Global Green Growth Institute covered projects in the Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America regions.

  • Alan has over 40 years’ experience in conservation management including species recovery and island restoration, predator management & ecological research. He brings significant technical expertise and knowledge from a career working with DOC, Landcare Research, Waikato Regional Council & the IUCN.

  • Don is well known in the Waikato conservation world from a career focused on caring for the rivers, wetlands and catchments of our region. His broader contribution has been in enabling local iwi to develop social and economic enterprises that are founded in community-based environmental initiatives. Don is Key Relationships Strategic Advisor for Mercury and co-Chair of the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust. He is also on the board of the National Wetland Trust, Waikato River Care, Waikato Wellbeing Project and a foundation Trustee of the Waikato Ecological Enhancement Trust. In 2020 Don was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his significant contributions to environmental restoration and conservation within the Waikato Region. He has a lifelong connection to Whangamatā.

  • Andrew (Ngāti Kahungunu) has had an extensive global career in cultural tourism, working alongside indigenous groups to creatively share their stories through engaging, immersive and innovative visitor experiences. His focus now is on giving back to people and the land sharing his knowledge, relationships and enrichment. Andrew is currently CEO of the I Have A Dream Charitable Trust in Aotearoa, and on the Boards of Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Wairarapa Tamaki Nui A Rua Investment Trust, The Muhammad Ali Centre in Louisville Kentucky, USA and Los Angeles Tourism. He has an MBA from Massey University and was previously CEO of Te Puia as well as a member of the NZ Tourism Strategy Group.

  • Jason is an ecologist with 30 years’ conservation and biodiversity management experience across NZ and its coastal and sub Antarctic islands. He has previously worked for DOC on large scale predator control projects, and Waikato Regional Council on river, flood and catchment management programmes.

  • As a Strategy Manager at One New Zealand with a background in Big Four consulting, William specialises in corporate strategy and technology-enabled business transformation. William has supported many large New Zealand organisations to define and achieve major components of their strategic agenda. He has governance and public policy experience in the not-for-profit sector. William has deep connections to Tairua, as his childhood home.

  • Kiriana has significant experience in environmental planning through her work as a Government Affairs Advisor with Fonterra. A prior role with Te Kuwaha, NIWA’s National Centre for Māori Environmental Research, has provided her with experience in integrating kaupapa Māori into westernised systems.

Management

  • Jude has over 30 years’ experience in the commercial, arts and conservation sectors in strategic planning, communications and governance roles. She was previously Chair of Mahakirau Forest Sanctuary, a 600ha conservation project recognised by Waikato Regional Council for its leadership, innovation and inspiration.

  • Hailing from a Central Otago farming background, Sasha has a Bachelor of Environmental Science Technology and has worked with the Waikato Regional Council pest plant biosecurity team, working with biocontrol agents for invasive plants on a studentship. Sasha now leads our Jobs for Nature | Save the Kiwi funded project.

  • Becs has acquired a vast range of field experience from years of working in conservation, including stints working for DOC on Motutapu and Tiritiri Matangi Island and as a Supervisor of an Ecological Restoration Team working on Waiheke Island. Her previous role was managing the DOC hut at the Pinnacles.

  • Aaron is a self-described outdoors man, passionate about the Coromandel and its natural environment. Aaron has the highest-level qualification in Arboriculture as well as landscape construction experience, with advanced bush craft and predator control skills – particularly in trapping and hunting.

  • Nat has a Masters degree in Environmental Policy and spent six years working for Moehau Environment Group helping to inspire people to get involved and support local conservation. She is passionate about making a difference to protect the incredible species and places which make the Coromandel special.

  • Carmel has lived in the Coromandel for most of her life and has considerable experience working with the Thames Coromandel District Council in the education and health & safety fields. She also has experience in the hospitality industry and most recently was a support worker helping people in need.