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

  • 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.

  • Brigitte’s experience spans nature restoration, climate risk and adaptation, with a focus on strengthening how infrastructure investment decisions are made. She leads WSP New Zealand’s Climate & Sustainability Advisory team, working with local authorities, iwi, insurers, and NZX-listed companies to build resilience into strategies, programmes, and long-term investment decisions. Her career began in the not-for-profit sector with the Sustainable Business Network, where she worked on the Million Metres Streams Project, helping mobilise funding for large-scale river and riparian restoration projects across Aotearoa. Brigitte has grown up spending her summers in Whangamatā and Onemana.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Bella is a passionate young sustainability professional, currently focused on integrating best practice sustainability research and approaches into the investment process at Milford Asset Management.

    Bella previously supported the Trust with financial and impact modelling work during her Master of Finance studies, with the project forming the basis of her thesis - Innovative Financial Instruments for Biodiversity: a New Zealand Perspective.

Management

  • Cameron has joined us as Interim General Manager. Much of his spare time has been dedicated to running his lifestyle block and orchard in Pukekohe. He is also a volunteer and treasurer of the Whakaupoko Land Care group in Franklin.

  • 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.

  • Toni-Marie has experience in administration, operations, and project management. She is a keen conservationist and an active volunteer with the Rings Beach Wetland group. Toni-Marie has strong family ties to the Coromandel, and her family currently resides in Matarangi. 

  • Jeffrey loves nature and hard-work. His passion for the outdoors and youthful enthusiasm makes him a great team member. Prior to this role, Jeffrey worked as an arborist. He is also a keen hunter and spear fisherman. Fun fact; he is also Aaron’s cousin!