Our People

Our governance and management team come from a range of backgrounds in science, primary production, business and more. Our REP (Restoration, Enhancement, Protection) Crew are supported through the Ministry for the Environment’s Jobs for Nature / Mahi mo te Taiao fund. Our incorporated society membership (policy here) is drawn from the local community.

Manaaki whenua,
manaaki tangata,
haere wakamua.

Care for the land,
care for the people,
go forward.

OPERATIONS TEAM

Brodie Davis

General Manager

Sharon Strong

Katikati Environment Activator (KEA)

TeJay Samuels

Project Manager

Glenn Templeton

REP Crew

Logan Brewer

REP Crew - Assistant Project Manager

Uenuku Ainsley

REP Crew

Andrew Townsend

Nursery Manager

Sarah Davis

Administration

GOVERNANCE GROUP

David Peters

Chairperson

Retired senior consultant, program manager and c-suite executive with extensive international retailing, information technology and project management skills, who since 2016 has dedicated himself to developing conservation organisations in the Bay of Plenty. Presently a trustee (and former Secretary and Deputy Chair) of Aongatete Forest Project; founding Secretary and Deputy Chair of Bay Conservation Alliance; and Chair of Project Parore. David has relevant skills in people management, contract management, governance and law. He and his wife Huia live near Katikati on a small avocado orchard.

Rick Burke

Board member

Rick Burke, together with wife Jan Loney, farms sheep and beef on Pukekauri Farm in Lund Road. Over the last 25 years they have worked through a comprehensive Land Environmental Plan with the help of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.  They challenged themselves to manage their 300ha within the ecosystem health limits of the land use capability. This has meant focusing on farm profitability whilst fencing off waterways and critical source areas, riparian planting and restoring wetlands. Along with dramatically improving fresh water quality and enhanced native biodiversity, they’ve reduced greenhouse gas emissions to a point where now the farm is carbon neutral.

Phillipa Wright

Board member

Phillipa has a Horticultural Science degree from Lincoln University and has had a professional career as a consultant to the kiwifruit industry.  Phillipa with her husband Stephen and now their 3 sons manage their kiwifruit orchards at Ongare Point and Matahui Road.  Passionate about the environment, stream bank plantings began on their property over 30 years ago. They have a focus innovative and sustainable growing practices which complement and enhance the natural environment.

Andrew Jenks

Board member

After a long stint in the teaching trenches, Andrew has spent much of the last 25 years with wet feet and a dry sense of humour as he developed and managed a multitude of water quality and environmental restoration projects in both a scientific and practical capacity. Auckland Council (Wai Care), Western BOP (Wild about NZ), Auckland Airport, NIWA and several volunteer organisations including HELP Waihi and Aongatete Forest Project have benefited from his collaborative approach and in-depth knowledge of aquatic and riparian ecosystems.

Jojette Drost

Board member

Jojette has been Secretary since 2016 and is passionate about returning waterways and their associated vegetation and wildlife to their former natural health for future generations to enjoy. With a BSc in Botany, her professional career has included work with the Wellington Regional Council, DSIR, Plant & Food Research, the National Museum and even a Wild NZ television production for BBC & TVNZ.  Trained in avocado pest monitoring, Jojette is also a keen scuba diver, sailor and tramper.

Clive Lock

Treasurer

Clive worked as an accountant for commercial organisations in NZ, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Guyana during 2013.  Growing up in the Hutt Valley his parents taught him how good food is when grown naturally. On return to NZ in 2014 he settled in Katikati on a lifestyle block, growing organic fruit and veg for his family and to share. The environment and the future has always been important to him. Clive volunteers as a treasurer to several organisations.

Karen Smillie

Deputy Chair

Karen’s professional life began with a food technology degree from Massey University and morphed into a long stint as an FMCG marketing manager. Enthusiastic about our natural environment, sustainability and biodiversity, Karen is also a trustee for Aongatete Forest Project.  She brings her communications and creative skills to the public facing aspects of Project Parore. Although she has spent many enjoyable hours counting birds, her favourite thing might just be a freshly fenced and planted critical source area.

Peter Babbage

Board member

Peter’s early interest in nature lead him to a marine biology degree. He started freediving while still at school became keen on underwater photography after arriving in NZ.  Many hours have been spent diving inside the Tauranga harbour, photographing the underwater world (including the shot of the parore on this page). After retiring as a biology teacher, he volunteered with UEM and was made aware of the importance of improving the health of our streams and harbour. Peter is particularly keen on collecting seeds from our native trees and has produced a huge number and variety of seedlings for our planting projects.

Alice Purnell

Secretary

Ian Stevens

Board member

Ian brings over 40 years of experience in New Zealand’s horticultural sector, grounded in a practical East Coast farming background and supported by a B.Hort Sci (Hons) from Massey University. He began his career with the Ministry of Agriculture before moving into private consultancy, where he founded Agfirst Bay of Plenty Ltd and grew it into a trusted service provider to the kiwifruit and avocado industries. The company had over 30 permanent staff and up to 300 seasonal workers at peak, reflecting Ian’s strength in building scalable, high-performing operations. Since selling the business, Ian has remained active as a director with several ventures. His community involvement also includes Rotary and the Katikati Trails Development Group, supporting local environmental and recreational initiatives.

PATRON

Dr Peter Maddison MNZM

Peter moved to the Bay of Plenty in 2006 and is a scientific adviser to Project Parore. In 2021 he was awarded membership of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to conservation. He was the national executive of the Forest and Bird Society for 15 years, including four years as president. An entomologist and passionate enthusiast for all forms of flora and fauna, Peter uses his extensive knowledge and rigorous scientific protocol to seek out and catalogue the creatures are living in our catchments.

Dr Peter Maddison MNZM

Peter moved to the Bay of Plenty in 2006 and is a scientific adviser to Project Parore. In 2021 he was awarded membership of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to conservation. He was the national executive of the Forest and Bird Society for 15 years, including four years as president. An entomologist and passionate enthusiast for all forms of flora and fauna, Peter uses his extensive knowledge and rigorous scientific protocol to seek out and catalogue the creatures are living in our catchments.

Rosalie Smith QSM

Rosalie was a founding member of Uretara Estuary Managers. In 2007 she was awarded a Queen Service Medal for her services to agricultural journalism and the community. As the founding editor of the NZ Kiwifruit Journal in 1984, she also helped the avocado industry start Avoscene, which she edited for seven years. Rosalie was part of the successful effort to oppose clear felling of the Kaimai Mamaku forests, has written books for Open-Air Art, and been an active member of the Katikati Twilight Concert committee.