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.

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)

Mark Vevers

REP Crew Team Leader

Glenn Templeton

REP Crew

Tejay Samuels

REP Crew

James Martin-Chan

REP Crew

Sarah Davis

Administration

You?

We are always on the look out for passionate people to join our crew. If this is you – get in touch.

GOVERNANCE GROUP

David Peters

Chairperson

David is an ex-business consultant and project manager, now growing avocados and contributing to conservation. He also serves on the boards of Aongatete Forest Project and Bay Conservation Alliance. Having worked throughout Australasia in large commercial and government enterprises over several decades, he is now enjoying developing what are literally grass roots organisations, to ensure they can continue to improve the environment and leave a legacy for those that follow.

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

Board member

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.

Melody Hirini

Board member

Karen Smillie

Board member

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.

PATRONS

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.

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.