Trustees

Peter Chrisp - Chair

Peter has been Chief Executive of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise since October 2011. In this role Peter is focused on building an organisation that can grow companies internationally, including attracting investment, for the benefit of New Zealand.

Before NZTE, Peter spent 23 years in the engineering, manufacturing, and pulp and paper industries, including roles in human resources, operations, logistics, supply chain, business improvement and general management.

Peter’s board roles have included the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the Australian Pulp and Paper Innovation Council, the NZ China Council, the Asia NZ Foundation and Te Hono.

Denise Church

Denise is a Wellington based company director and consultant with wide ranging governance experience including as Chair of Karori Sanctuary Trust and the Wellington Zoo Trust, and other Board roles have included the National Health IT Board, Ako Aotearoa, the Science Board, and Landcare Research.

Denise was previously Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment.

Holden Hohaia

Holden Hohaia is currently the General Manager for Māori Development at Manaaki Whenua. He is an experienced Treaty claim negotiator and Runanga chairman (Ngati Maru ki Taranaki).

Holden’s career includes leadership roles with Te Puni Kōkiri, the Office of the Minister of Māori Affairs, Wellington City Council, the Ministry for Social Development and NZ Post.

Celia Wade-Brown

Celia is an experienced director with a demonstrated history of working with diverse stakeholders. Previously the Mayor of Wellington, her last act as Mayor was to sign off the Predator Free Wellington partnership and is also active with Taputeranga Ratbusters. She is a member of several international bodies, including the Biophilic Cities Network Advisory Board.

Devon Maclean

Devon is the NEXT Foundation’s representative on the board. Over a 30-year career in the New Zealand forest industry Devon held a number of management positions including Chief Operating Officer of Carter Holt Harvey.

Devon is currently a Trustee and Project Director for Project Janszoon, an ambitious 30-year project to transform the ecological heart of the Abel Tasman National Park. He is also the Chairman of Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), on the advisory panel of the NEXT Foundation, a Member of the NZ Conservation Authority, Governance board member of the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, and a Trustee with Predator Free New Zealand.

Steven Thompson

Steven’s professional background is in marketing and business development where he has worked in both large commercial organisations and small Not for Profit organisations who have strong membership components.

Steven has recently finished a six year term as a Trustee of the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary where he chaired the Marketing & Fundraising Committee.

Jan Hania - Advisor to the board

Jan is the Environmental Director for the NEXT Foundation. Before joining NEXT, he spent seven years with DOC, most recently as Director of Conservation Partnerships for the north and western South Island. Jan is currently the Director of Taranaki Mounga project where he leads the ecological restoration of the revered Mounga and its nearby volcanic peaks.

Project team

James Willcocks - Project Director

James is under a fixed term contract to lead this project and comes with 16 years of experience working for the Department of Conservation in a number of operational and project based roles. Latterly, he managed the Department of Conservation’s National Volunteering Team as part of the Community Engagement Unit. He has been leading the Predator Free project since 2017 and is passionate about the environmental implications of pest control.

Glen Falconer - Operations Manager

Glen is the Team Leader for Pest Animals at Greater Wellington Regional Council with over 21 years’ experience working in the pest animal space. He led the Possum eradication ground operations on Miramar Peninsula in 2003-06.

Kylie Reeves - Communication and Digital Manager

Kylie is a communications and community engagement specialist with more than 15 years experience working for multinational organisations in Australia and New Zealand. Kylie’s communication skills cover a broad range of areas including community and iwi engagement, stakeholder and sponsorship management, risk and crisis management and media relations.

Emma Giesen - Stakeholder Engagement Manager

Emma has been working in stakeholder management and community engagement roles in the nonprofit sector for almost 20 years. During this time she has worked both locally and internationally - including positions with local NGOs in both Laos and Peru - with a focus on facilitating community participation in environmental projects.

John Hambidge - Operational Project Lead

John is a Senior Biosecurity Officer with the Greater Wellington Regional Council. He has worked in controlling possums, rats, mustelids, rabbits, magpies and any other animal that falls under the Regional Pest Management Programme. He is now using those skills to help plan and implement the eradication project for Predator Free Wellington.

Dr Philippa Crisp - Monitoring Lead

Philippa brings over 20 years of experience in developing and implementing environmental monitoring programmes, including for State of the Environment terrestrial biodiversity (Wellington region), Wainuiomata Mainland Island, Wairarapa Moana and outcome monitoring of GWRC’s Key Native Ecosystems.

Dr Danielle Shanahan - Research Lead

Danielle is a highly respected researcher, currently the Manager of Conservation, Research Learning and Experience at Zealandia.

Community Liaison team

Emma Rowell - Emma has a background in conservation focusing on invasive species and community outreach. She has previously worked in roles with the Department of Conservation and ZEALANDIA, and is involved with several community conservation projects.

Phil Wisker - Phil’s background is in zoo keeping where he has over 20 years experience, mainly with New Zealand birds. He also has a strong background in field work which has lead him to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Codfish island.

Joakim Liman