Our People

Zealandia is managed by Karori Sanctuary Trust, a not-for-profit community-led organisation. The Trust’s official vision is to be a world-class conservation site portraying our natural heritage that captures people’s imagination, understanding and commitment.

Six trustees, chosen for their appropriate range and balance of skills and experience to ensure the sound management of the Trust and to assist the Trust in achieving its objectives, are appointed by Wellington City Council with guidance from the Guardians of the sanctuary. The Trust also has three patrons who were involved in its establishment.

The establishment of the Trust in 1995 was a radical idea and a major breakthrough in the conservation and recovery of native wildlife on mainland New Zealand, reversing a decline that has lasted for at least 700 years. The Trust’s groundbreaking achievements in urban ecological restoration; the eradication of invasive species; and the recovery of endangered native wildlife exceeded all expectations in its first ten years.

Karori Sanctuary Trust logo

 

Trustees

 

The Trust has six trustees, chosen for their range and balance of skills and experience. See Trustees.

Guardians

 

The Trust has a team of Guardians who safeguard the long-term vision of the Trust. See Guardians.

Patrons

 

The Trust has two Patrons who have had a close involvement since its establishment. See Patrons.

 

Staff & Volunteers

 

ZEALANDIA has a small team of staff who work with over 500 volunteers to provide a safe environment for our native species and a world-class nature experience for our visitors. The Strategic Management Team are listed below:

Dr. Danielle Shanahan
Chief Executive

Jo Ledington 
 General Manager Conservation and Restoration

Ros Alsford
General Manager Corporate Services

Pierre Van Heerden
General Manager Commercial Development 

Jasmyne Chung
General Manager Engagement 

 

 

For contact details see here.

 

Trustees

 

 

Six trustees, chosen for their appropriate range and balance of skills and experience to ensure the sound management of the Trust and to assist the Trust in achieving its objectives, are appointed by Wellington City Council with guidance from the Guardians of the sanctuary. The Trust also has three patrons who were involved in its establishment.

 Phillip Meyer 

Phillip Meyer (FAIM, Life FNZIM, CF Inst D, SF Fin), Chair

Phillip Meyer is an experienced company director and investment banker. He has chaired many Boards and currently chairs four organisations including the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association, Australian Financial Services Group, Trans-Tasman Business Circle Wellington and is a director of CRS Software Limited and Crimestoppers. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Life Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, Fellow and Councillor of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. Phillip’s drive to see other organisations succeed led him to be a course facilitator for the Institute of Directors.

Contact Phillip at chair@visitzealandia.com.

 

  

Professor Margaret Hyland

Margaret is the Vice-Provost Research at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington and brings to the Board a strong record of promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, including with Māori. Margaret is currently an independent director of Cirrus Materials Science, Deputy Chair of Wellington UniVentures, Chair of Research Trust of Victoria University of Wellington, a Director on the Crown Research Institute NIWA Board and an independent trustee of Eureka! Trust. She will add to our Board’s experience and skill in the strategy development of Zealandia in its work as a research-based organisation.

 Jo Breese 

Jo Breese

Jo’s career has focussed on conservation of natural and cultural heritage working both in New Zealand and Asia Pacific. Jo has been involved in many projects in New Zealand and also in UNDP programmes in Vietnam and Malaysia. She served two 3-year terms as a member of the NZ Conservation Authority. Prior to this Jo was on the board of Antarctica New Zealand (New Zealand’s Antarctic Research Institute). She was Chief Executive of WWF-NZ between 1999 and 2006 and, before that, was for 6 years the Chief Executive of Booksellers NZ. Jo has a good understanding of mātauranga Māori and is a Crown appointee to the inaugural Te Urewera Board.

 

 Dr Libby Harrison 

Dr Libby Harrison

Libby has a PhD in biological control of insect pests. As an undergraduate and post-graduate student, she led conservation projects in India, Egypt and Greece. Libby’s career since, in eco-toxicology, field-science management, and regulation, has always been linked to environmental risk assessment and protection. She has worked in Europe and the USA on the environmental impacts and regulation of biological and chemical pesticides. Currently, Libby works as General Manager Health & Environment at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) a government owned research organisation. Libby has been the Deputy Chair of WWF-New Zealand since 2011 and will take on the role of Chair in 2019.

 

 Pete Monk 

Pete Monk

Pete Monk has served two terms on the board of Positively Wellington Tourism, was Head of Marketing for Interislander, General Manager of Fly Buys, and Chief Executive in IT and manufacturing ventures. Pete currently manages Ata Rangi, a Martinborough vineyard, in tandem with his own photography business specialising in landscapes and nature. He is also chairman of Toast Martinborough, and treasurer of Featherston Booktown Trust. Pete has an active interest in nature and conservation. He contributed in the past as a transitional manager at ZEALANDIA, holds life membership of Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, and is involved in a voluntary capacity with other conservation organisations and initiatives.

 

 Russell Spratt 

Russell Spratt

Russell has achieved considerable success delivering results across the public, private and NGO sectors. He is of Te Ati Awa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga descent. Russell is involved in numerous Māori trusts at governance level and is also the pan-tribal representative on the Kapiti Coast District Council’s Corporate Business Committee, a member of the Economic Development Management Group and a member of the Māori Economic Development panel. In addition to having knowledge of bi-cultural issues, Russell is an MBA graduate with significant expertise in the education sector.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guardians

 

 

Our Guardians provide a long-term strategic perspective on the sanctuary’s evolution and have an active interest in the long term future of the Trust. Guardians are not required to bring a specific technical or professional skill, however knowledge and experience in areas relevant to the Trust’s mission are welcomed. These areas include education, conservation science and research, conservation and biodiversity management, and visitor experience.

Paul Atkins

Denise Church QSO

Councillor Ray Chung 

Helen McConnell

Professor Nicola Nelson

 

Patrons

 

 

Rt Hon Helen Clark, ONZ SSI PC

Patron

Rt Hon Helen Clark was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999-2008 and Minister of Conservation from 1987-1989. As Minister of Conservation and as Prime Minister, Helen was a strong supporter of protection of habitat for New Zealand’s birds. Helen has wide ranging interests in natural heritage globally and continues to advocate for the protection of wildlife and habitats. As Administrator of UNDP for eight years, she oversaw large programmes for wildlife and habitat protection on land and sea and in coastal areas.

Jim Lynch, QSM

Founder Vice-Patron

Jim was the originator and founder of the Trust in the early 1990’s. He has wide experience of ecology and conservation management at a national level and has designed large scale management systems and training programmes for major organisations. In 2001 he was awarded the QSM for services to conservation in Wellington. In November 2007 he was appointed Founder Vice-Patron.