Our Staff

Megan Hosking
Acting Chair

Megan works with a wide range of businesses and community groups through her busy design studio Alto.

She is a member of the Sustainable Business Network, the New Zealand Futures Trust, Intersect, and the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.

Contact Megan: Ph (+64) 021 458 845

Helen Schafer
Secretary

Helen Schafer is the owner and co-principal of Quinovic Property Management based in Johnsonville.

Previously, she worked at the Porirua City Council as the Zero Waste Co-ordinator. During her 6 years at the Council Helen was responsible for a number of waste management projects including introducing kerbside recycling and establishing Trash Palace which was the initial home of the Sustainability Trust.

Contact Helen: Ph (+64 4) 477 4754

Maibritt Pedersen Zari
BDes (Int. Arch)

Trustee

Maibritt currently works as the Sustainable Architecture coordinator at Victoria University’s School of Architecture.

She took up the coordinating role in 2005 after returning from a period of travel and voluntary work in Asia in 2004.

Maibritt is also studying towards a Masters Degree in Architecture focusing on Biomimicry - the study of natural forms, processes and systems.

During 2003 Maibritt worked on State of Deconstruction in New Zealand a report for The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction.

Maibritt has been extensively involved with non government organisations focused on environmental issues in New Zealand, Australia and India.

Contact Maibritt: Ph (+64 4) 4636901

Chris Howe
Trustee

Chris Howe is Executive Director for WWF-New Zealand. Since 1961 WWF has become one of the world's largest and most effective independent conservation organisations, with a mission to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.  Chris has previously worked at WWF-UK, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and the Asian Wetland Bureau in Indonesia, and has been on expeditions to the Moluccas, Sulawesi and Tobago. Chris has a first degree from the University of Surrey, and a Master's degree in Nature Conservation from University College London.

When he's not at work, you can find Chris with the VUW Winter Writing School (2006) writing group, or surviving the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club sailing academy's racing skills course, which seems to mainly involve hanging from the mast in 40 knot winds while trying to tie a bowline with one hand. Chris and his family also recently renovated their house, which was equally stressful and rewarding, and they "walked the talk" by building in as many energy-saving and environmental features as they could. Chris also likes guitars and ukuleles, but is much better at listening than playing.

Contact Chris:

www.wwf.org.nz

Marta Karlik-Neale
Trustee

Consultants & Advisors:

Dr Michael Gavin
Consultant / Advisor

Mike is a lecturer in the Environmental Studies Programme at Victoria University of Wellington, where he teaches courses in conservation management and integrated conservation and development.

He has worked as a practitioner and researcher on conservation and sustainable development projects in New Zealand, U.S.A, Nicaragua, Peru, Tanzania, and Uganda.

His current work focuses on natural resource management, as well as urban environmental justice issues.

www.vuw.ac.nz/geo/staff/gavin.html

Contact Dr Michael Gavin:

Ph (+64) 4 463 5195

Dr Sean Weaver
Consultant / Advisor

Sean is a lecturer in Environmental Studies at Victoria University. He is passionate about helping society make the transition to a more sustainable economy where environmental protection goes hand in hand with economic development.

He believes that the way forward in this endeavor is to focus on solutions as a whole community encompassing central and local government, business, grass roots, and tangata whenua. He sees many opportunities to take steps along a more sustainable path that involve increasing efficiencies that would save money in the short term to enable us to make investments in more substantial progress for sustainability in the future.

He has a long history of involvement with environmental organisations, having worked previously for The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Greenpeace and Native Forest Action. He has also worked as an environmental policy advisor in Parliament, a consultant with the Fiji Environment Department and Fiji Native Lands Trust Board, and previously taught Geography at the University of the South Pacific and the University of Canterbury. His current research interests lie in the translation of science into policy for climate change protection with a particular focus on tropical forests.

Contact Dr Sean Weaver:

Ph (+64 4) 463 5392

Prior to human arrival in Aotearoa/New Zealand it is estimated that forest covered 78% of the land area. These days 51% of the land is in pasture and arable land. To learn more about the transformation of the land visit the long-term Blood Earth Fire exhibition at Te Papa Tongarewa- the Museum of New Zealand.

Blood Earth Fire