Trust and Staff Profiles
Trust Profiles
Christine Ralph is a Technical Director of the consultancy Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd. Christine brings planning practice and project experience to the Trust and provides the New Zealand Planning Institute representation that is required by the Trust Deed. She has been on Environment Centre Trust Board since 2003 and has a passion for up-skilling and empowering communities, who wish to make sustainable management choices or who become directly affected in the sustainable management decision making process.
Karen Summerhays is a founding Trustee that has served seven years on the Trust. Her present role on the Trust is mentor to the Urban Greenspace Project. As a Regional Councilor with Environment Bay of Plenty, Karen brings an extensive knowledge of local government and acts as an important conduit to this sector. She has a particular interest in community education for sustainability and encourages accessible participation in environmental activities. She is presently undertaking post-graduate studies in Environmental Education and is supporting the Tauranga Girls College Environment Group, the Enviro-care group at the Tauranga Hospital and the Steiner School Wetland Group.
Eddie Orsulich has a background in Primary teaching and sub-tropical fruit growing and was an active member of the NZ Educational Institute and Fruitgrowers, Citrus Growers and Tamarillo Growers organisations'. Since retiring Eddie has expanded his interest in conservation and has served as a committee member and chairperson for 5 years of the Tauranga branch of the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society. He also represented Forest & Bird at the SmartGrowth Forum.
Peter Carruthers joined the Environment Centre Trust in December 2004. Peter’s qualifications are BSc Hons in Environmental Science and a Diploma in Fishery Management. He brings experience and background based on 20 years in the United Kingdom and five in New Zealand embracing aquaculture management, environmental & personnel protection, forest research, business analyst & contract management. He is a member of the Institute of Environmental Sciences.
James Low is planning team leader at Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd with over 10 years planning experience with Regional and Territorial authorities in New Zealand. James has also worked with Fish and Game (Canterbury) and in the IT and Geosptial fields. James' qualifications are a B.Sc(Zoology/Oceanography), Masters Degree in Regional and Resource Planning (Otago) and Diploma of Information Systems and Technology.
Staff Profiles
Sue Furey, Centre Manager
Sue joined the team in April 08 with a diverse background in community/ project and event development/management and capacity building. Sue has worked in the areas of employment and business skills development, working for Government and contracting to government. More recently a stint in education saw Sue working as a member of the student support team at Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Over the past two years Sue and a business associate have been developing and delivering workshops aimed at assisting community organisations and Maori Trustees to develop their skills in governance and management .
Originally from the Coromandel area Sue loves the sea, sailing and swimming and is an active member and the treasurer of Tauranga Yoga Centre and has been a member (and past Chair) of the Western Bays Creative NZ funding committee for 5 years. Other interests include music; music festivals; travel and experiencing other cultures and spending time with her two adult children.
Sue's interest in sustainability started many years ago whilst living in Kuaotunu, where they lived off the 'grid' and off the land, growing all their produce organically, helping to milk goats and making their living as potters.
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Melissa Thompson, Resource Management Advisory Service
Melissa joined the Tauranga Environment Centre as Resource Management Advisor in May 2005. Originally training as a Primary School Teacher, she worked long term in the travel Industry and has also had experience in tutoring and working with adults. More recently Melissa has earned a Social Science (Hons) Degree from the University of Waikato which had a focus on Resource Management, Environmental Planning and Urbanisation. Currently Melissa’s role is to provide education and information on the Resource Management Act (RMA) and Local Government (LGA) processes as well as environmental legislation, whilst also acting as co-presenter of the Sustainable Living Program and workshops run by the Tauranga Environment Centre. This has increased her interest and knowledge in effective sustainability. A long term interest in the environment and outdoors is combined with voluntary work and involvement with youth which has allowed Melissa to get out and explore, share and enjoy the surrounding coast and bush in the Bay of Plenty. Other interests include Music, Photography, Sport and Reading.
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Chris Dench, Urban Greenspaces Coordinator
Chris is a new addition to the Environment Centre taking on the role as the Urban Greenspaces Coordinator. Chris has recently finished a degree in ecology and is currently working his way toward a post graduate degree in Natural Resource Management. He has a passion for the environment and spends much of his spare time scuba diving or tramping. Chris is particularly interested in the philosophy and the politics that determine how the environment is utilised.
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