Governance Group

Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Kahungunu

Alan was mentored by his elders in tribal protocol, histories and te reo Māori from an early age. He has worked in both public and private sectors providing leadership guidance. He is also an experienced facilitator and Chair. His experience has been acquired through professional associations from Whānau, Marae, Hapū and Iwi to Land, Property Administration and Governance.

Alan is a Justice of the Peace for New Zealand. His legislative knowledge ranges from Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, it’s preceding Acts and subsequent amendments and Māori Land Court procedures to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, the Housing Restructuring Amendment Act 2000 and the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2010.

Ben has significant institutional knowledge relating to Kauri, and his role as Director National Programmes at the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai gives him the requisite authority, expertise and perspective to constructively represent the Crown.

Ben holds the leadership of the Plant Pathogens function within DOC in addition to other pest management roles covering wild animals, wildings and wallabies and predator free programmes. He is experienced at working at governance level and with Ministers, has a strong science and operational management background and a PhD in pest management.

Jill is of Ngāti Tumutumu descent and brings a tikanga Māori perspective, along with an in depth understanding of the area's history. Jill is currently the General Manager of the Ngati Tumutumu Iwi Trust, and is a Director on the Trust's commercial entity - Ngati Tumutumu Holdings Group Ltd.

Jill is also a Trustee on the Hauraki Rail Trail, a member of Council's Manawhenua Forum, as well as a Treaty negotiator for her Iwi on the Hauraki Collective. She holds a strong connection to the Kaimai forest Park, which is considered to be free of the PA pathogen.

Jill has a Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting and a passion for systems.

Te Roroa | Ngāpuhi | Ngāti Whātua

Snow brings extensive governance, senior management and environmental experience across the private, public and iwi sectors. His connection with Kauri and native forests extends back to the late 1970s, with experience in forest health monitoring, native forest interpretation, Kauri planting, cone collection and seed extraction. He has extensive knowledge of Waipoua Forest and its surrounding landscapes, together with strong connections to the marae, whānau, hapū and iwi of the area. This provides him with both a practical and intergenerational understanding of the importance of protecting Kauri and the wider ngahere.

Snow has held governance roles across iwi organisations, marae and Māori land trusts, bringing experience in governance, strategy, environmental management, commercial development and community leadership. He is currently a Kaipara District Councillor, Co-Chair of Pananawe Marae, a Board member of ORT Farms and Chair of the He Ripo Kau Steering Committee, an environmental initiative focused on the Waipoua and Hokianga rohe. His previous senior leadership roles include General Manager of Te Roroa Development Group and Senior Manager with Progressive Enterprises.

Rachel Kelleher is the General Manager of Environmental Services at Auckland Council. As General Manager, Rachel is responsible for leading a department of specialists delivering climate action, biosecurity and biodiversity management and youth education and engagement in environmental outcomes across Tāmaki Makaurau.   

 Following completion of a Master of Science degree at Waikato University, Rachel has held a number of specialist and leadership roles in both central and local government organisations including the Department of Conservation and Waikato Regional Council.  Rachel is strongly committed to public service and achieving environmental outcomes for the benefit of future generations.

Ken Hughey is Professor of Environmental Management at Lincoln University and is seconded to Te Papa Atawhai, the Department of Conservation (DOC) as Chief Science Advisor, a position he’s held since 2014. In this role, Ken takes a broad overview of science issues relating to DOC’s responsibilities and advises the Director-General about preferred ways forward. 

Ken has broad ranging interests including science strategy; particular areas of interest include water resources, environmental perceptions, and sustainable tourism (including in relation to climate change). He has been advising DOC’s Senior Leadership Team on science strategy improvements and has participated in MPI-facilitated work about strategic science.