Dorte Wray General Manager Dorte works to keep all of the various parts and projects of the organisation in the air. She has a background in the community sector, first working at her local resource recovery centre on Waiheke over a decade ago, and enjoys the variety and the commitment of the zero waste world so much, she's been here ever since. Sue Coutts Director of External Affairs Sue works on increasing awareness, engagement and support of community-led zero waste initiatives and policies. She is based in Wellington.  Isy Harris Project Manager/Graphic Designer Isy works behind the scenes supporting the rest of the team on many of our projects. From project management and event coordinating to graphic design, Isy is there helping things run smoothly. Sarah Lancaster Membership Coordinator Sarah is an energetic and passionate zero waste educator with a background in behaviour change at Xtreme Zero Waste and a lifetime passion for hosting workshops & engaging communities onboard the kaupapa! Her role is to serve our members to ensure we’re connected with each other, learning and growing our impact together. Valerie Morse Communications Officer Valerie is the communications officer at the Zero Waste Network, the one who keeps all the channels flowing. Val leads the Regeneration Not Incineration project, and is a tireless advocate for Zero Waste. Val is based in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara. Janina Kay Accounts Manager Janina is part of the Zero Waste accounts team. We count the beans, crunch the numbers and make sure to get every bang out of every buck. Anja O’Connor Finance Manager Anja is an accountant with a passion for economic degrowth and a commitment to supporting social and purpose-driven enterprises. With a background in finance and a love for yoga, Anja brings a unique perspective to her work, viewing numbers not just as figures on a spreadsheet, but as stories that can drive positive change. She believes in the power of business to do good, advocating for practices that prioritize sustainability and ethical responsibility. Anja's mission is to help businesses thrive while minimizing their impact on the planet and society, promoting the idea that financial success can coexist with environmental and social wellbeing. Localised Our Operating Arm Localised is a Charitable, Limited Liability Company owned by ZWN. It was set up to get stuck into delivering zero waste solutions and does this through a variety of joint ventures. Ian Stupple is the Managing Director, supported by Matthew Luxon, Sei Brown and Gary Kelk (and many others).  Kim Edwards Board Coordinator Kim has had mahi in the Waste Minimisation sector since December 2009, with Zero Waste Education, EERST and Waste Watchers LTD. With a strong belief that if our environment is healthy, then we are healthy, she tries to do her bit for Paptūānuku, by working on the land, in an orchard and in various reserves, aiming to control pest plants, pest animals and keeps a few wormfarms. Kim also takes the chance to go tramping whenever possible, sometimes guiding tourists in Aotearoa. |
Zero Waste Aotearoa is governed by a Board of Trustees elected by members at our Annual General Meeting. Our current Board consists of:
Karen Driver
Chairperson
Karen Driver is an individual member of Zero Waste Network (ZWN), and also represents the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum. Karen has been on the ZWN board since 2009 and the Chair since late 2022. She is on the WasteMINZ Product Stewardship Sector Group representing ZWN and an advisor to Reuse Aotearoa. She honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is learning te reo Māori.
Marty Hoffart
Trustee
Marty is Director of Tauranga-based waste minimisation consultancy Waste Watchers Ltd. He is co-founder and Chairman of Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust (EERST) with its award-winning Paper4trees programme.
Cliff Colquhoun
Trustee
Cliff is a founding member and the CEO of the Community, Business and Environment Centre (CBEC) in Kaitaia.
Michael Tavares
Treasurer
Michael leads Community Engagement at the Waiheke Community Resource Recovery Park and believes that the key to success in Zero Waste is people. Behaviour change, legislative framework change, societal change, happens when people are informed and they care.
Daniel Barthow
Trustee
Daniel is a values-based leader with over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector. As CEO of the Beautification Trust since 2020, he focuses on community connection, waste minimisation and sustainability. He brings strong governance expertise, strategic leadership, and a deep commitment to a circular, low-waste future for Aotearoa.
Kelli Pike
Trustee
Tena koe, No Maruawai ahau. Ko Mataura toku awa. Ko Hokonui toku maunga. Kei Kirikiriroa matou e noho ana inaianei. Ko Ngati Apa toku iwi. Ko Barnes raua ko Koroheke toku whanau. Ko Kelli Pike toku ingoa. I have worked with Go Eco since 2016, and during that time have deepened my understanding of the impact of consumerism, capitalism and colonisation on our environment, and how they impede climate action. I entered the environment sector after making a living from what others considered excess - by buying and selling second-hand items. It opened my eyes to the issues of waste and the change that is needed by consumers and manufacturers. I believe that real progress for climate justice comes from communities, who are appropriately resourced, and will always be an advocate for them.
Aroha Beckham
Trustee
Ko Kai Tahu rāua ko Ngā Puhi ngā iwi o tōku ūkaipō. Ko Tūwharetoa rāua ko Whanganui ngā iwi ō tōku matua. He tamaiti tēnei o tō tātou Awa Tupua, ko Whanganui tērā.
I have an extremely diverse background and the one commonality in all the roles I have been involved in throughout my lifetime, lead back to the holistic wellness of individuals, whānau, hapū, iwi, and our environment – Te Tai Ao.
Here in Whanganui we understand the health and well-being of our awa and the health and well-being of us as a people, go hand in hand. They are a direct reflection of each other, one cannot be without the other. Hence the whakatauki, “Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.” This whakataukī is part of the reason I chose at the start of this year to trial a ‘zero-trash’ lifestyle. It has been an interesting few months, not without challenge – and I believe being part of Para Kore can only enhance this way of life!
Giulio Laura
Trustee
I am a process-oriented practitioner with a background in fine arts and systems-focused research into waste, value, and the social dynamics of discarding. As Site Manager at the Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub, I oversee resource recovery operations, council contracts, and community initiatives that centre reuse, repair, and gift-economy practices. My work focuses on building effective systems that support both environmental outcomes and community wellbeing. I also serve on the board of APPA, contributing sector-wide insight to the fight against the wide spread use of single use plastics. Across all of my roles, I bridge creative inquiry with practical stewardship, using artistic thinking, research, and operational leadership to help reshape how communities understand materials, sustainability, and the possibilities within waste.