Our Board

FOUNDER

Derek has been involved with the Nelson Environment Centre since 1976, as part of the founding group. He was the Chairperson for most of this time and now serves as a Board member. He has governance experience, being a part of many local and national environmental and sports organisations, including The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Trust, along with 30 years as an elected member of Nelson City Council, Nelson Marlborough Regional Council, Nelson Catchment and Regional Water Board. Derek is a small business owner, operating his publishing business Nikau Press for the past 40 years. He is also currently a Board member of the Tasman Bays Heritage Trust.

CHAIR & TREASURER

Dominic is a Nelson local whose love of nature has made him a strong advocate of preserving it. To the Nelson Environment Centre, he brings his passion for the environment and financial acumen, as he is a charted accountant who has worked in chartered accounting firms in New Zealand and Australia. His current role is a management accountant for the Cawthron Institute.

SECRETARY

Richard has been involved with the organisation since 1985, first as a volunteer, then as an employee and now as a Board Member. His involvement has nurtured his passion as an activist concerned about native forest clearance, environmental protection and peace issues. Richard has a resource management and planning background and since 1998 has worked for Nelson City Council in a range of roles on a variety of environmental programs, notably air quality, heritage protection and biosecurity.

Carlo’s passion is to make a positive contribution to the environment. He has spent the last 15 years working in the field of conservation, project management and the wider field of environmental science. He has advanced customer service and management skills as he previously helped manage a building company in Nelson. He is currently a contractor to events organisers and councils for waste minimisation & management.

Born and raised in former East Germany, Marco initially studied management and pursued a career in business before discovering his passions for Aotearoa and philosophy. Now working in academia, he specialises in ethics, political and social philosophy, as well as environmental philosophy. While based in Auckland, Marco has a special fondness for the beauty of the South Island and its diverse environments. His involvement with Nelson Environment Centre reflects his commitment to connecting philosophy with real-world issues and safeguarding our natural treasures for future generations.