Date and place of birth: Tauranga, 4 Feb 1951
Ethnicity: Pakeha
Current Residence and Electorate: Tauranga
Educational and vocational qualifications: PhD, MSc, BSc (all in biology). Trained to appear as expert witness in the Environment Court. Some legal training.
Current ocupation: Full-time parent (last 2 years)
Previous occupations: Policy officer (local government, 2007-2009). Academic (since 1980, positions held at Unis of Waikato, Otago, Western Australia, Canterbury, British Columbia, Auckland). Project manager and research analyst (land mine clearance programmes with the UN, 2000-2005). Scientist (conservation ecologist: lifetime vocation).
Other work experience/community connections: Teacher. Dog psychologist. Organic
gardener. Advisor on sustainable design. Tour guide (science-based ecotourism). Musician. Environment Centre. Playcentre. Kohanga. Community garden. Transition Towns. Welcome Bay community development. Ornithological Society. Forest and Bird Society.
Policy interests/expertise: Experience - RMA policy officer (Rotorua District Council).
Lecturing on RMA (Uni of Otago). Some legal training (Uni of Canterbury). Policy
development while with UN (GICHD). Wrote UN-approved international standards (for land
mine clearance systems). Prepared many submissions on legislation and local government
plans. Interests - sustainability - energy, housing, agriculture, environmental management,
economics.
My broad political issues: sustainable economics, creating resilient communities, biculturalism (in the NZ context).
