Who we are

Meet our Team

Natalie is passionate about increasing awareness of important issues and causes, and the actions people can take to create real change.

With over twenty years experience in developing and executing marketing and communications plans within the for-purpose sector, she puts her expertise to use where it is needed most.

With a love for our native wildlife here in Aotearoa, Natalie feels very privileged to work for the Endangered Species Foundation and to deliver mahi to help our most vulnerable habitats and species.

Natalie has a first class honours business degree majoring in Marketing, and a Graduate Diploma in Design from the University of Otago. She believes strongly that upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi is crucial to looking after the land and all beings that depend on it.

General Manager

Natalie Jessup

Natalie is passionate about using communications to increase awareness of important issues and causes, and the actions people can take to create real change.

Christie enjoys creating simplicity from chaos. She helps organise, document and generally lighten the administration load to allow people to focus on the important matters.

As a virtual assistant Christie feels privileged to be able to work for organisations such as the Endangered Species Foundation as it gives a feeling of helping those who are making a difference, and allows opportunities to further grow and learn.

Working rurally in Aotearoa provides a wonderful setting to enjoy the birdlife and peace that nature provides, while balancing work and family.

Administrator

Christie Goodwin

Christie enjoys creating simplicity from chaos. She helps organise, document and generally lighten the administration load to allow people to focus on the important matters.

Matt has a Bachelor of Commerce from Auckland University, and is a full member CA with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Matt is keen on all things sport, and has recently developed an interest in the garden.

His consultancy, Top Edge Advisory, was born from a passion to help non-profit and public benefit organisations achieve their goals, no matter the stage of their journey.

Matt has years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, and enjoys helping for-purpose organisations further their causes.

Financial Services

Matt Wall

Mathew Wall specialises in not for profit accounting and adds value to the Endangered Species Foundation by provided us with a our financial and advisory service.

Meet Our Board

With a genuine passion and enthusiasm for saving NZ's most vulnerable indigenous species and habitats, Stu Muir has a well-respected background in ecological restoration, focused towards wetland and coastal conservation. With a Bachelor of Arts in Education and History from Otago University, Stuart is conversant in Te Reo.

Stuart has a proven background collaborating closely with key national and regional stakeholders, including Iwi, NIWA, DOC, Fish & Game, Forest & Bird, Predator Free NZ, Dairy NZ and district councils. Focused on developing sustainable conservation based projects and initiatives, Stuart acts as an educator and adviser to school and university groups, seeking to improve their environmental and conservation impact and participation.

Chair

Stu Muir

With a genuine passion and enthusiasm for saving NZ's most vulnerable indigenous species and habitats, Stu Muir has a well-respected background in ecological restoration, focused on wetland and coastal conservation.

Pekaira holds a pivotal role for Mana Whenua within Te Upoko o te Ika (Wellington) where she maintains Cultural Advisory & support positions for Edmund Hillary Fellowship, Philanthropy NZ, Education Council & Office of treaty Settlements at the Ministry of Justice and Te Muka Rau (formerly called Think Tank Charitable Trust).

Education her passion, Taranaki history her flair, she connects and reconnects descendants to their unique Taranakitanga at her local Marae Te Tatau o Te Pō, she also teaches Te Reo Māori at Wellington Water. Born and raised under her Mounga Taranaki she often reflects on the solid foundation gifted by those she remembers.

Pekaira’s interests include martial arts, iwi support work, her children and grandchildren.

Mana Whenua

Pekaira Rei

Pekaira holds a pivotal role for Mana Whenua within Te Upoko o te Ika (Wellington) where she maintains cultural advisory and support positions.

Kate Thomson holds the position of ESF Treasurer, having been appointed to the ESF Board in May 2020. Kate is also currently a non-executive Director on the ESR Board, a Crown Research Institute. Currently she is the General Manager at Te Aka Matua o te Ture – the New Zealand Law Commission.

A proud kiwi, most recently Kate was based in Australia working in the engineering and research sectors as a Senior Executive. She is also an independent member of the Indigo Shire Council Audit and Risk Committee.

Kate is a Chartered Accountant and an experienced Chief Financial Officer and has held a number of senior roles in the commercial sector during her career.

Kate holds a post-graduate certificate in Science and Technology and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Treasurer

Kate Thomson

Kate, our treasurer, is also currently a non-executive Director on the ESR Board, a Crown Research Institute. Currently she is the General Manager at Te Aka Matua o te Ture – the New Zealand Law Commission.

Emma is a community and stakeholder engagement specialist with a particular focus on community led environmental projects.

She has worked for non-profit organisations both in New Zealand and abroad - with several years working in each of Peru and Laos, for local organisations focused on participatory projects for the environment. She currently works for Project Crimson Trust and Predator Free Wellington helping to enable communities to drive ambitious projects to restore biodiversity in Aotearoa.

Emma grew up between Hawke's Bay and Northland, and has spent extensive time in tropical countries, where she feels at home.

Trustee

Emma Giesen

Emma is a community and stakeholder engagement specialist with a particular focus on community led environmental projects.

Mike Thorsen is one of New Zealand’s leading experts in managing biodiversity, botany and ecology with over 20 years’ experience in ecology, conservation biology and the management of invasive species worldwide. Mike enjoys assisting a diversity of groups to realise their biodiversity ambitions using his wide-ranging experience and enjoys the challenges of working in the interface between the conservation and use of natural resources with the aim of producing good outcomes that are both environmentally sound and pragmatic. A developing interest is in using human-generated landforms as surrogates for native flora and fauna communities.Mike also runs a small nursery specialising in growing endangered plants (despite the challenges of a young daughter who loves pulling out labels and watering everything in sight) and is a keen photographer (photos here). Mike holds a PhD from the University of Otago (2010).

Trustee

Mike Thorsen

Trustee

Stephen Goodger

Stephen’s rural upbringing developed a passion for pest control and protecting native fauna and flora which has led him to do whatever is possible to improve the urban environment he currently lives in.

Stephen’s rural upbringing developed a passion for pest control and protecting native fauna and flora, which has led him to do whatever is possible to improve the urban environment he currently lives in. He brings a background in technology, agriculture, advocacy, and animal health and wellbeing as well as governance, commercial and corporate experience. Stephen has a Bachelor of Commerce in from Canterbury University.

Stephen's passion is the protection and improvement of the oceans and waterways, which is driven by seeing the daily decline of the Waitemata harbour and his time on dairy farms while at Fonterra. He has the view that protection and improvement of the environment and a farmer or fisherman’s financial success can go together and education is the key to achieving this.

Irene Chapple is an independent documentary maker and communication strategist. In recent years she has directed /produced two commercially and critically successful feature documentaries and two short films.

She supports several social enterprise and charity clients with their communications strategies, public relations outreach and creative content. She worked in London for eight years before returning to New Zealand in 2015, and is committed to helping protect the future of our planet for her daughter.

Trustee

Irene Chapple

Neil has specialised in family and charitable trusts for 59 years. He is a co-founder of the Endangered Species Foundation with his son Michael.

He was instrumental in establishing, in 1991, the Wellington Community Foundation (now the Nikau Foundation) and the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust (now Zealandia). He chaired the New Zealand Association of Philanthropic Trusts (now Philanthropy New Zealand – where he is an Honorary Member), as well as the Stout Trust. Neil is also a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.

Neil has a passion for saving the Maui dolphin and he, with the assistance of Marine Scientists and WWF, prepared the Endangered Species Foundation’s initial strategy, which included the fishers as part of the solution.

Vice Patron

Neil Thorsen

Neil has specialised in family and charitable trusts for 59 years. He is a co-founder of the Endangered Species Foundation with his son Michael.

Trustee

Abi Foy

Trustees