Our People

All staff are experienced in field-based ecological restoration. This on-ground knowledge is an essential foundation for developing ecological restoration plans which are realistic and achievable. Similarly, Kaitiaki often undertake the operational component of the ecological restoration plans which they develop and have therefore acquired confidence in their capability to produce results.
Kaitiaki strives to remain up-to-date with industry developments to ensure we are providing the most effective, efficient and environmentally selective service. We have key contacts within the industry with which we remain in constant contact.

Nelson Team 2018

Left to right: Kayne Merwood, Chance Ngatai, Claudio Salinas, Erwan Le Saux, Ian Huddleston, Shane Menzies, Zac Milner, Andy Wards

Wellington Team 2018

Left to right: Stu Whiterod, Jessica Aguilar, Roald Bomans, Kiri Andrews, Ben Wotherspoon. Missing in action is Jorg... he's on South Georgia Island for international subsidiary company Indigena.

Shelly Sidley

Branch Manager - Nelson
Shelly recently joined the Kaitiaki team as Nelson Branch Manager. She brings over 25 years of conservation and project management experience, most of that from the Department of Conservation where she worked with iwi partners, community groups and corporate sponsors - scoping and planning landscape restoration projects. Shelly also brings specialist facilitation and strategic planning skills to our team.

Stu Whiterod

Branch Manager - Wellington
Stu came to Kaitiaki in 2013 and brings with him a high level of technical ability and familiarity with many of Wellington's high risk species - he has worked with invasive plants since 2007, working on the weed team at Zealandia (formerly the Karori Sanctuary). He spent several years working as a weed contractor on Auckland's North Shore and Rangitoto Island, alongside studying for a Post-Graduate Diploma in Ecological Restoration (Environmental Science). He also has a BSc in Zoology and is a Registered Chemical Applicator.

Nicola Morgan

General Manager
Nicola has a BA & MA in Organisational Psychology. She has over 20 years of executive leadership experience across the health, gender, disability and environmental sectors, managing small and large national and international platforms. Nicola specialises in organisational development and ensuring that organisations have the culture, structure, resources and the right people empowered to deliver high quality results.

Andy Wards

Contract Manager - Nelson
Andy has 25 years experience in remote area projects and logistics undertaking various works such as wilding pines control, weed and pest control, working with and around helicopters and external load preparation, construction, site management, staff and project management. He is also an expert with GIS mapping, operations management, administration and health and safety management. He has a MSc in Geology from Massey University and has worked for Kaitiaki since 2009.

Jörg Kluge

Team Leader - Wellington
Jörg has been with Kaitiaki since 2015, and has led the team since 2016. Jörg completed his Registered Chemical Applicator training in 2018 and has recently returned from South Georgia, where he spent 2 months working with Indigena International controlling weeds in early 2019.

Martin Freeman

Managing Director
Martin is based in Christchurch. In additon to overseeing Kaitiaki, he also directs subsidiary company Solutions 2 Access. He brings with him over 30 years of expertise in the ecological restoration industry and construction fields. He has expert abseiling and rope access skills, blasting tickets and sound financial and business nous.

Erwan Le Saux

Team Leader - Nelson
Erwan is a Team Leader for the Nelson operations team, and has a strong background in landscape gardening and pest plant control. He has a Bachelor of Environment and has worked for Kaitiaki for over a decade, gaining a solid understanding of plants and ecosystems. He is a tireless worker who doesn’t shy from the thickest gorse or the biggest old man’s beard plants. He believes that the New Zealand bush is 'magnifique', and needs to be preserved and restored to ensure the protection of its biodiversity.

Mike Gibbs

Director
Ko Wharariki te Maunga
Ko Waikirikiri te Awa
Ko Uruao te waka
Ko Waitaha te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Rakai te Hāpu
Experienced Director with a demonstrated history of working in Te Ao Māori, Conservation, Rope Access and Construction industries. Skilled in creative problem solving, project planning and execution, budgeting, operations management, and team building. Strong business development professional with a Bachelor of Parks and Recreation Management focused in Parks Management from Lincoln University (NZ).

Zac Milner

Ecologist - Nelson
Zac has been working in ecological restoration since 2015. He has worked in Sydney, on Lord Howe Island, in Auckland, and, for the past 2.5 years, in Nelson. While based in Nelson, he has also worked on Gough Island and on South Georgia Island. He has worked on a number projects including eradication feasibility studies, threat and impact analyses, and ecological restoration plans for private and public clients. He has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Geography and a Bachelor of Environmental Management (Honours, First Class).

Bradley Myer

Chairman of the Board
Based now in Samoa working as an Invasive Species Officer for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Brad still remains involved in Kaitiaki operations, giving sound ecological advice when relevant. He has founded our subsidiary international ecological restoration company, Indigena Biosecurity International.