Our Leaders

As an entrepreneur, Suzan has been pioneering ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, and sustainable business practices for two decades.

Suzan has transformed Tahi – a degraded Northland farm – into a nature sanctuary, an eco-retreat and an award-winning producer of Mānuka honey. Since its inception, Tahi’s ecosystems, wetlands and forests have been restored and nearly 60 bird species have returned to the land, including 25 rare and endangered species. Tahi was recognised as the ‘Most Sustainable Business in New Zealand’ in 2020 and received the ‘Restoring Nature’ award in 2020 and again in 2021.

Suzan is currently working on developing a transformative indigenous carbon and biodiversity accounting and planting methodology, while extending the Tahi project for greater impact.

Suzan co-founded the Villars Institute, a Swiss non-profit foundation, that aims to accelerate the transition to Net Zero and Nature Positive economy through interdisciplinary research, intergenerational collaboration, and systems leadership. 

Suzan is also a founding member and board member of the Long Run, an organisation of nature-based tourism businesses committed to driving sustainability.

Suzan joined the WWF-New Zealand Board of Trustees in March 2024.

Richard has had a long career in Chief Executive roles across process manufacturing, infrastructure services, experimental aviation, and most recently tourism.

As Chief Executive of Real Journeys (now known as RealNZ), Richard has led a number of significant conservation initiatives, including removing all the wilding pines from 150 hectares of Walter Peak; making 2000 hectares of Cooper Island in Dusky Sound predator free as a potential new habitat for Kākāpō and other endangered species; and holding the annual Birds of a Feather Conservation Ball – which raised over $400,000 for conservation initiatives.

Richard is now focusing his efforts on climate change mitigation and the environment. He chairs the Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants, Natural Habitats Limited and the Planetary Accounting Network.

Richard joined the WWF-New Zealand Board of Trustees in March 2024.

Kerry is the former Mayor of Wellington and former Vice-President of Local Government New Zealand. She holds an MBA from, and is a distinguished Alumni of, Victoria University of Wellington.

Kerry chairs Wellington Free Ambulance, Wellington Opera, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the Tourism Industry Association, and the Victoria Foundation. She is a Director of Oceania Healthcare, Fish Serve and a Trustee of the Wellington International Arts Foundation, and the New Zealand Community Trust.

Kerry has filled many other roles over the last ten years, including chairing the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ Tourism, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

In January 2019 Kerry became a Dame Companion (DNZM) for services to governance and the community, after being awarded a CNZM in 2011 for her services to local government. In July 2016 Kerry was also awarded a Lifetime Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Government.

Kerry joined the WWF-New Zealand Board of Trustees in March 2024 and is the Chair of the Fundraising Committee.

Lou has spent his entire career in nature, both professionally and for recreation. Notable roles include Director-General, Department of Conservation (2013 – 2021), Chief Executive, Antarctica New Zealand (2002 – 2013), Conservator, Department of Conservation, Southland (1996 – 2002) and Antarctic and NZ Cruise Ship Expedition Leader (1990 – 2020).

Lou has specialised in history and storytelling in the wild environments of New Zealand, Subantarctic Islands, and Antarctica. He has done over 70 visits to Antarctica and is an acknowledged specialist in New Zealand history, natural history, and marine environments.  

He has led many of New Zealand’s and Antarctica’s most significant environmental programmes. He has unique knowledge of some of the most special and remote parts of New Zealand along with a deep understanding of Māori tikanga and the natural world. His storytelling ability is renowned.

Lou joined the WWF-New Zealand Board of Trustees in November 2021.

Walter is an experienced trustee and director specialising in professional advice and services to the government, community, and private sectors. He brings a high degree of working knowledge of the machinery of government and policy development and holds several positions on not for profit, commercial, philanthropic and iwi organisations.

Walter has dedicated over 30 years to Māori development working in the public sector forover 25 years and served his people on the Ngāti Kuri Trust Board for over 15 years. Walter’s tribal rohe of Ngāti Kuri extend across more than 1,00,000 square kilometres of land and ocean and is an ecological district regarded as a biodiversity hotspot of national and international significance that hosts important endemic species.

The Ngāti Kuri Trust Board has committed to major environmental enhancement and biodiversity protection initiatives to restore and protect their ecosystem and environmental practices.

His commitment to these obligations is embodied in a Ngāti Kuri whakataukī (proverb); “Tō tātou hā tuatahi nō te moana, ko te hā tuarua nō tātou te whenua. Our first breath is from the ocean, our second from the land.”

Walter joined the WWF-New Zealand Board of Trustees in July 2024.