GREGG BROWN - CHAIRPERSON
Born and raised in Rotorua, Gregg is a businessman and passionate environmentalist! He splits his time between running Capers Café and The Pig & Whistle Pub, with helping restore land in the Waiāriki catchment. He set up Tipu Wai to help speed up the regeneration and rebuilding of local waterways.
Gregg has many years experience in governance roles - 6yrs as President for the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club, Chairperson of the Rotorua Trails Trust and 12 years as Managing Director for RideRotorua.com.
Gregg was a trustee at Bay Trust and is currently is a Trustee for Rotorua Energy Trust and a John Paul College board member; he is also a committee member of the Lake Okareka Community Association.
PAUL TAPSELL
Paul comes to TipuWai with knowledge and experience as a Professor, Director, Curator and Researcher. He has worked in education, museums, nonprofits, indigenous community engagement and Treaty negotiation.
He is a ‘One Health’ advocate with special interest in environmental impacts on social, political and economic wellbeing of first peoples and their resources across the Pacific.
ALISON DEWES
As a dairy farmer and veterinarian, Alison is a firm believer that our future food production systems must be profitable while protecting and replenishing ecological health.
Her Masters of Science (2015) focused on how dairy farms can operate while achieving the lowest possible environmental impact. She has a passion for agricultural business performance, policy and ecosystem health. She is a NEXT Fellow: Freshwater: 2020. And was head of Environment for Landcorp until 2020.
MIKE GREY
Mike is an experienced trustee with over thirty years trusteeship in a wide range of educational, sporting and community organisations. Mike has lived in Rotorua for over forty years and is a member of tramping, mountain biking and kayak clubs. Mike is a longtime Forest and Bird member and for the last ten years has been involved in a pest eradication programme at Lake Tarawera. Outdoor experiences have fostered an immense appreciation of the NZ landscape and a desire to help restore the energy.
RENEE PAUL
Renee was born and breed in Rotorua, with Scottish & English heritage with affiliations to Te Arawa and Ngtai Whakaue. She brings skills in marketing, business and tourism to Tipu Wai. She has a special interest in meaningful tourism and a passion for protecting and restoring nature for future generations. Renee is always involved in projects that make a difference in the community. You may see Renee out enjoying the forest with friends and family.
WALLY LEE
Wally is a local Te Arawa man passionate about all things green! Since 1994 he has been searching for and implementing ways to restore the mauri in the Waiāriki water catchment. Improving biodiversity and water quality in the Puarenga stream is close to his heart. His dream is to have his mokopuna safely swimming in the local streams & lakes like he did as a child. Wally has experience in governance on a number of boards and Trusts.