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.