Board members

Our board members tirelessly work to ensure the smooth running of the Estuary Trust. They come from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise and communities, ensuring we have the best possible minds working to guide us into the future.

Finlay Laird
Board Member

Finlay is a long time member and active supporter of the Estuary Trust. He is a local resident and you can often find him helping out alongside the Charlesworth Reserve volunteering team. His knowledge and understanding of everything Read More ...

Dylan Steeples
Board Member

Dylan was elected to the Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust board in Sept 2024. He brings a wealth of of practical knowledge through his involvement in conservation projects around Whakaraupō Lyttleton Harbour. A New Brighton resident, Read More ...

Natasha McIntosh
Board Member

We welcome Natasha is one of our board members at our September 2024 AGM She is an environmental scientist with expertise in Marine Biology, invasive species management, and community engagement. Living in Redcliffs and currently the Read More ...

Joe Davies
Chair Person

Joe is a Regional Councillor representing North East Christchurch / Orei, and has lived on Mount Pleasant for 20 years. He is a bird photographer, enjoys running around the bays and on the coastal pathway and swims in the estuary through the Read More ...

Lesley Bolton-Ritchie
Treasurer

Since Sept 2023 Lesley is a Marine Zoologist. She worked as a Coastal Water Quality and Ecology Scientist for Environment Canterbury for nearly 19 years including research and reporting on the Estuary. Now retired, Lesley continues Read More ...

Islay Marsden
Board Member

An Emerita Professor in Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Islay is a marine biologist/toxicologist. She is passionate about shellfish, the restoration of natural habitats and mahinga kai. She is also interested in the scientific, Read More ...

Celia King
Board Member

Celia has lived in Mt Pleasant most of her life. A keen amateur bird watcher she has observed wonderful wildlife over the years in the estuary. She is happy when working in practical tasks and taking a holistic approach to protection of this Read More ...

Kit Doudney
Vice Chair Person

Kit researches and teaches on the molecular genetic basis of human diseases at the University of Otago. A keen advocate for the estuary and a local resident, his aim for the Estuary Trust is to preserve and promote environmental conditions Read More ...