Greg is an environmental scientist and RMA commissioner with 40 years’ experience investigating the effects of land use, hydro-electric schemes, irrigation, mining, stormwater and wastewater discharges on freshwater and coastal ecosystems throughout Aotearoa. He founded his consulting business in 1995 and now operates as Greg Ryder Consulting. Greg has served as a Board Member of the Environmental Protection Authority, a Freshwater Commissioner under the Resource Management Amendment Act 2020, and has sat as an independent commissioner on more than 30 RMA hearings covering a broad range of activities including hydro development, gravel extraction, irrigation, mining and wastewater discharges.
Greg has a long affinity with the Clutha River / Mata-Au, having grown up in Balclutha for much of his younger life and then undertaken multiple assessments of the river and its tributaries in his professional carrier.
Greg splits his time between Lake Hāwea and Dunedin, drawn back to the mountains and freshwater environments of the Upper Clutha. With a particular interest in environmental monitoring, he brings decades of technical and governance experience to Wai Wānaka’s work protecting the catchment he calls home. Read More
Professor Ross Thompson is the Dame Carolyn Burns Research Chair in Freshwater Sciences in the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago. Originally from Ashburton, NZ, Ross completed his PhD in 2001 at the University of Otago working on the impacts of clearcut forestry on waterways. He then completed post-doctoral studies in Canada. Over the past 20 years he has been based in Australia, primarily working on applied food web ecology. This has included studying impacts of afforestation for carbon capture, ecological effects of diffuse pollutants, how urbanisation impacts landscapes, and most recently, large-scale river restoration using environmental flows. His work has included working closely with the private sector, government and Indigenous groups, seeking transdisciplinary solutions to environmental 'wicked problems'. Since returning to NZ in early 2025 Ross has focussed on building partnerships to address water quality and ecosystem health issues, with a particular focus on the lakes and rivers of southern New Zealand. Read More
Having recently relocated from Wellington to Wānaka, Stephen brings wide-ranging senior executive leadership and governance experience across Government, primary industries and the biosecurity sector. A common thread throughout his career is his strategic leadership, using scientific tools, data, models and technology to deliver operational and business outcomes. Not to mention the importance of building strong relationships and partnerships. Stephen is deeply committed to environmental sustainability and champions best practise governance.
Stephen’s most recent role was Chief Executive of an animal disease and pest management agency within the primary sector. During this time, he acted as an Observer on the Mycoplasma Bovis Governance Board, as well as the Board of Zero Invasive Predators and supported the Department of Conservation to shape the future of Predator Free 2050. In addition, Stephen has for many years been a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and is eager to contribute his expertise and skills to our local community, and WAI Wānaka is thrilled to have him join their Board of Trustees. Read More
Chris is an infrastructure asset management advisor and strategist, helping local authorities across Aotearoa with long-term planning, business case development and evidence-based decision-making. He has a Master of Science in Geography and a background in social and environmental research.
He is especially interested in how infrastructure can support thriving communities and sustainable development, his work has spanned both urban and rural communities, and he enjoys collaborating with councils and partners on future-focused planning.
Based in Lake Hāwea with his young family, Chris is delighted to support WAI Wānaka’s mission to empower communities and protect water for future generations. Read More
Richard is a third-generation steward of his family’s high-country farm in Hāwea, an agritourism operator, and a passionate conservationist.
He is a Guardian of Lake Hāwea, the founding Chair of the Lake Hāwea Stakeholders Group, and Chair of Aotearoa’s Hunters for Conservation. Richard also serves on the board of the Dallas Safari Club, contributes to the executive of the NZ Professional Hunting Guides Association, and is a Director of Landward Management — a company specialising in project management, biosecurity, ecological management, and farm business consulting.
He recently completed a six-year term on the Board of the Telford Farming Institute, a rural education facility in Otago.
Richard plays an active role in protecting the water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystems of Lake Hāwea, ensuring they are sustainably and safely managed.
Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable land management, environmental stewardship, community wellbeing, and the promotion of responsible hunting and agritourism practices. Read More
