Trustees
![]() Gillian Bishop BA,MBA, Chairperson, has an extensive background in planning and development of contract frameworks in the health sector for the Department of Health, Central Regional Health Authority, ACC and as a consultant. She has lived beside the Waimea Inlet for the last 13 years and her passion for the estuary has resulted in her active participation in work to protect and enhance the estuary environment. She has provided leadership to the Waimea Inlet Forum since its formation in 2010 to ensure that the community has a voice in decisions affecting the Inlet. Gillian has been part of a small project team working to restore Bell Island Spit and involved in other restoration projects and environmental initiatives through Plant Right Now, a community network focused on restoration around the Waimea Inlet. Gillian has recently joined the Tasman Environmental Trust and looks forward to the opportunity to increase the number of projects supported by the Trust.
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![]() Martin Heine, Deputy Chairperson, has been a national park ranger and conservation manager in a career spanning 40 years in Canterbury and Nelson-Marlborough. He studied botany at Canterbury University, has a particular interest in ecological restoration of forest sites in the Moutere area and a passion for beech trees. Martin left the Department of Conservation in 2012, and joined the Tasman Environmental Trust in the same year. He currently works part-time providing community liaison for the Native Habitat Tasman programme.
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![]() Gavin O’Donnell -Representing Federated Farmers - Gavin is a farm business manager with over 30 years experience in the pastoral farming sector where he has represented Nelson Federated Farmers at both provincial and national level for many years. His wide practical experience has shown him that we must all ensure the cumulative stresses placed on the environment do not degrade the environment beyond its ecological adaptive capacity. He is actively involved with both the Nelson City and Tasman District Biodiversity Forum groups where he has a particular interest in facilitating their aims and objectives within the rural environment. He is also a Trustee of the Tasman Environmental Trust nurturing and fostering small community groups of enthusiastic volunteers who have dreams and plans for environmental enhancement and restoration but lack the resources and skills to see their projects through to a successful conclusion.
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Executive Committee

Kathryn Brownlie, Treasurer, took up the position in 2015 and has a background in Management Accounting. She is involved with Battle for the Banded Rail which is working to restore habitat and trap predators on the Waimea Inlet to increase the numbers of Banded Rail and other shy margin-dwelling birds. Originally from the lower North Island, Richmond has been home for 15 years where she and her husband have enjoyed raising their three children in the Tasman region with all the outdoor opportunities it offers for recreation, sport and leisure.