OUR TEAM

Dr Beccy Ganley

Plant & Food Research - Science Group Leader + Co-Chair

Dr Beccy Ganley

Dr Beccy Ganley

Dr Ganley is a Principal Scientist at the Bioeconomy Science Institute and Director of Better Border Biosecurity.

She has an extensive research career in biosecurity from pre-border through to post-border, understanding and finding solutions to pests that are problematic for our commercial, urban and native estates.

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Carlton Bidois
Carlton Bidois

Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital - Co-Chair

Carlton Bidois

Carlton Bidois

Carlton has an extensive background of iwi and hapū representation across a diverse range of institutions. He brings a wealth of cultural knowledge to the table as a mediator and negotiator of national and regional issues on behalf of Māoridom.

Specialising in environmental management, with an intimate knowledge of the Kaimai forest range and its conservation concerns, Carlton has been an iwi representative to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for 15 years, gaining the confidence of iwi and hapū to speak on high level conservation issues.

Carlton is a founding member and current chair of Manaaki Te Awanui Environmental Research and Development Trust, which conducts major cross-cultural research and restoration projects in the Tauranga Harbour and surrounding catchments.

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Bill Dyck
Bill Dyck

Biological Heritage - Knowledge Broker

Bill Dyck

Bill Dyck

Bill works as a knowledge broker for the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge where his main task is to share the knowledge developed in the challenge with key stakeholders.

The approach that the Biological Heritage is taking to reverse the decline of biosecurity and biodiversity is completely different from traditional approaches, as it brings end-users and scientists together in the design process and ensures a strong iwi perspective.

Bill has previously held roles with the New Zealand Forest Owners Association as their biosecurity manager and also manages a funding scheme called Envirolink to transfer knowledge from university science to regional councils.

 

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Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services
Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

NZ Avocado - Biosecurity Manager

Brad Siebert

Brad Siebert

Brad is CEO of the NZ Avocado Growers Association while also supporting the association’s work in biosecurity, trade policy and natural resource management

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Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services
Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

Andrew Harrison Consulting - Managing Director

Andrew Harrison

Andrew Harrison

As the inaugural programme coordinator for TMBC, Andrew played a critical role in setting up and establish TMBC's long term direction.

Andrew is a kiwifruit grower and a specialist biosecurity consultant who sits on several local and national boards. He previously managed the Psa and biosecurity programme for Kiwifruit Vine Health, led national pest management efforts as a senior manager within the Ministry for Primary Industries and worked in biosecurity and biodiversity protection for the Department of Conservation.

Andrew is passionate about working with communities for the protection of Tauranga Moana. He aims to ensure biosecurity is personally relevant and we are all taking action - as individuals, as local community members and as part of the team of 4.7 million New Zealanders.

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Dr Chris Battershill
Dr Chris Battershill

University of Waikato - Chair in Coastal Science

Dr Chris Battershill

Dr Chris Battershill

Marine ecologist and environmental scientist, Professor Chris Battershill, is the director of the University of Waikato’s Coastal Marine Field Station in Tauranga.

The field station is now a nationally significant centre of excellence for coastal and marine research, with numerous masters and doctoral students working on projects spanning the use of the harbour by sharks and rays, to marine biodiscovers of agricultural pathogen remedies. Researchers currently work in collaboration with industry, government agencies and crown research institutes across areas that include biosecurity, coastal sustainability, ecology and agri-science.

Chris' early interest in biodiversity and aquaculture was matched by his interest in medicine and he has worked in both fields simultaneously, exploring medicinal leads (anti-tumour) from marine organisms. His career has also covered marine biotechnology, conservation and aquaculture.

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Jeff Milham
Jeff Milham

Department of Conservation - District Manager

Jeff Milham

Jeff Milham

Jeff Milham is the District Manager for Te Papa Atawhai (Department of Conservation), based in Tauranga, where he's been working for the past 12 years.

Prior to this, he worked for the Whanganui Regional Tourism Organisation, in the city he grew up in. Straight out of high school he spent a year working and travelling in Europe, before returning to Aotearoa and starting four years at the University of Otago where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing and Management) and a Post-Grad Diploma in Tourism.

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Graeme Marshall
Graeme Marshall

Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital

Graeme Marshall

Graeme Marshall

Graeme is chair of TMBC and a director of Kiwifruit Vine Health. He has also been the chair of the Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee and member of the Biosecurity 2025 Steering Group. He is currently a director of Port Taranaki and is on the governance board of the economic development group, Bay of Connections.

During his tenure as Port of Tauranga commercial manager, his portfolio included management of cruise, bulk, break-bulk container operations, marine and security. He has worked in ports since 1978, including as general manager at the Port of Napier. Having chaired Tourism Bay of Plenty, Cruise NZ and been a director of New Zealand’s largest transitional facility, he has extensive knowledge and understanding of biosecurity risk pathways.

He is passionate about biosecurity and a strong advocate for the Ko Tātou This is Us campaign.

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Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services
Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

Bay of Plenty Regional Council - Biosecurity Manager

Greg Corbett

Greg Corbett

Greg is Biosecurity Manager for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council leading a team 15 biosecurity officers, including a dedicated biosecurity dive team.

Starting with the old Agricultural Pest Destruction Boards in the 1980’s, he has worked in biosecurity and pest management for most of his working life with a focus on pest animals. He has been with the regional council since 1995 and held several different roles including Tb vector manager when Council supported OSPRI’s predecessor, the Animal Health Board, with managing possums and other Tb vectors.

Greg's team focuses on working with landowners to deliver the Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan and supporting our regional communities with pest projects.

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James Trevalyn
James Trevalyn

Trevelyans - Managing Director

James Trevelyan

James Trevalyn

Prior to joining the Trevelyan family business in 1990, James trained and worked as a professional engineer. James and his wife Vicki also own a kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke.

Kiwifruit and avocado growers across the Bay of Plenty have relied on Trevelyan’s to provide world-class packing and fruit storage facilities for nearly 40 years. Trevelyan’s operates four export packhouses, one local market packhouse and 33 state-of-the-art coolstores in Te Puke. These facilities employ up to 1600 people at the height of the season. 

Like many other New Zealand kiwifruit businesses, Trevelyan’s felt the pain of the devastating Psa incursion in late 2010 and continues to live with it today. The business has relied on a process of continuous improvement, transparency, and biosecurity developments to see it through those tough years.

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Matire_Duncan

Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital - Māori Caucus

Matire Duncan

Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services
Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

Manager Engagement Programmes

Jo Darby

Jo Darby

Jo is the Engagement Programmes Manager at Biosecurity New Zealand. Her team leads the design and delivery of engagement and communications for national pest management programmes where engagement, behaviour change and communications are critical to achieving programme outcomes and to support operational activities.

The team also supports multi-stakeholder biosecurity engagement programmes and partnerships that drive improved management of biosecurity risk and strengthen the system.

TMBC Inc and Biosecurity Taranaki are two of Jo’s priorty engagement programmes as well as looking at how we extend biosecurity collaborations into other regions. Jo also supports the Biosecurity Business Pledge Inc – a network focused on helping businesses take a proactive approach to their biosecurity practices.

Prior to this role Jo was the senior engagement advisor for the biosecurity Ko Tātou This Is Us programme, leading the biosecurity engagement programmes including the NZ Biosecurity Awards.

Prior to joining MPI, Jo was the Director of Conventions & Events at Wellington Venues and prior to this worked at the communications consultancy agency Acumen as the Group Account Director responsible for leading the national events team.

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Liesel's Photo

Western Bay of Plenty Distrcit Council - Community Outcomes Advisor

Liesel Carnie

Liesel Carnie

Liesel is the Community Outcomes Advisor for the Natural Environment in the Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Community and Strategic Relationships Team, which works to build community capacity and support community-led programmes and projects. Much of Liesel’s focus is to support community led development around pest control and conservation.
Liesel has worked in various council and community roles focusing on environmental behaviour change, education and advocacy both regionally and locally.
With five years working in the community for the environment, Liesel is passionate about preventing further environmental issues for the district by supporting the development of a biosecurity conscious community.

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Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services
Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital - Māori Caucus

Riki Nelson

Leanne Stewart
Leanne Stewart

Kiwifruit Vine Health - Chief Executive

Leanne Stewart

Leanne Stewart

Leanne is the Chief Executive at Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) and joined the team in May 2021, relocating to Tauranga Moana from Wellington. Prior to taking up the KVH role, Leanne was Deputy Chief Executive at Horticulture New Zealand and General Manager Process Vegetables New Zealand. She has had previous roles at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) working in areas of import regulation and international plant protection.

Leanne is experienced in management of biosecurity risks, having worked in plant health, government, international, and industry organisations. She has held responsibility for biosecurity, food safety, and regulatory portfolios, and has very strong relationships with MPI and industry groups across New Zealand.

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Dr Toni Withers
Dr Toni Withers

Forestry Entomologist

Dr Toni Withers

Dr Toni Withers

Forestry entomologist Toni Withers is a research scientist at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, based in Rotorua.

Scion undertakes a wide range of research related to native and exotic trees and plantations forests, as well as the environment in which they grow, and bio-based products. The Scion Group that Toni works in, has a strong history of research into Biosecurity in relation to Forestry. Scientists, including Toni, have assisted with diagnostics of new plant-feeding pests and pathogens, surveillance at ports and forests, and when new pest incursions have taken place they have assisted MPI. Assistance with incursion responses has involved field work surveys, laboratory feeding trials, insecticide efficacy trials and spray applications. Toni’s particular skills as an entomologist include insect behaviour, weed and insect biological control, host specificity testing of candidate biocontrol agents, and running the Rotorua BSI Invertebrate Transitional and Containment Facility.

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