Simon is Chief Executive Officer of BAF - Bishop’s Action Foundation which works as a catalyst for change by supporting changemakers to launch ideas that challenge inequity. 

Simon has extensive governance experience and is currently Chair of Wild For Taranaki and a Director of Catalyst Housing Ltd. Simon is also an accredited mentor with The Mentoring Foundation of New Zealand and has an MPhil through AUT which focused on governance in the community sector. He also holds Post-Graduate Diplomas in Development Studies and Public Health. 

Simon is married to Theresa and has two children Oliver and Amber.

Amanda Clinton-Gohdes is a freelance strategic adviser with experience in policy, governance, research, sustainability and law.

Amanda is a former lawyer with a background in science, and experience in the local government and tertiary sectors.

Amanda previously served six years on the New Plymouth District Council, holding roles as the Chair of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee, Deputy Chair of the Sustainability Working Party, and Chair of the Community Funding Investment Committee. She also previously qualified as a Resource Management Commissioner.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science specialising in molecular biology and biochemistry, and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons).

Amanda has a passion for working with the community to regenerate the taiao (environment), acting together with mana whenua to protect and restore ecosystems for generations to come. She is honoured to be part of the Wild for Taranaki team.

Thom is the Innovation Lead for Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki. He leads the Taranaki Applied Innovation Centre project, which seeks to elevate the region's science and innovation excellence and nurture the next generation of brilliance. He's a strong advocate for community science and STEM Education, leading the Curious Minds Taranaki project for several years. 
Thom has a Bachelor of Science (Zoology), a Bachelor of Arts (Theatre Studies), and has recently attained a Master of Education specialising in curriculum and pedagogy. Prior to his return to Taranaki, he was the Engagement Coordinator for Victoria University's Faculty of Science and a playwright for Circa Theatre.

Lauren is an environmental lawyer, specialising in environmental and local government law and civil litigation. She is currently a partner at Govett Quilliam, where she leads the firm’s Environment and Planning Team.

In her day-to-day work, she regularly collaborates with a wide network of environmental scientists, engineers and planners and provides legal and strategic oversight for a variety of projects. She acts for local and regional authorities, national corporations, local businesses, start-ups, iwi and PSGE, community organisations and individuals and families.

She understands the environmental issues within the Taranaki region and is passionate about increasing awareness of these issues within our community and working with stakeholders to design solutions for a more sustainable future. She strongly supports Wild for Taranaki’s vision and purpose, and its region-wide collaborative approach.

Lauren is the President of the Resource Management Law Association, and an RMA Hearings Commissioner.

Tēnā koe,
Ko Airani, ko Wiwi, te whakapaparanga mai
Nō Whanganui au
Ko Ngā Motu te whenua tupu
Ko Ōmata te kaingā
Ko Chauncy Ardell ahau.

I have varied work experience in conservation and community engagement with central and local government, and various NGO’s. I am currently working at the Taranaki Regional Council, building collaborative partnerships for a strong collective vision of environmental protection and restoration with Taranaki’s diverse communities, including iwi, hapū, farmers, schools, urban residents, and community groups.

I am also a trustee of the Sustainable Taranaki charitable trust, a member of Permaculture Taranaki, a NZ music history archivist, and a curious nature nerd. My whānau and I are grateful to live in Ōmata where we incorporate ngahere restoration and permaculture food production principles into our busy lives - facing change and uncertainty with wellbeing, connectivity, humour, humility, sustainability, and aroha.

I have supported the collaborative approach of the Wild For Taranaki kaupapa since its inception in 2012 and I am delighted and honoured to now be part of the Wild For Taranaki team.

E Io, e Rangi nui e tū nei, Papatuanuku e takoto nei. Koutou ngā Atua Māori – te mana ō te ao ki a koutou. Ki ngā mate, koutou kua noho āio i te taha wairua – anei te mihi manawa nui ki a koutou. E ōku whanaunga ō Taranaki Whānui, tēnei au e tū pono ki te kaupapa. Ko Tāne Wiremu Houston taku ingoa. Nō Tāngahoe, nō Ngāruahine nō Ngāti Ruanui hoki. Ngā Hapū ko Tupaia, ko Tānewai ko Manuhiakai e ora nei. Mauri ora ki ngā awa, mauri ora ki a Tītohea – Taranaki te tūpuna mounga. Tīhei Mauri Ora!

Kia ora koutou, my name is Tāne Wiremu Houston and I am a descendant of our Mounga Taranaki. It is an honour and privilege to be a part of the Wild for Taranaki Board of Trustees. It is my intent to be reliable, accountable and productive within this shared space of looking after our region’s bio-diversity. I aim to do my best by our members and enjoy doing so. Thank you all for this opportunity, let’s get it done!

Sean brings deep regional knowledge and extensive experience in ecological restoration, resource management, and community partnership to the Wild for Taranaki Board. Stratford-born and raised on farms around Taranaki Mounga, he has spent his career working alongside iwi, hapū, councils, and community groups to protect and enhance Taranaki’s natural environment.

Currently Poutohu Matua Taurua / Co-Project Director for the Taranaki Mounga Project, Sean leads large-scale restoration initiatives across the Mounga and its surrounding peaks, including predator control, weed management, and species reintroduction. His background spans local government, regulatory and strategy roles, and multidisciplinary environmental project delivery.

Since joining the Taranaki Mounga Project in 2017 Sean has championed collaborative approaches and long-term, community-driven outcomes. A NEXT Foundation Fellow, he is committed to ensuring Taranaki’s ecosystems thrive through bold, innovative conservation and strong partnerships across iwi and the wider region.

Drew is a committed conservation advocate based in Inglewood, Taranaki. Of Ngāi Tahu descent, he brings a lifelong passion for protecting New Zealand’s unique biodiversity, particularly native birdlife and habitat restoration.

Drew serves as Deputy Chair of the Taranaki Kiwi Trust, where he has contributed to kiwi monitoring, predator control, and population recovery initiatives across the region. He has also previously held the role of Chairperson of the Taranaki Whanganui Conservation Board (2019–2025), appointed by the Minister of Conservation, providing strategic governance and community-focused advice on public land management, marine protection, and ecological restoration. He has additionally represented the Conservation Board on the Tapuae Marine Reserve Advisory Committee, and the North Island Hector’s and Māui Dolphin Forum.

Drew’s professional background as a self-employed IT specialist with more than 20 years’ experience has developed his strategic thinking and analytical skills, enabling him to offer clear, evidence-based perspectives and valuable input to conservation governance, particularly with regard to emerging areas of technology and applications in conservation.

An enthusiastic outdoorsman, Drew is deeply committed to habitat protection, ecological restoration, and raising awareness of Taranaki’s distinctive natural heritage.

Through his roles with the Taranaki Kiwi Trust and the Conservation Board, he has consistently championed collaborative, science-informed approaches to safeguarding the region’s native species for future generations.

Danielle Gibas is the General Manager for Wild for Taranaki. She started at Wild for Taranaki in 2018 and has tackled a number of different roles within the trust since then. In her current role, she uses her knack for connecting people, keeping things organised, and thinking a few steps ahead to help the team stay on track and work well together.
With a BSc in Veterinary Medicine and a MSc in Oceanography, Danielle has built a career across fieldwork, community projects, and marine science. She started with the Sea Watch Foundation in Wales, where she got hands-on with marine conservation and developed a soft spot for species-focused work and citizen science. After a stint in the private sector, she picked up a wide range of practical environmental experience that still shapes her approach today.

Lisa is leading the development and delivery of Wild for Taranaki's Biodiversity Corridor Kaupapa, a regional initiative to accelerate and amplify the restoration of biodiversity corridors across Taranaki.
She works alongside our members, iwi and hapū, landowners, community groups, environmental organisations, councils, agencies and researchers.
Her focus is on facilitating engagement, bringing people together across the region to create the shared momentum and regional alignment needed for a genuinely collaborative and strategic approach. 
Lisa holds a Master of Arts in Cultural Sciences and Communication & Media and brings with her more than 20 years' experience in project management and community engagement. Before joining Wild for Taranaki, she worked as the Public Engagement Curator at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/New Plymouth District Council.
Her passion lies with te taiao and in fostering community collaboration which is driven by the belief that community organizations/groups are a powerful motor for social and environmental change.

Amy is our Communication and Fundraising Lead and is passionate about using storytelling to connect people with nature.
As a science communicator, her passion is to get people excited about science. A life-long science enthusiast, Amy became a science communicator because she believes science should be accessible to everyone. Through storytelling, Amy translates complex scientific issues into clear, engaging content. She has previously worked with local government to strategically communicate and engage with the public in delivering regional freshwater legislation, curated displays in museums and carried out environmental monitoring.

CJ McComb hails from a small rural town in the South Island and is the Administration Support for Wild for Taranaki. She joined the trust in 2022 after relocating to Taranaki at the completion of her studies. CJ holds a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy from the University of Otago.
In her role, CJ supports the smooth running of the organisation, helping coordinate events and providing essential administrative support across the team. She plays a key role behind the scenes, ensuring things run efficiently and supporting the delivery of Wild for Taranaki’s Kaupapa.
Outside of work, CJ and her husband are parents to two young, high-energy children. They have a love for the outdoors, a particular affinity for anything water-related and making the most of Taranaki's unique natural environment - including teaching their children the importance of protecting and revitalising it for future generations.

Victoria is a Taranaki-born journalist and storyteller whose career began in 2006 as a rural reporter in north-west Auckland, then went on to work in documentary research.
After living abroad in Paris, Victoria felt the pull of home and returned to Taranaki with her husband and daughter, settling at the feet of Te Kāhui Tupua. Today, she is dedicated to sharing the work of Taranaki’s biodiversity restoration champions, crafting both visual and written stories with respect and a sense of awe.

Toby Shanley is an ecologist and conservationist with a strong passion for protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s native wildlife and wild places. He holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in ecology and has worked on a range of conservation and restoration projects, including on predator-free offshore islands.
Toby spent seven years with Taranaki Regional Council, where he became project manager for Towards Predator-Free Taranaki. In this role, he helped lead large-scale predator control efforts aimed at restoring native biodiversity across the region.
He has since worked with the Taranaki Kiwi Trust, monitoring and surveying kiwi populations in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki and working towards restoring kiwi populations across Taranaki Maunga and the Kaitake Range.
He has also been involved in seabird conservation, contributing to translocations in Taranaki and the Hauraki Gulf and working to protect and monitor species such as ōi (grey-faced petrels) and supporting efforts to better understand and restore seabird and shorebird populations along the Taranaki coast.
A lifelong explorer of Taranaki’s forests, maunga and coastline, Toby is passionate about sharing his appreciation for the natural environment and helping future generations connect with and protect Aotearoa’s unique wildlife.