Follow the Endangered Species Foundation's journey in setting up a conservation fund for New Zealand's rarest of the rare - critically endangered fauna and flora on the brink of extinction. The future of New Zealand's most vulnerable is uncertain - nearly 4,000 indigenous species are in danger of being lost. We we have a chance to pledge our commitment and support to protect our extraordinary species and unique habitats, now and into the future. We are committed to preserving the rarest of the rare, by funding results orientated conservation projects, with the support of New Zealanders like you.

Thursday 20 September 2012

Trustee Introductions Continued

We welcome Jane Marshall to the Endangered Species Foundation.

As she says:

"As a native born West Coaster I was lucky enough to experience the vast tracts of forests and stunning coastlines as a regular part of my formative years and for over 45 years now I have lived and traveled in the South Island.  My earliest interests in animals evolved over the years of work experience as a teenager at Orana Park and holidays to countries with exotic flowering plants, through my tertiary education which began in zoology and ended in botany.  During my years at the universities in Canterbury and Otago I met inspirational people who were and are actively involved in the often hard work of conserving New Zealand's unique species and wilderness spaces and these people have effectively guided my own journey into the world of biodiversity conservation.  
Having been involved in conservation efforts in New Zealand, it is clear to me that as a country we desperately need to expand the amount of species conservation work that is occurring here in order to stop the tragic losses of our vulnerable flora and fauna.  The Endangered Species Foundation of New Zealand presents a new opportunity to increase the likelihood of survival of our treasured species, and as a corollary, the spectacular places they live in."
Jane doing what she likes best - in the sun, eating fruit, on a mountain, surrounded by tussock

Jane currently works on the coalface of conservation with the Department of Conservation in Hokitika. She is a past President of the Otago branch of Forest and Bird and is involved with many other community conservation groups.





Tuesday 18 September 2012

And Introducing

Working my way through our talented group of Trustees I would like to introduce Neil Thorsen - one of the powerhouses behind the early work of setting up the Endangered Species Foundation

Neil has held management roles with NZ Guardian Trust from 1968 to 1995 and has been Managing Director of Thorsen Gempton Consulting Ltd since 1996. Neil was instrumental in establishing the Wellington Region Community Foundation (now called the Nikau Foundation) and the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust (now Zealandia). He chaired the New Zealand Association of Philanthropic Trusts (now Philanthropy New Zealand) for 5 years and has attended two US Council on Foundations conferences, in Washington and Puerto Rico.

Neil discussing the ESF with Tony Ryall MP
In Neil's words:
"I guess I was born to be a conservationist having a farmer for a father. I have been involved with the establishment of many charitable trusts and foundations during a lengthy career as a trustee consultant. The establishment of ESF, and being a trustee, has given me the most satisfaction, as I see it as being a foundation for the challenging times ahead, facing a growing list of endangered species.  I am prepared, in a very small way, to take up the late Professor Sir Paul Callaghan’s vision that this country could eventually become predator free.

Tao said almost 2,000 years ago:   

 “A tree that reaches past your embrace grows from one small seed.
A structure over nine stories high begins with a handful of earth.
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.”

This is why I see ESF as having the vision, capacity and drive to, at least, try to implement Sir Paul Callaghan’s dream that New Zealand should become predator free; thus protecting our endangered species. Conservationists have already taken many small steps. Let us increase the pace."

Sunday 9 September 2012

We Are Lucky To Welcome...

Continuing our thread of introducing the people that have graciously agreed to acting as Trustees for the Endangered Species Foundation I'd like to welcome another two of our trustees: Kerry Prendergast and Dame Cheryll Sotheran.



Image from Soda Inc.
Dame Cheryll Sotheran DNZM is the Strategic Director, Business Solutions, for NZ Trade and Enterprise in the innovative soda inc. She was the founding Chief Executive of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa from 1993-2002. Dame Cheryll received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Auckland in 1999 and, in 1998, she was made Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (bio from Wikipedia and soda)
 





Kerry Prendergast chairs Tourism NZ and the newly formed Crown Entity, the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to these she is Executive Chair of the NZ International Festival of the Arts, chairs Wellington Regional Netball, is on the boards of Kirkaldie and Stains Ltd, the Wellington Phoenix Football Club and the NZ Community Trust, on an Advisory Board to the Auditor General and Local Government Efficiency Taskforce. Kerry completed her third term as Mayor of Wellington in October 2010. Previously, She served as Deputy Mayor from 1995 to 2001. She has an MBA from Victoria University (2003).  Before her career in local government, Kerry had a professional background in the health sector (as a registered nurse and then as a registered midwife for 25 years). Kerry was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2011. She also has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the Medal of the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins – Grand Cross, a Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary) and a Distinguished Alumni of Victoria University

Both these very accomplished people deserve a huge vote of thanks for agreeing to support the Endangered Species Foundation of NZ.