Chris Ferkins – Waitakere City Council Chris Ferkins has lived in Auckland, the King Country, Wellington, Canada & England and now back in Auckland. Each of these places has given him experiences with nature that have been very influential. One of his most formative experiences was working as a volunteer in the Black Robin Project on the Chatham Is. Chris is Environmental Coordinator for Parks Planning at Waitakere City Council, and co-founder, Director and Trustee of Gecko NZ, a trust that helps local companies and communities work together on environmental restoration projects. Chris has pioneered streamside revegetation techniques in Waitakere City. He works with loads of community groups, landowners and businesses; he has run youth training programmes; provides support to tertiary students and industry liaison for Unitec; and advises across Council, including Project Twin Streams, on restoration and community participation. Chris is a co-author of the volume ‘Waitakere Ranges’, and author of the national Ecosourcing Code of Practice and Ethics. Chris and Gill have 3 sporty/outdoorsy school aged children. Chris.Ferkins@waitakere.govt.nz
David Bowden – Auckland City Council David has a strong interest in protecting and enhancing our natural environment. He obtained a post graduate qualification in environmental science at Canterbury University in 1994, after which he went on to work with the Hawkes Bay Regional Council as a field officer, and then for the Auckland Regional Council as a surface water hydrologist in 1998. David ended up in his current position at the Auckland City Council in 2001 thanks to a burning desire for environmental action as opposed to procrastination. His job involves working closely with park care groups planning, promoting and implementing conservation projects throughout the city. In the near future he plans to help bring people back to nature by developing a network of community gardens. david.bowden@aucklandcity.govt.nz
Nicki Malone - North Shore City Council Citywide Parks Officer (Volunteer Coordinator). Nicki joined North Shore City Council as Volunteer Coordinator in December 2008, after having worked at the Kaipatiki Project as Restoration Coordinator. The main focus of her role is to support the work of community groups which are undertaking ecological restoration work in Parks and Reserves in North Shore City. The organisation of the annual NSCC Community Planting Days is also part of Nicki's role. nicki.malone@northshorecity.govt.nz
