Management Committee

Heinz Fellerhoff

C0- Chairperson

Heinz Fellerhoff is of Dutch and Māori decent, Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu, and was raised in the Wairarapa and Manawatū. He completed his studies at Massey University where he also currently works as an Advisor and Management Accountant.

He has a strong interest in the community sector and has been involved in environmental, social , and maritime sectors in the past. His interests in the environmental sector are primarily around natural environments and biodiversity, but also has a strong interest in sustainability and waste reduction initiatives.

Heinz currently resides in Palmerston North with Simone, his wife, and Kenna, his young daughter. In his spare time, you will be able to find him caring for Kenna or helping when he can at local working bees at the various parks and reserves in Palmerston North.

 

Rebecca Bell

C0- Chairperson

Rebecca grew up in the rural outskirts of Nelson on a mixed organic farm, has lived all over the North Island as an adult, and has been living in Palmy since 2018.  She has three almost-grown daughters, two of whom were born in Palmy during an earlier stint here.  Rebecca’s parents are American, so she has also spent time as an adult living in the States getting to know her extended family.

She likes to keep active and is currently working towards a goal to run a marathon some time in 2023.

Rebecca’s background is in local government, specifically strategic planning and policy, and over the years has been involved in a range of community projects and initiatives.  She is currently a self-employed consultant in strategic planning and project management.

 

Philip McConkey

Philip is a Palmy boy, having deep family roots here, and although born in the Waikato spent his childhood days here.  Originally a land surveyor by occupation he switched careers in his twenties and entered social work.  Combined with counselling and family therapy he worked for government agencies, NGO’s and private practice until his retirement five years ago.   Philip says that social justice and service are the dominant themes of his life.  As Director of Methodist Social Services in the 80’s, he initiated the city’s first Foodbank and also helped establish Parentline and Men Against Violence.

Philip’s ‘Green’ credentials stem from early membership of Greenpeace, of Sea Shepherd, and Forest & Bird.  Then in 2005 he joined the Green Party and quickly engaged in Party organisation in Whanganui.  He became more involved in active protests, and eventually this led to joining Extinction Rebellion.  He now sees climate change as the biggest social justice issue in history, with humankind not only threatening its own extinction, but those of thousands of other species.

Philip’s wife, Janet, shares his green interests with her commitment to permaculture; she is a writer and illustrator of children’s books on environmental themes.

 

Richard Ram

Richard has been involved with ENM for the last couple of years and brings 20 years plus of digital and marketing experience. He’s worked at a range of big corporates locally and overseas and more recently focuses on helping local businesses navigate the new digital landscape.

He sees huge opportunities to use new and emerging digital channels to educate and motivate people to be more aware of what’s going on globally and locally and encourage people to get involved in environmental challenges in different ways. Richard is a member of the Manawatū Chamber of Commerce and is interested in the synergies between business, volunteer groups and local government.

Richard is quite good at growing vegetables and weeds. You’ll often find Richard out and about walking his dog.

 

Kendall Palmer-Frecklington

Kendall is a Palmy local who has studied and worked in the area her whole life. She has a background in auditing and achieved her Chartered Accountancy by the age of 25. She is now working in a local accounting firm helping small and medium sized businesses, as well as individuals, to achieve their goals and maximise their outputs. She is an avid animal lover and has an interest in living a sustainable life and minimising her carbon footprint.

When she is not working you will find her either curled up with a book or out and about with her two retired greyhounds who are well known as the fashion hounds of Palmerston North.

 

Ellieda Komene

Ellieda is of Ngāpuhi descent and was born and raised in the Waikato. She has a background in tertiary education, social services, health and local government sectors and is now working in a local law firm in the Manawatū.  She is passionate about social and environmental causes and enjoys engaging with people from all walks of life.

In her spare time, you will find her hiking, taking part in community activities, playing golf, spending time in the garden and exploring the Manawatū-Whanganui region.

Staff

Madz BatachEl

Coordinator

Madz has been on the staff of ENM for a number of years in a variety of roles. In October 2019 she accepted the role of Coordinator, and is enjoying the challenge of keeping up with all the action in the network. She is the founder of Community Fruit Harvest Manawatu, and was instrumental in helping to establish the Manawatu Urban Foraging online community.  On her days off from ENM she helps to home educate 3 of her 5 children.

 

Kerry Jaques

Finance and Administration

Kerry is an experienced accountant/administrator with a public sector background in large organisations. His career has included significant experience in the electricity and tertiary sectors; initially at the Ministry of Energy (13 years), followed by Massey University (22 years) and the Universal College of Learning (just over 5 years).

He has considerable experience in office management and administration, with technical expertise in financial management and strategic planning to a senior level. Kerry is enjoying utilising his experience and knowledge in his role at Environment Network Manawatū.

Outside of work, Kerry and his wife have three adult children all of whom are working professionally. Apart from family, his passions are the outdoors and sport. Currently he is Chairman of Old Boys Cricket Club  in Palmerston North and manages the Premier team. 

 

Helen King

Communications and Events

Helen has worked in the local community sector for over 15 years in a plethora of different roles focused on education, communications, fundraising and donations. Helen is well-known for her role as a local grants advisor and educator and enjoys training and supporting organisations in their funding endeavours. An Ashhurst resident, Helen is actively involved in here local community, is an avid permaculturalist with a passion for earth care, people care, fair share and for planting more fruit trees than her section can probably handle. Helen has two children, and many other living creatures furry, feathered and winged that make her life colourful.

 

Sumeet Kaushal

Workflows and Systems Development

Sumeet is a passionate and focused business analyst with strong analytical and technical skills supporting business needs and process mapping for improving existing and introducing new processes. He is also competent at identifying, validating, and documenting business requirements and transforming them into successful technical solutions. Sumeet has had previous expereince working  with Mid District Health Board and Sime Darby Commercial NZ Limited as a Business Analyst.

 

Dave Mollard

Kai Security Project Manager, Manawatū Food Action Network

Dave Mollard  brings experience in Human Resources, Communications and Strategic Thinking to the Manawatū Food Action Network.  Dave has worked in the community sector for 10 years, as a HR manager of a charity in India, developing youth community projects in Fiji, Japan and Aotearoa and also working with Rangatahi in Palmerston North.  Dave is a kaitiaki of the Awapuni Community Gardens, he enjoys riding his motorbike and playing in the front row for the Ashhurst Stags rugby team.      

 

Daniel Morrimire (Morri)

Coordinator, Manawatū Food Action Network

Morri has a diverse background, previously having worked as an avionics technician in the Royal New Zealand Air Force for 7 years before he took up study at Massey University. He has a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Zoology and Ecology as well as a Diploma of Teaching. Morri is a fully registered teacher and spent the last 4 years teaching at a local Montessori early childhood centre. Morri has links with Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manawatū and has a conversational level of fluency in Te Reo Māori thanks to his involvement there as well as having completed two courses through Te Wananga o Aotearoa. He has dreams of one day being self-sufficient, with a developing fruit forest, a small orchard and an expanding series of raised gardens. He lives rurally with his wife and 4 tamariki.

Jono Naylor

Food Rescue Project Lead, Manawatū Food Action Network

Jono is a former Member of Parliament, Mayor, Social Worker, Guidance Counsellor, Gravedigger and Busker who has devoted his working life to helping individuals and communities to realise their potential. A proud father and grandfather he is passionate about ensuring that the choices we make today enhance rather than limit the choices of next generations.

He spends his spare time walking, cycling and trying to control the weeds on his half acre section.

Nelson Harper

Coordinator, Manawatū River Source to Sea.

Nelson is passionate about working with waste and making connections in the environmental sector. He has a very wide range of industry exposure and experience, having worked in healthcare, construction, horticulture, conservation, food & beverage and small business.  Nelson has a Bachelor with Honors in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, a Diploma in Applied Science and a Certificate in Horticulture. This has led him to sit on committees for Young Chamber Manawatu, Engineering New Zealand, Young Engineers, and the student engineering association (TECHENSOC), while getting involved in the entrepreneurial community. In his free time he loves and working on business start-ups, and getting in to his garden alongside his cat and chickens.

 

Ian Rasmussen

Coordinator, Southern Ruahine Kiwi Habitat Restoration Project

Ian lives in Pohangina and is passionate about and actively involved in predator control within his role through ENM but also within the Ashhurst and Pohangina area where he is involved in the RECAP predator control project.

 

Cat McNabb

Trainee Project Activator, Southern Ruahine Kiwi Habitat Restoration Project

Cat is deeply passionate about conservation and working towards a predator free NZ. She has a Bachelor of Science with a major in Zoology, that she moved to Palmerston North to complete from Wellington. Cat lives locally with her 3 children, many animals and her husband. In her spare time enjoys camping, tramping and  bushwalks with her family, exploring the region and walking her two dogs.