Our Trustees

From Left: Paul Russell, Deryk Mason, Christine Hemi, Chris Hawkes - Chair, Mike Elson-Brown, Maurice Woodhouse, Debbie Armatage & Mike Glover

Chris Hawkes, Chair, Trustee Chris has considerable experience in business management including national farmer’s co-ops and international companies ICI and CocaCola. He was 50% owner of Mainstream Food that, originally with eight branches, covered all of the South Island supplying temperaturecontrolled food products to both retail and food service trade. Chris is also Chair of the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board.

Maurice Woodhouse, Trustee, Treasurer Maurice Woodhouse has had a long career in the accounting industry and was a founding partner of one of Nelson’s most respected accountancy firms, RWCA. Maurice became a BWST trustee in 2017..

Christine Hemi, Trustee, iwi Representative Christine Hemi has served in various leadership roles with Ngati Kuia and has been a BWST trustee since 2006.

Paul Russell, Trustee Paul is a retired consulting Civil Engineer having worked in the Nelson Marlborough region since 1978. He managed the Nelson office of MWH Global for over ten years and during his career worked in Australia, England, Laos, Hongkong, USA and Fiji. Paul was a trustee on the board of Central School, serving 5 years as chairman, and currently is also a Trustee on the Nelson Tasman Housing Trust. Paul has been a BWST trustee since 2017 Debbie Armatage, Trustee With formal training in journalism, marketing and communications, Debbie has spent many years in the senior management roles predominantly in the food, hospitality, and tourism sectors. Debbie became a BWST trustee in 2019.

Deryk Mason, Trustee, iwi representative Ko Parapara te maunga. Ko Pariwhakaoho te awa. Ko Tokomaru te waka. Ko Ngāti Tama - Te Ātiawa ngā iwi. Ko Meihana taku whānau. Ko taku tūpuna ko Iharaira Meihana. After 25 years on the management team of a global packaging manufacturer in Auckland Deryk returned to Nelson and became a dedicated Sanctuary volunteer for the past seven years with a focus on the biosecurity fence. Derek represents his iwi, Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu and Te Ātiawa o te Waka a Māui on the Trust.

Mike Elson-Brown, Trustee Mike is a trust and estate practitioner, providing specialist advice to clients in wills, trusts and powers of attorney. Mike joined the BWST as a Trustee in August 2016, stepped down in April 2019 and re-joined the Trust in September 2019.

Mike Glover, Trustee Mike Glover is a professional director with considerable experience in corporate governance. Mike has an honours degree in law. Mike joined the Trust in August 2019.