Meet our Team
Alison Dewes
A fourth generation dairy farmer and second generation veterinarian, Alison is a firm believer that our future food production systems have to profitable and resilient while protecting and replenishing ecological health.
Rachel Mudge
BMS(Hons) CNMA
Rachel has over 10 years experience providing technical advice to farmers on a range of topics including soil fertility and nutrient management, farm systems optimisation and ruminant nutrition.
Alanah Bunyard
Brenna Barber
Brenna believes using global resources efficiently will advance the health of all species.
Working locally to achieve this, she has a particular focus in linking welfare of people and animals.
Hannah Fromont
BDes
Hannah is our photographer, and helps us tell the great farming stories of our leading farmers. She is trained in design and web management, and provides a creative approach taking things from good to great.
June Mobley
Experienced finance professional with a passion for delivering value added results, using information technology and over 40 years of experience.
Lorna Humm
BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS
Lorna is passionate about developing high welfare animal-centric farming systems which nurture animals and people from the soil up. With 10 years’ experience in veterinary medicine, coaching, and holistic health and welfare planning, Lorna enjoys helping farmers develop their systems to build soil, animal and ecological health and profitable, resilient businesses.
Melinda Turner
Adv.Dip.ApplSc, BApplSc, PgDipSci
Melinda has been specialising in the fertiliser industry for over a decade, incorporating her previous analytical experiences in horticultural & animal science laboratories to help farmers achieve a sustainable & profitable business model.
Technical Affiliations
Technical advisers may provide expert technical advice to Tipu Whenua on request; such advice is provided without any liability or obligation and Tipu Whenua has absolute discretion and accepts sole responsibility and liability as to whether or not any advice provided is accepted or acted upon.
Restoration Coach
Ecology
Horticulture & Paddock to Plate
John Burke
BAgSc (Massey)
John career began with Rural bank moving into self-employment to allow John to pursue different positions and personal interests.
Russell Death - River Specialist
Professor in Freshwater Ecology in the Institute of Agriculture and Environment – Ecology at Massey University.
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) PhD (Canterbury)
Ad Sintenie
Industry & Food Technology
With 30 years + experience in the food industry in New Zealand, The UK and The Netherlands. Founder/owner/Managing Director Weka Food Solutions Ltd (4 yrs) Established Weka Food Solutions Ltd.
Agroecology
Farming Inside Limits
Economics & Maori Studies
Peter Horsley
Program Co-Director, New Zealand: HECUA:
Our core work is the operation of experiential off-campus and study abroad programs focusing on justice, social change, and imaginative approaches to difficult problems.
Barrie Ridler
Peter Fraser
Principal - Rōpere Consulting: Economist specialising in policy-orientated microeconomic issues.
BA (Massey) Economics, History, BCA (Victoria) Commerce, MCA (Victoria) Economic History
Nutrition
Organics
Maori Studies
Jo McGrath
Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Ruminant Nutrition, University of New England.
B. Sci. Ag., M. Ag. Sci., PhD
Brendan Hoare
Paul Tapsell
BA (Social Anthropology), MA (Hons), PGDip (Bus), DPhil (Museum Ethnography)
Paul, son of Quentin Taiporutu Tapsell was raised in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato. As a student he worked summers in the dairy, steel and kiwifruit industries.
Veterinarian
Peter Jolly - One World One Health
One Health Program Director NZ
International Development Group, Institute of Veterinary, Animal & Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, New Zealand Qualifications: PhD, BPhil, BVSc. .