Kia Ora from Craig Welcome to our June 2022 Newsletter
Kia ora all TFBT supporters, volunteers, landowners, funding partners, staff and trustees,
Welcome to TFBT’s June 2022 newsletter.
Firstly, it is great to now be on board as The Forest Bridge Trust’s new CEO and thanks so much for the warm welcome from those whom I have already met, otherwise communicated with, during my first 6 weeks in the role.
I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work and leadership which Tracy Tristram has provided TFBT with over the past 7 years. Tracy has successfully grown the Trust from a small group of volunteers with big ideas to the organisation that it is today. She leaves a strong legacy and well-established base in which to grow TFBT’s services and positive environmental impact further.
As background, I am a born-and-bred Northlander and have strong ancestral links to the Tauhoa and Kaipara Flats communities via two sets of great, great, grandparents who were pioneers of the land and early farmers in these locations from the 1880’s. In addition, I have close family living in Warkworth. Career-wise, I have led a range of NZ-based organisations since 1997 across several industries and sectors including sport, building and construction, early childhood education, public health, freight forwarding and logistics, and dairy.
I have a passion for environmental sustainability and ecological harmony, and I am inspired by the achievements and evolution of TFBT over the past 8 years. Your role as a landowner, volunteer, supporter, funder, otherwise some other form of stakeholder of the Trust, has been (and will be) critical to our performance and success. Thank you so much for your support and commitment in the past. Each of you has contributed towards improved land connectivity and ecological harmony across our region. You should feel proud.
Our team has continued to grow in recent weeks with Alex Wardenaar in Pest Control, Helen Jamieson in Community Liaison, and Leanne Roydon in Finance having joined us. We now have a team of 17 permanent staff (part time and full time), and 3 contractors, and plan to grow this to 27 permanent staff and 3 contractors over the remainder of this year.
In addition, we would like to warmly welcome both Jade Kennedy and Fliss Taylor to the TFBT whanau as Trustees, our Board now comprising of a team of 7 and with a wide range of skills and experience. You can read more about our staff and trustees on our website: About us | The Forest Bridge Trust
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of our newsletter, we have an exciting year ahead.
Nga mihi
Craig Presland (CEO) and Kevin Adshead (Chairman)