Trustee Profiles
Christine Ralph is a Technical Director of the consultancy Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd. Christine brings planning practice and project experience to the Trust and provides the New Zealand Planning Institute representation that is required by the Trust Deed. She has been on Environment Centre Trust Board since 2003 and has a passion for up-skilling and empowering communities, who wish to make sustainable management choices or who become directly affected in the sustainable management decision making process.
Peter Carruthers joined the Environment Centre Trust in December 2004. Peter’s qualifications are BSc Hons in Environmental Science and a Diploma in Fishery Management. He brings experience and background based on 20 years in the United Kingdom and five in New Zealand embracing aquaculture management, environmental & personnel protection, forest research, business analyst & contract management. He is a member of the Institute of Environmental Sciences.
James Low is planning team leader at Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd with over 10 years planning experience with Regional and Territorial authorities in New Zealand. James has also worked with Fish and Game (Canterbury) and in the IT and Geosptial fields. James' qualifications are a B.Sc(Zoology/Oceanography), Masters Degree in Regional and Resource Planning (Otago) and Diploma of Information Systems and Technology.
Richard Hart is a registered Landscape Architect and runs his own consultancy business. His experience is as a specialist in resource consent and design . Until 2004 Richard managed the central North Island office of Isthmus Group, and contributed to several award winning projects including; Mt Maunganui’s Project Phoenix, the Memorial Park playground, the Greerton Village upgrade and the Main Beach boardwalks. Richard was president of the New Zealand Landscape Guild (now LIANZ, Landscaping NZ) from 1991-1993. Richard set up and was the inaugural chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Parks Establishment Group which lobbied for regional Parks, including the Papamoa Hills Regional Park. He has also assisted other community groups including Forest & Bird in setting up a Kaimai campaign. Richard joined the TEC board late in 2008.