About Us / Our Trustees

• Daniel Feutz, Chair

  
  

  
  Growing up on a farm in central Canterbury, Daniel has always had a close affinity with whenua, the animals that live on and (in particular) the birds that soar above this beautiful country we call home. Whilst working as a business consultant keeps Daniel busy, he balances his corporate office job with time in the outdoors.  He relishes time on his smallholding, fishing the rivers and lakes of Te Waipounamu, or simply enjoying time listening to the bird song on one of our many fantastic walks. 

  Daniel’s involvement with Wingspan began in 2011 when he worked on providing a group evaluation and assessment of Wingspan operations for his MBA thesis. This was the first ever critical business evaluation for a not-for-profit organisation in New Zealand; a study that has stood the test of time, and yes … we still read it!

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• Noel Hyde MNZM, Trustee

  
  

  
  A falconer since he could pick up a lure to swing it, Noel is to New Zealand falconry what Winston Peters is to Grey Power. Chair of Wingspan from 2008 - 2014 and trustee before that, Noel has been a champion of Wingspan since it all began. After 25 years of working for Te Papa, Noel is one of New Zealand’s most talented and well respected wildlife taxidermists.
  
  Now living in Rotorua and living the falconers’ dream of flying a bird every day, Noel is a true blue kiwi who lives for Wingspan and for the birds it tirelessly protects.

  Our guiding light, he’s not scared of mucking in and is leading the trust forward into an exciting future.

  In 2018, Noel was awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of merit (MNZM) for services to wildlife conservation and research taxidermy.

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• Tame Thomas Malcolm, Trustee

  
  

  
  This a ‘bio’ about the ‘bio’. All about contributing towards biosecurity and celebrating biodiversity. Tame, originally from Rotorua, is the director of Puna Consultants, a company that implements pest control programmes in forests, farms and other locations.

  He has worked as a Biosecurity Officer at Waikato Regional Council and also OSPRI and Department of Conservation. He's also the general manager of Te Tira Whakamataki, Maori Biosecurity Network; the watchful ones, keeping an eye on the biological security sector, working with organisations to control pests all around the country.

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• Dr Richard Seaton, Trustee

  
  

  
  Self-professed bird geek/raptor-nut, Rich has been smitten with birds of prey since he saw a peregrine falcon knock a pigeon out of the sky in Wales aged eight. He has been lucky enough to work with and study birds of prey around the world, including doing his PhD on our wonderful kārearea, and working on the Mauritius kestrel and Madagascar fish eagle conservation projects.

  Rich continues to work as a conservation biologist over the ditch, working for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, where part of his job includes running research on the elusive red goshawk. But with regular trips back to his ‘second home’ of Rotorua, coupled with the wonders of the internet, he is helping guide the trust into the future and lending a hand where he can.

  Note: improvised raptor head protection; an essential requirement while out in the field!

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• Dr Katrin Walbert, Trustee

  
  

  
  Kat has always had a passion for animals, but she didn’t become a bird nerd until she moved to New Zealand. As an avid recreationist in Whakarewarewa Forest, she soon became acquainted with our kārearea and has never looked back – except perhaps while being mobbed by a pair of overprotective parents!

  Kat is an active and driven individual that loves to challenge herself, both in her career and physically (think five Ironman triathlons despite initially not knowing how to swim). With a PhD in Mycology and a background working in science and government agencies as well as primary industry, Kat brings a unique perspective and set of skills to the Wingspan board.

  
  

• Joanne McCracken, Trustee

  
  

  
  Meet Joanne McCracken, Rotorua born, with a sense of adventure and a knack for numbers, Joanne's journey has taken her from the landscapes of New Zealand to the bustling streets of London and back again.
  Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Joanne's professional escapades read like a travelogue of success. Her expertise in local authority surveys has been the compass guiding her through the dynamic world of property management and analysis. As the Director of APL Property Limited, Joanne has navigated the realms of commercial property management and property consultancy, needs of local and national private and public organisations, landowners, hapū, the Whānau Te Ture Whenua trusts, and Local Government.

  But Joanne isn't just a powerhouse in the boardroom; she's also an avid outdoors enthusiast. Whether she's breaking a sweat on a run, cruising on her bike, or exploring the depths of the ocean through diving, Joanne embraces the thrill of nature with open arms.