BLAKE Expeditions Crew
Motu Ihupuku / Campbell Island 2023
Jacob is head of depth programmes for BLAKE including BLAKE Inspire, BLAKE Inspire for Teachers, BLAKE Expeditions, and the BLAKE Ambassador programme. He led the BLAKE Expedition to Doubtful Sound in 2022 and coordinated the science communication and outreach for the BLAKE Expeditions to the Sub-Antarctic in 2016 and to Rangitāhua / Kermadec Islands in […]
Day to day at BLAKE, Alice leads the NZ-VR and Explorers programmes, as well as community outreach. These programmes are focused on inspiring rangatahi to care for and take action to protect marine environments. After graduating from the University of Otago with a BsC majoring in Ecology and Zoology in 2016, Alice was first involved […]
Pluto (She/They) is a PhD student in marine science at the University of Otago. They are using genomic methods to study the connectivity of kelp populations around the Southern Ocean, and modelling if they will reach Antarctica in the warming future. Pluto had a Bachelor of Science and Arts degree in Zoology and Geography, and […]
Ulla works in the marine biosecurity group at the Cawthron Institute in Nelson and will collect eDNA samples to investigate plankton biodiversity patterns and invasive species/pathogen distributions. Ulla studied marine biology at the University of Rostock in Germany where she focused on the phylogeny of green algae to be used as indicator taxa for the […]
Greer is a climate researcher and MBIE Science Whitinga Fellow at GNS Science in Ōtepoti/Dunedin. During this expedition she will be collecting peat cores to investigate past climate in the subantarctic. Greer completed her undergraduate and Masters at the University Canterbury, Christchurch. For her MSc she travelled to the Dry Valleys, Antarctica to investigate the […]
Clare is a GP in Auckland and a medical educator for the College of GPs. She loves sailing, tramping, skiing, ski touring and adventures with her three children, so is very excited to be coming on the trip to this amazing part of the world.
Kate is based in Auckland and is joining the expedition as a representative of Westpac bank. Kate’s career has intersected across both finance and sustainability and she’s spent the last five years focussed on sustainable financing and responsible investment. Kate is a Director in Westpac’s Sustainable Finance team where she works with Westpac’s business customers to […]
I’m a Cinematographer and Director based in Wanaka, New Zealand. Growing ubred New Zealand’s West coast of the south island, my career has been inspired by the outdoors and has grown me into a skilled filmmaker who is comfortable operating at the highest capacity in the most hostile environments. In 2021 we launched our production […]
Teacher voyagers
Belle is a Visual Arts, Digital Technologies, and Environmental Education Specialist Teacher at Takapuna Normal Intermediate School in Auckland. Throughout her 12 years of teaching, she taught in Australia and New Zealand across all curriculum levels from Years 1 to 8. Belle’s interest and enthusiasm for the marine environment stemmed from childhood and was strengthened by studying Sustainability, […]
Helen is the Environmental Science teacher at Whakatane Intermediate school. Environmental Science is one of five technology subjects at the school. In this role Helen has the opportunity to teach every student for 15 hours of environmental science each year. Previously Helen taught Physical Education and Outdoor Education in secondary schools, before moving to two […]
Ihaia is a Teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu – a total immersion Māori school based in Hastings. In 2019, Ihaia joined the BLAKE Inspire for Teachers along with 28 other teachers, and returned as a support staff during the BLAKE Inspire for Students in 2020. Since his […]
James is a Teacher at Te Waka Unau school in Christchurch. In 2022, James joined the BLAKE Inspire for Teachers programme. James is passionate about environmental education, including how to offer students meaningful experiential learning opportunities through a localised placed based curriculum. Since his exposure to BLAKE, James has sort to enhance and develop opportunities […]
Kelly Porima is the science teacher at Fairfield Intermediate School – a big multicultural school based in Hamilton. In 2022 Kelly joined the BLAKE inspire for teachers programme. She left this programme inspired and ready to create an impact in her community. Kelly has since planned and successfully held three science booster holiday courses for […]
Student voyagers
In 2022 Ankia finished her schooling at Takapuna Grammar School and is now enrolled in a Bachelor’s of Engineering at the University of Auckland with the goal of specialising in environmental engineering. In her spare time, Ankia loves to explore the beautiful outdoors through frequent beach days, snorkelling trips, photography, and walks through the bush. She […]
Elsa is a 15-year-old student at Whangarei Girls’ High School. She is a leader in her school’s environment committee, who advocate for composting, recycling and other environmental practices as well as undertaking weekly clean ups. After attending BLAKE Inspire in August 2022, Elsa began a fruit tree planting project at her school. This was both […]
Tēna kotou katoa Ko Aoraki te maunga Ko Waitaki te awa Ko pākeha te iwi Ko Ethan toku ingoa Ngā Mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa! Kia ora my name is Ethan! I am fresh out of Waitaki Boys’ High School and ready for the next journey ahead! People tend to describe me as a […]
Freya is a year 13 student at Nelson College for Girls. Since a young age, Freya has loved exploring the environment around her through a range of activities including tramping, kayaking, cycling, sailing and trail running. This appreciation and respect for the outdoors inspires her desire to help conserve our wild places and advocate for […]
Lara Teodorescu is currently a year 13 student at Macleans College in Auckland. In 2022, she attended BLAKE Inspire for Sailors as an aspiring environmental activist with passions for sustainability and marine conservation. Since the program, Lara has been heavily involved in her yacht club’s sustainability journey – uniting club members in local beach clean […]
Myah has finished year 13 at Ngaruawahia High School as of 2022 and will be starting at Waikato University in 2023. In October 2022, Myah participated in the BLAKE Inspire program alongside 35 other students for young leaders. This program includes different aspects of environmental science that these future leaders could help with within their […]
Born and Bred in Taranaki, 2022 Head Girl and Dux of Waitara High School; Nicola Stanton is a dedicated student leader with focused attention and knowledge towards environmental and climate issues. This has led her to conduct various environmental projects in her community, which last year saw her receive the Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Award […]
Nora is a Community and Environment Prefect at Columba College in Dunedin for 2023. In 2022 she was selected for Blake Inspire held in Waikato, with the amazing experience and knowledge she acquired, Nora hopes to encourage more youth to love, support and conserve the native flora and fauna of New Zealand. Nora is passionate […]
Rebecca is a future student at the University of Auckland, undertaking a Bachelor of Science. She loves modern physics, including relativity and quantum physics, and has a passion for environmental protection. With an Ecology and Physics Double Major, she aims to study our environment through a quantitative lens. Rebecca also plays the violin, and has […]
Reon was a year 13 student at Wesley College, a rural based co-curriculum kura immersing students in a faith, sporting, academic, and culturally diverse environment. Reon has an immense passion for the outdoors, focusing around outdoor recreation and kaitiakitanga. He has had a variety of involvement with pest control, weed management, and influencing younger and […]
Kia Ora, my name is Una Drayton. I hail from Ohakune in the beautiful Ruapehu region and recently graduated from Ruapehu College where I was Head Girl and founder of the Enviro Club for 2022. This year I am a first-year student at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury studying Engineering. I […]