Piper Pengelly

Piper is a Law and Political Science student at the University of Canterbury and a recent graduate of Burnside High School in Christchurch. An enthusiastic community member, Piper is on the Youth Voice Canterbury Management Team and has many years of volunteering behind her. A large portion of her volunteering endeavours was through the Christchurch Youth Council where she was an Executive member from 2017-2020.

Whilst in high school Piper was the Environmental Leader and Chair of the Sustainability Council. These roles enabled Piper to mobilize students towards environmental action, lead restorative environmental projects, and advocate for improved sustainable practices at Te Kura O Waimairi-iri.

Her involvement with BLAKE began in 2019 when she attended BLAKE Inspire in the Waikato. Since then she has pursued her passion for environmental leadership and continues to encourage others to care about the importance of protecting our home and biodiversity.

Her aspiration for the future is to work in a field which champions environmental conservation – such as environmental policy or resource management law.

Piper carries her love for nature into all aspects of her work. She was introduced to the world of plants by her mother and grandmother who are both avid gardeners. For part-time work, Piper is a sales assistant at a local garden nursery, propagates houseplants, and runs a small business (@pipesbotanic), making botanical resin earrings. Piper loves connecting with the outdoors – heading tramping, running, and swimming whenever possible.

The trip will be a chance for her to learn about and connect with a unique ecosystem. She looks forward to challenging herself with marine biodiversity, a topic which is relatively new to her.