About the Trust
The Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust Board was established in 2015 and is regarded by the community and our elected representatives as the ‘Guardians of Lake Dunstan'. Our objectives are:
- To work with the wider Cromwell community and relevant organisation’s to enhance and protect Lake Dunstan and its catchments.
- To raise awareness about the importance of maintaining and improving the water quality and health of the lake and other waterways.
- To encourage the development of a management plan and monitoring framework for Lake Dunstan.
- To work with the community and relevant agencies to support measurement and monitoring of water quality.
- To seek funding and assistance to support the Trusts activities.
Meet the Team
Duncan Faulkner - Chairperson
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I am a technology entrepreneur with a serious passion to support the Cromwell Community. I moved to Cromwell 8+ years ago with my wife and children and am extremely grateful for the support and opportunities the closely knit town gave my family. Now I want pay it forward.
I am excited about creating a lake that the Cromwell community is proud of and a legacy for future generations to come. There is so much potential for our lake and its about time we did something about it! Email: chairperson@lakedunstan.org |
Werner Murray - Trustee
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I moved to Cromwell with my wife and young kids in 2014. I am a town planner, doing most of my work in the Central Lakes area. I am an elected member of the Cromwell Community Board in my second term and serve the Cromwell Museum Trust and Cromwell & District Community Trust as part of my Community Board duties. I am also part of a Department of Internal Affairs programme that focuses on Community Lead Development called Connect Cromwell.
I have a real interest in Lake Dunstan that was peaked through a planning lens – as the lake is not natural and was formed as part of the Clyde Dam project. This makes it interesting from a planning related point of view. The changing nature of the lake is interesting to me as it constantly provides challenges for our community to learn to live with and benefit from. |
Karen Gallagher - Trustee
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I was born and raised in Cromwell and grew up in the time when Lake Dunstan was formed. I have a great love for the environment and outdoors Cromwell provides, and this is what lured me and my whanau home in 2011. I am excited to be a trustee on the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust and working alongside like-minded people who are committed to advocating for Lake Dunstan, and managing projects that will ultimately enhance Lake Dunstan and the Cromwell Community.
I am a passionate educator who is keen on providing authentic, real-life learning contexts for my students - in particular Lake Dunstan. I promote student's voice and believe in empowering the youth and future generations to take action to protect and preserve their lake and environment. |
Karleigh Hoera - Trustee & Legal Counsel
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I have lived in Cromwell with my husband and children for the past 15 years. I am a solicitor at local law firm Checketts McKay Law, who generously allow me to spend many pro-bono hours assisting the trust with their legal work. I have a passion for the environment and being outdoors and want to see Lake Dunstan protected and enhanced for the benefit of future generations with increased biodiversity of native flora and fauna around the lake.
I know what it takes to put the right building blocks in place for a successful charitable trust and governance structure and am committed to working with the other trustee to get the best outcomes for Lake Dunstan and the Cromwell community. |
Matthew Shand - Accountant
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I joined the LDCT team in late 2020 to help with the accounting side of things. I am a chartered accountant and director of the Local firm accounting firm, Mead Stark Ltd.
I have been living and working in Cromwell for over 20 years, as well my grandparents previously living here back in the 50’s and later retiring back to Cromwell in the late 80’s. Both myself and my extended family have been avid lake users since the 90’s, both fishing and water skiing. I have grown in concern at the gradual decline of the wonderful asset that is Lake Dunstan over those years. |
Nita Smith - Project Manager
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Originally off a farm in the Gibbston Valley, I have lived in many parts of NZ, before returning to Central Otago to start a family in 2017. I have a background in Environmental Science and have worked in remote parts of the West Coast as well as spending a number of seasons working in Antarctica. Since 2016, I have worked in native reforestation in the Whakatipu basin and is currently a volunteer Trustee of Cromwell's Mōkihi Reforestation Trust.
Central Otago has lost so much of its indigenous cover, and without easily accessible forest or pockets of forest, the community has lost and forgotten what was here. With Climate Change becoming such a pressing issue, having healthy ecosystems is key to our resilience (both the environment and our community) in adapting to a changing world. Email: projectmanager@lakedunstan.org |
Megan Phillips - Community Engagement Coordinator
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Originally from South East England, I fell in love with the culture, history and nature of Aotearoa and made it my home in 2016. My happy place is exploring the unique landscape we have in New Zealand and watching our amazing wildlife go about their business. I am acutely aware that this novelty may not exist for future generations if we don't do something now!
With a strong passion for conservation and a BSc Environmental Science from Canterbury Christ Church University (UK), I am keen to use my knowledge and mindset to help create the lake the local community deserves. I believe that it is our responsibility to create a plant that provides for both humans and wildlife and to ensure it nurtures future generations. Email: community@lakedunstan.org |
