Team
Our Team
Staff & Volunteers
Governance and Operational Lead
Lisa has recently joined Blue Cradle in a voluntary role to support Governance and Operational delivery. Her experience includes office and operations management as well as a governance secretariat and advisor at an executive level. The majority of her roles have been in the public health, council-controlled organisations, and government sectors. Lisa’s interest in the role at Blue Cradle is to contribute and support positive change in areas of environmental protection and sustainability. She also holds a Trustee role, with Whakatane Kiwi Trust.
Alicia Mallo - Blue Schools Coordinator
Alicia has worked in marine science, outdoor education and guiding and not for profit management for 20 years around the Pacific in Hawaii, Australia, Alaska, Tonga and New Zealand. Alicia has a BSc in Marine Biology and minor in Scientific Diving from Humboldt State University, Northern California and the University of Hilo Hawaii and a Masters in Marine Ecology with First Class Honours and Post Grad Dip with Distinction from the University of Auckland. She contracts her organisation management services, through her business Ika Moana, to a few not for profits in Canterbury- with dedications to environment, sustainability, conservation, civil defence and community well-being and youth development.
Sian Carvell - Blue Schools Curriculum Lead
Sian Carvell (Future Curious) has worked in the education and engagement sector for over 25 years, with the majority of that focused on the natural environment and climate change. This has included classroom teaching, working for local government, and more recently, as the Director of Future Curious. Since 2015, she has supported schools, business, NGOs, and local and central government to authentically engage with children and young people via resource development and facilitation.
Molly Gardner - Blue Schools Teacher
Molly has been a science educator for 20 years with focus on adult teaching in genetics and environment focus for youth. She is a magician when it comes to teacher and is an asset on our team!
Maëva Gerbeaux - Volunteer Communications Lead
Maeva is a graduate Marine Scientist from the University of Waikato, Tauranga Moana. Having been raised by two nature-enthusiast French immigrants and surrounded by Te Moana-
Nui-a-Kiwa, Maeva’s passion for the ocean and all its living beings has deeply shaped her identity and pathway. Having seen many of the Pacific’s underwater ecosystems first-hand, Maeva is committed to driving lasting ocean solutions through conservation science and
creative communication. She is particularly passionate about using storytelling and media to inspire and drive meaningful change for our Moana. In her free time, Maeva enjoys being near, on, or under the ocean, running, exploring new places and cooking delicious plant based food.
Dr. Dan Hikuroa - Founding Cultural Advisor, Tiaki Moana
Dr Dan Hikuroa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Whanaunga, Pākehā) is an Associate Professor in Māori Studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland. With a PhD
in Geology, his expertise spans Earth systems, Mātauranga Māori, climate change, natural hazards, rivers, and environmental management. Dan works extensively with Māori communities using Kaupapa Māori approaches, contributing to projects in marine spatial
planning, natural resource management, disaster risk reduction, catchment and river restoration, geothermal feasibility, industrial site rehabilitation, and iwi environmental planning. He has held roles in major initiatives including Te Awaroa – Voice of the River and the
Māori-led blue economy programme Whai Rawa, Whai Mana, Whai Oranga. He serves as Tumuaki Tuarua of Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao (EPA Māori Advisory), UNESCO New Zealand Commissioner for Culture, Co-Deputy Director of Public Engagement at Te Pūnaha Matatini,
and sits on Pou Herenga (Climate Change Commission Māori Advisory) and the Pūniu River Care Board.
Mehdi Balamissa - Filmmaker
Mehdi Balamissa is a Franco-Moroccan filmmaker with a background in management from HEC Paris and documentary filmmaking from Université Paris Cité and the University of Southern California. He directed the short documentary The Boss (2019), which was acclaimed at over a dozen visual anthropology festivals worldwide. Mehdi also directed Start Up for a Reason (2022), an award-winning reportage on impact-driven entrepreneurship across four developing regions. His filmmaking practice focuses on addressing some of the most urgent social and environmental issues of our time. With a particular interest in marine conservation and literacy, Mehdi has been collaborating with the Blue Cradle Foundation on the editing of several documentary projects, including Unwanted Passengers (2023) and The Ina’a: Protecting a Polynesian Treasure (2023).
Contractors
These are some of the companies we hire occasionally or regularly for different administrative, legal, accounting, film and design tasks. We highly trust them and strongly recommend their work and are grateful for their support of our organization.
Steven Moe - Lawyer
Steven Moe is a Partner at Parry Field Lawyers with a focus on “for purpose” organisations but his father is a marine biologist whose job meant Steven grew up by the ocean in Chile, the United States and New Zealand. That is why he was thrilled to help set up Blue Cradle as a charity – a full circle moment for him to see amazing work done to preserve the ocean that his childhood revolved around. He has worked as a lawyer for 23 years and hosts theseeds.nz which has a focus on people doing inspiring things which has 400+ episodes (including with James Nikitine) and another on governance for the Institute of Directors called Board Matters.
Erin - Stewart - Designer
As a rock climber and trail runner, Erin has developed a strong passion and love for the natural world and is honoured to support organisations like Blue Cradle in their mission to spread the word on ocean conservation and regeneration. Erin believes promoting education and awareness about conservation and sustainable practices is vital to building communities that are empowered to take action to protect their environments, and encouraging all to care for our unique flora and fauna.
Anthony Rohan - Accountant
As a certified B-Corp, Fairground is passionate about supporting organisations who are making a positive social and environmental impact on the planet. It’s an honour to support Blue Cradle’s kaupapa with accounting services, especially with its focus on SDG 14 (Life Below Water) – which is so critical to a sustainable and flourishing future for all of the earth.
