Team
Our Team
Staff & Volunteers
Operations Lead - Vacant
This could be you!
Get in touch to apply (applications welcome):
Sian Carvell - Ocean Literacy Curriculum Lead
Sian is a registered teacher with over 20 years experience working in the education field. This has included classroom teaching, working for local government, and more recently, as the Director of Future Curious Limited. Since 2015, she has supported schools, business, NGOs, and local and central government to authentically engage with children and young people.
Sian is an adaptable and creative facilitator. She enjoys the challenge of exploring new and exciting ways of learning, ensuring they meet the individual needs and interests of those she is working with. She has particular interest and expertise in climate change education and ensuring children and young people have a voice.
Molly Gardner - Ocean Literacy Delivery Lead
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.
Christina Eggers - Volunteer Impact & Sustainability Lead
Christina, a Kiwi raised on the stunning beaches of Queensland, Australia, is the co-founder of an award-winning charity dedicated to supporting mothers with sick children. Her impactful work has earned her several accolades, including the Westfield Local Heroes Award and the Christchurch City Council Emerging Leader Award.
Passionate about fostering community connections and turning ambitious dreams into reality, Christina also pursued Event Management studies. She is also a proud mother of two wonderful children. In her spare time, Christina enjoys hiking, cooking, writing, and cherishing the company of great friends. Christina is thrilled to be a part of the Blue Cradle team, and is eager to contribute to Blue Cradle’s vital missions.
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.
Phillipe Gerbeaux - Advisor
Philippe has been a key member of central government programmes to effectively protect, manage and monitor New Zealand wetlands. He has served on technical advisory groups, science advisory panels and was the Oceania representative on the Science and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention for two terms. He chaired the steering committee for the organisation of the 11th INTECOL Wetlands Conference held in Christchurch in October 2021. He also played a central role in setting up the IUCN Regional Office for Oceania in Suva, Fiji where between 2006 and 2009, he was seconded as Chief Technical Advisor. Since 1983, he has regularly been involved in surveys of freshwater fauna throughout the Pacific Islands in collaboration with the Paris-based French National Natural History Museum. Before joining the Department of Conservation in 1995, Philippe worked for DSIR Hydrology Centre and NIWA (as a periphyton ecologist). He has been a member of several professional organisations, including the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society, the French Ichthyological Society, and the Society of Wetland Scientists.
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.
