We were pleased to announce this year’s Board members and a new Life Member at the WasteMINZ Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 15 October. This was a tight election, with 11 people standing for election – an almost unprecedented number in the history of WasteMINZ. Thank you to everyone who put their hands up – it is a brave thing to do, and we appreciate your passion and dedication for our organisation.
Congratulations to the following new Board members:
With a background as Circular Economy Lead at Plastics NZ, Sandy worked with industry and government to redesign plastic systems for circularity and resource efficiency. Her qualifications - a Master in Environmental Law (Hons) and a Postgrad Diploma in Business - equip her with a strategic, systems-based approach to change. Sandy has a number of other skills she brings to the board – financial/commercial, stakeholder engagement as well as regulatory and compliance.
Sophie has extensive governance and leadership experience, having served 15 years on the Territorial Authorities’ Officers (TAO) Forum Steering Committee, including two terms as Chair. In this role she has provided sector leadership, guided responses to national issues, and ensured councils have a strong, unified voice. She is well-versed in working with external stakeholders, elected members, executive teams and balancing governance and operational perspectives. Sophie will bring strategic insight, collaboration, and deep sector knowledge to help advance Aotearoa’s transition to a zero carbon, zero waste future.
30 years of working in the waste sector means that Chris can frame challenges and opportunities with a focus on achieving best outcomes for New Zealand. With this experience, alongside strong relationships across the sector, Chris is well positioned to continue supporting WasteMINZ to focus on contributing evidence to key policy discussions and progressing areas of common interest across the membership.
A special mention to Sophie, who was also named as a Life Member, thanks to her commitment to WasteMINZ over many decades. Read about Sophie’s contribution below.
Sophie has had 20 years’ experience in local government, specifically in waste minimisation and management, and is currently the Strategy Planning Manager (Waste Minimisation & Management) at Queenstown Lakes District Council. Sophie has served on WasteMINZ's TAO Forum Steering Committee and the Behaviour Change sector group over the past 15 years including several terms as Chair. She has contributed an extraordinary amount to the industry, in particular:
The contributions above clearly demonstrate that Sophie is passionate about driving the change we want to achieve. She is well regarded and highly respected by her colleagues in local government, but also across the waste sector.