KERRYN ROTHERY

ACCOUNTS

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Keeping us on track! Kerryn comes from a not-for-profit background and loves to make a difference.  Her heart lies in the youth sector. 

She has three amazing teens who keep her busy and volunteers for Massey Swim Club.  In her spare time she loves to go tramping and visiting new places…

BEX CHARTERIS

COMMUNICATIONS

After spending 13+ years as a professional photographer (including three years as a military photographer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force), I upskilled into digital marketing and am loving my job at Adventure Specialties Trust. My work here ranges from graphic design to website updates to social media posts to photography to video editing and more. So much variety – I love it!

In my spare time, I love playing football (winter women’s league, summer 7-aside mixed, indoor soccer, futsal – I’m a bit obsessed!) plus yoga, snowboarding, rock climbing and jogging.

ELIZABETH ROYDS

NATIONAL FUNDING ADMINISTRATOR

Elizabeth comes from a background in the not-for-profit sector and is passionate about helping to change the lives of young people.

After many years in the UK, Elizabeth is thrilled to be back living in her home country of Aotearoa. She says it is a joy to be introducing her young family to all the opportunities available in New Zealand’s beautiful wilderness including skiing, cycling and sailing. 

PETER ROSS

Christchurch Instructor

Peter, who originally hails from the South Island of Australia, moved to NZ to study outdoor education back in 2014 and still hasn’t left!

He developed a love for the outdoors at a young age, influenced by family camping and fishing trips up into the highlands, though it wasn’t until the end of his schooling years that he really became hooked. It was Pete’s own outdoor education experiences that showcased to him nature’s ability to break down barriers and bring individuals together.

He loves all things outdoors and often struggles to juggle his many hobbies, and he will usually be found paddling down white-water rivers or climbing up a rockface.

Pete has a background in schools-based instructing and is a qualified outdoor ed teacher.

APRIL HEATH

Christchurch Adventure Therapy Facilitator

Ko wai au?
Ko Te Tari te Kaumira, Uretane, Kā Tapuwae o Urihia ōku Mauka
Ko Waihoa te awa
Ko Waihao te marae
Nō Kāi Tahu te iwi
Ko Kāti Huirapa, Ngāti Nateatea, Kāi Taoka, Te Aitaka a Tapuiti ngā hapū
Nō Te Tihi p Maru ahau engari kei Taupō tōku kaika ināianei
Ko April Heath tōku ingoa

Tēnā Koe, My name is April Heath. I am of European and Māori descent and have whakapapa connections to many rūnaka across Te Wai Pounamu.

I am passionate about Te Ao Māori and our whakapapa connections. Since working in the outdoors I have begun to see the similarities with Māori worldview of te Taiao and the outdoor industry. I love exploring this relationship through my personal journey and in mahi contribution.

In the weekends you can find me mountain biking in the Port Hills, exploring the ngāhere or searching for a one of a kind item of clothing in the local opshops.

Something you should know about me is that I am always down for a laugh, a good joke and I enjoy a yarn over washing some dishes.

Ko au te whenua, te whenua ko au.

RANIERA HARRIS

Auckland Adventure Therapy Facilitator

Best known as “Instructor Rani.”

Rani initially started working for Adventure Specialties Trust in 2014 after completing a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation, majoring in Outdoor Education.

Why did he get into outdoor education? He says, “I love sports, especially hockey, but tried outdoor education at uni and found out that I was good at it and I loved hanging out with people, doing trips where you get to spend time with people. I loved finding out someone’s potential, seeing that lightbulb go off in someone’s head, like, ‘Boom! I can do this!'”

At Adventure Specialties, he got lots of experience in a variety of programmes and activities, like sea kayaking, rock climbing, canyoning, caving and hiking. After taking a break for a couple of years, he rejoined the team in 2021.

In his free time, Rani loves playing hockey and eating food. Good food. He is currently hunting for the best recipes for chicken wings.

JOSEPH SCOTT

Auckland Instructor

Joe joined as an instructor in 2022 after completing an internship with our Christchurch team.

Joe has a youthwork background, working in intermediate schools for four years, as well as leading a church youth group for several years.

In his spare time, Joe has been playing canoe polo for years, including reaching national level and playing for New Zealand men’s B team in the recent 2019 Oceania champs.

His degree in geography and psychology has given him a backdrop in people and places and inspired him to take his youthwork outside the classroom into the great outdoors. 

Joe says, “There is nothing cooler than having your work office in the one place you most love to be, the outdoors.”

CAITLIN GILLESPIE

Auckland Instructor

I can usually be found with a coffee in hand, ready to get my hands dirty and have an adventure. Thanks to my parents & grandparents who loved boating, I got to spend a lot of time on the ocean growing up. Now the moana is my most favorite place to be and I’ll never be able to get enough of it.

I knew I wanted a job where I could help people, but didn’t want to work inside. So after studying Sport and Recreation at AUT, I now get to help people grow, develop confidence and their own love for the outdoors and of course to drink plenty of coffee in cool places.

My older sister has Down Syndrome, and she is one of my biggest motivators and reasons why I do what I do. Outside of work, I still try to spend a fair bit of time adventuring and exploring more cool places!

NATHALIE NASRALLAH

Auckland Instructor

After studying and working in the film editing industry, Nathalie found her call for the outdoors. She completed her studies at Tai Poutini Polytechnic, finishing with a Diploma in Outdoor Education and Instruction.

Nathalie has spent two seasons in the sunny, beautiful Abel Tasman sea kayak guiding, before spending the last two years doing contract work around Auckland. Nathalie has a passion for people, letting them experience the wonders of nature and seeing them push their boundaries.

In her free time, you’ll see Nathalie surfing, tramping, and editing films on the side.

PATRICK SEIFERT

Christchurch Instructor

OLI GEORGE

Auckland Instructor

ISAAC BAYLDON

Auckland Instructor

REBECCA WILLIS

Christchurch Instructor

BRIAN KNOLLES

Chairman

Brian is married to Delia, the father of four adult children, and grandfather of four. As Chair of Adventure Specialties Trust (AST), you might assume that he must be a bit of an outdoors junkie, this would be stretching the truth slightly. But he is certainly passionate about seeing lives transformed, hanging with the AST whanau and the odd trip into the wild. 

Brian has enjoyed a varied career in telecommunications, IT, and more recently in the role of CEO for his own company. 

Brian  has been a supporter and a BIG fanboy of AST for many years.  Brian sees it as his huge privilege to support the multi-talented, passionate, dedicated team that makes AST such an awesome organisation and a force for positive change in our community.

TANYA LAYBOURN

Trustee

Tanya has been involved with Adventure Specialties Trust since the early 90s, and did two stints as a full time instructor. She has worked with teeangers since she was one, and is passionate about the way the outdoors challenges and changes us in so many ways. Time in nature is good for the soul.

Tanya has been a Trustee since 2016. She lives in Tauranga with her family and when she is not teaching at Pāpāmoa College, you will find her hiking in the hills, biking tracks, skiing in the winter or SUP’ing in the summer.

BRUCE CONWAY

Trustee

Bruce is world famous in Southland, hopefully for being a local outdoor instructor and leadership trainer for 25 years, but more likely for pioneering the iconic Paddles Up inter-school fun kayaking event that many teenagers have enjoyed since 1989.

His last proper job was National Director for SU Youth adventure camps, responsible for overseeing 30 adventure camps around NZ and for the training of 300 volunteer leaders.

Since stepping back from full-time outdoor education, he keeps his ‘hand in’ by helping on SU Youth adventure camps and rat/stoat trapping on the pest-free islands of Lake Manapouri and serving on the Adventure Specialties board.

He is married to Lois, an educator and has 3 adult sons and 7 grandies to keep him busy.

Bruce loves to cycle, kayak, sail and make things. His current project is an old Shadow microlight aircraft which he flies around the lower South Island.

VINCENT HEERINGA

Trustee

There’s nothing Vincent likes more than skiing down a cliff-face and telling a good story, so his apres ski yarns are epic.

Vincent has degrees in science and arts and was once, very briefly, a science and maths teacher. Most of his career has been in journalism and media.

He is co-founder of Good and Idealog magazines, helped establish the Science Media Centre and now consults to businesses on climate change, technology and communications.

Married to Sarah and with four adult children between them, he is a long-time member of Cityside Baptist Church and has a strong interest in celebrating and restoring the Creation through conservation.

LIAM GAO

Trustee

As a chartered accountant, Liam enjoys helping Adventure Specialties Trust reach its financial goals. He is passionate about helping businesses and not-for-profit organisations run as efficiently as possible while achieving top results – what he calls the ‘self-driving business’.

Unlike your typical accountant, though, he’s not afraid to get out there and get his hands dirty. Originally from China, he fell in love with the natural beauty of New Zealand’s many beaches, lakes, mountains and forests, and can be seen spending his free time tramping, wakeboarding and simply soaking in the stunning scenery NZ is known for.