About
Ngā taipitopito
The Our Lakes, Our Future team comprises over 40 national and international researchers and cultural experts passionate about protecting and revitalising the health of lakes in Aotearoa.
Our vision is that lakes in Aotearoa are cherished and thriving. We’ll achieve this by implementing world-leading holistic approaches for characterising lake health, assessing their vulnerability to degradation and climate change, and enhancing lake restoration.
Our research aims
Ā mātou whāinga rangahau
We are developing a set of globally unique approaches to monitoring and managing lakes.
Holistic lake health
We are developing comprehensive approaches to measuring lake health that incorporates cultural values and biodiversity.
Explore Lake Health
Susceptibility & diagnostic assessment
Our team is evaluating vulnerability to degradation, climate change and diagnosing causes of decline.
Explore Diagnostic assessment
Lake restoration framework
We are developing an integrated decision-making framework to guide rigorous and effective lake restoration.
Explore Lake Restoration
Our Team
Ngā tangata
Our team includes experts in lake and environmental science, mātauranga Māori, social science, and science translators.
Programme Co-leads
Susie Wood
Freshwater Molecular Scientist
Marcus Vandergoes
Paleoecologist
Team Members
Aidin Jabbari
Lake modeler
Ana Tovey
Communications
Ana Zupancic
PhD student - Foodwebs
Andrew Rees
Paleo Freshwater Ecologist
Brendon Blue
Social Scientist
Bryan Spears
Lake Restoration
Charlotte Robson
Student - eDNA
Chris Moy
Paleoclimatologist
Claire Shepherd
Paleontologist
Craig Woodward
Freshwater researcher, paleoecology
David Hamilton
Lake Ecologist and Modeler
Deniz Ozkundakci
Freshwater Ecologist
Diane Orihel
Aquatic Ecotoxicologist
Dianne Gleeson
Molecular Ecology
Elora Vergne
Masters student - eDNA
Emily Carr
PhD Student - Storm events
Frank Burdon
Freshwater Ecologist
Georgia Thomson-Laing
Molecular Ecologist
Henry Gard
Lab Technician
Jacob Thomson-Laing
Research Technician
Jamie Howarth
Geochronologist
Jeff Brass
Visual Communications
Joëlle Lousberg
PhD Student - Zooplankton eDNA
John Pearman
Molecular Ecologist & Bioinformatician
Jonathan Puddick
Cyanobacterial Ecologist
Kathryn Gale
Freshwater Scientist
Katie Brasell
Freshwater & Molecular Scientist
Kiely McFarlane
Social Scientist
Kirill Shchapov
Freshwater Scientist
Kohji Muraoka
Programme advisor
Konstanze Steiner
Molecular Scientist
Lena Schallenberg
Lake Molecular Ecologist
Lizette Reyes
Field & Lab Technician
Lucy Thompson
Research Technician
Marianna Terezow
Paleontological Technician
Maricruz Quintero
MITACS Globalink intern
Matthew Prentice
Lake Modeler
McKayla Holloway
Science Translator
Mereana Wilson Rooy
Freshwater Scientist
Miquel Lürling
Lake Restoration
Miranda Donovan
PhD student - Social Science
Nicholas McKay
Climate Change
Reece Martin
Iwi advisor & Engagement
Riki Ellison
Iwi Advisor & Engagement
Roger Young
Programme advisor
Rose Gregersen
Freshwater Scientist
Roxane Maranger
Ecosystem science
Samantha Massett
Masters student - eDNA
Sean Fitzsimons
Geochronologist
Sean Waters
Limnologist & Aquatic Geochemist
Sebastian Naeher
Organic Geochemist
Simon Stewart
Freshwater Ecologist
Soweeta Fort-D’Ath
Iwi Advisor & Engagement
Tania Gerrard
Māori & Stakeholder Relations
Te Rerekohu Tuterangiwhiu
PhD student
Whitney Woelmer
High frequency data analysis
William Pearman
Molecular Ecologist
Xun Li
Palynologist
Yvonne Vadeboncoeur
Foodweb Ecology
