
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

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

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

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
