Our People
"The people behind Spirit of Adventure Trust are the heartbeat of the organisation"
Shore-based Team
Our shore crew are comprised of individuals who bring the spirit to the Trust. From planning voyages, fundraising, marketing, hiring crew, ship logistics, planning maintenance and everything in between. Our dedicated team make it all happen behind the scenes to ensure the Spirit of Adventure is kept alive, well represented and that every voyage runs as seamlessly as possible.
Dean Lawrence
Chief Executive Officer
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Ruth Roebuck
General Manager
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Nigel Wright
Marine Manager
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Julia Bryant
Community Engagement
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Stefan Barton
Relationship Manager
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Talei Williams
Marketing Communications
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Rachael Mitchell
Voyage Coordinator
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Andi Adam
Accountant
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Beverley Houston
Reception / Administration
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Spirit of New Zealand Sea Staff
Helping to keep Lou Fisher’s vision alive since 1972, Spirit’s professional and volunteer crew are highly valued as the representatives of the Spirit of New Zealand and the Spirit of Adventure Trust. The Spirit family has grown to include many outstanding crew members, with some winning international awards for their leadership, nautical skills and role modelling on board.
Masters
Nic Charrington
Gerard Prendeville
Stephen Bull
Laurie Stanton
Mike Foster
Georgina Micet
David Hagen
Graham Weakley
Mates
Ben Whittington
Andrea Haines
Simon Graves
Tori Muir
Nicola Hockley
Alasdair Sime
Suzanne Trounson
Peter Renshaw
Tony Cummings
Eric Anderson
Tamati Munroe
Kim Bjarnesen,
Kim Scott
Tim Philips
Cooks
Stephanie Bristol
Allan (JR) Reeve
Ray Phillips
Engineers
David Scott
Patrick Scelly
Donald Pederson
Tim Philips
Bruce Birnie
Ray Perason
Cadets
Tessa Campbell
Hannah Wilkes
Francesca Edmonds
Ship Support
Peter Anderson
Our Spirit People
Thank you to everyone who gave their time to crew with us this year. Not only in a sailing capacity but assisting during refit and helping in a myriad of other ways. Without the generous support of these people, the ship could not go to sea to provide young New Zealanders with the opportunity to set a course for the future. The days and hours that these fabulous people give to the organisation equate to around 30,000 hours a year. What an effort!
Here is a list of our people that have helped in the last year:
- Aaron Bunker
- Abbie Vose
- Adva and Jones Hayam-Jonas
- Aethalia O’Connor
- Alan Dirven
- Albert Waldmann-Moloney
- Aleks Hyland
- Alessandra Marxer
- Alex Newman
- Alexander Mitchell
- Alexandra Ranford
- Alexandra Watson
- Alfred Gillard
- Alice Freeman
- Alice Reade
- Amber Wright-Watson
- Amy Giddens
- Amy Nattrass
- Andrew Lawrence
- Andrew Penny
- Anette Seifert
- Angela Hardgrave
- Angus Savage
- Ann Bixley
- Anna Scadden
- Annah Winheld
- Anthony Walsh
- Arne Kelm
- Ashleigh Laverty
- Ashleigh Young
- Ashley Farquharson
- Ayden Robinson
- Bailey Gaines
- Bob Hawkins
- Brad Trebilcock
- Brendon Reid
- Brett Fitzgerald
- Bruce Birnie
- Bryce Campbell
- Campbell Angelo
- Carlotta Fegert
- Catherine Bates
- Chantelle Wallbridge
- Charles de Vilder
- Charlotte de L’Isle
- Cherie Willetts
- Chester Rosie
- Chloe Stanton
- Chris France
- Chris Moppel
- Christine La Roche
- Christopher (Chris) Bath-Risbridger
- Conrad McCaffrey
- Courtney Pratt-Young
- Daniel Watson
- Dany Rassam
- David Mangnall
- David Peers
- Dee Stewart-Bilby
- Dita Collett
- Don Allan
- Dylan Booth
- Edward Lane
- Ellen Johnson
- Emma Doolin
- Fiona de L’Isle
- Fran James
- Francesca Edmonds
- Freddy Carr
- Gabby Leitch
- Gareth Rouch
- Gareth Whittington
- George Humphreys-Jerard
- George Weeks
- Grant Gaffaney
- Hannah McGill
- Hannah Milton
- Harold Gratton
- Helen Jeffery
- Hugh O’Neill
- Hugo Kappes
- Isaac Murphy
- Jaimee Acklin
- James Mitchell
- Jane Thompson
- Janet Watkins
- Janosch Nispel
- Jeffrey Green
- Jemina (Jem) King
- Jennifer Palmer
- Jeremy Fowler
- Jeremy Rei
- Jessica Lawrence
- Jessy Radford
- Joanne (Jo) Lynch
- Joe Cunningham
- Johan Tuit
- John Conly
- John Stringer
- Jonathan Holder
- Kathy Perreau
- Keith Maydon
- Keith Merritt
- Kody Maikuku
- Kyle Webster
- Lance Wilson
- Laura Greenaway
- Lawrence Burrows
- Lea Muetzel
- Lewis Gordon
- Lisa Gatward
- Lisa Larsen
- Lloyd Pownall
- Lucien Steinam
- Ludwig Luz
- Luke Galuszewski
- Macallum Burrows
- Marcel De Wilde
- Marco Seifert-Simpson
- Marlies Swart
- Mathew Saunders
- Matis Ellehuus
- Matthew Bright
- Matthew Scadden
- Matthew Smith
- Meera Patel
- Megan Frey
- Michael Barnett
- Michael Candy
- Michael Shirley
- Michael Wilson
- Mitchell Jackson
- Morgan Parker
- Nadia Dale
- Nicole Ashby
- Nicole Gibson
- Nina Atkinson
- Olivia Landau
- Olivia Van Dissel
- Patrick Lasham
- Paul Greenstead
- Paul O’Dowd
- Peter Addison-Krippner
- Peter Renshaw
- Phoebe Pegg
- Quentin Mitchell
- Rachel Biggelaar
- Rebecca McMenamin
- Rebecca Smith
- Reina Del la Varis
- Reuben Duurentijdt
- Richard Muth
- Robert Procter
- Robin Weeks
- Robyn Fond
- Rochelle Cleary
- Ruth Andrews
- Ruth Watts
- Sally Wallis
- Samantha Carter
- Sarah Dyer
- Sarah Freyria
- Sarah Tapsell
- Sarah Williams
- Sarah-Jane Guild
- Sean Prentice
- Shar-Nee Schuurman
- Shaylah Cook-McCartney
- Sheila Budgen
- Shelley Hersey
- Simon Wasley
- Sofia Bellelli
- Sonia Thursby
- Sophie Bowman
- Sophie Mellor
- Summer Jenkins
- Susan (Susie) Middleton
- Susy Carryer
- Suzanne Trounson
- Tayla Godwin
- Thade Brunssen
- Tim Phillips
- Tony Cummings
- Tony Graham
- Tony Miller
- Tracey Haimes
- Tyrece Greening
- Valeria Benjamin
- Ye (April) Yang
Port Contacts
Spirit's active supporters come from all around New Zealand, donating their time and skills to ensuring the success of port visits.
- Great Barrier - Kim Scott
- Tauranga - Troy Evans
- Gisborne - Peter Rasmussen and Heidi Parkes
- New Plymouth - Ray Eggar
- Napier - Trevor Morrison
- Wellington - Grant Nalder
- Picton - Tony Cooper
- Nelson - Sheila Budgen
- Lyttelton - Andrew Moore and Mel Haskell
- Dunedin - Tony Cummings
- Bluff - Tom Sawyer