Staff

Jen joined the Valley Project team as Manager in 2022.  She is passionate about the Valley community and all of the great events/opportunities we offer to our people. She enjoys supporting VP staff and meeting community members.

She has a diverse employment background in Education, Sustainable Practice, Community Engagement and Conservation, and enjoys that The Valley project mahi weaves all these things together.

She has a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Practice, and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning.

Claire is originally from Auckland, now living in Ōtepoti Dunedin for about three years, mostly in Normanby. Claire is eager to support the North East Valley community to make it an awesome place to live and grow. She loves the water and is a member of the Ōtepoti Dragons - Dunedin’s only dragon boating team. She also loves getting out on her bike and spending time in the garden.

Jennie joined Valley Project in 2023 as the Biodiversity Coordinator for Open Valley Urban Ecosanctuary after moving to Aotearoa from Australia. As an ecologist and former classroom teacher, she has over two decades of experience in environmental education. Jennie enjoys running citizen science programs and taking part in flora/fauna research projects. She is passionate about protecting and celebrating biodiversity, doing on-the-ground mahi to support thriving ecosystems, and working with the community to ensure native habitats are looked after for future generations.   

Krysha hails from Southern California where she earned degrees in fine art, multimedia design, and media arts.  She's been active in the field of digital design across both hemispheres for over 14 years, eight of which were within the Workplace Wellness industry, and seven while a Dunedin resident.  Through school, family, work, and play, she is well ingrained in the northern Dunedin community and is honoured to be its representative as the Editor of the Valley Voice Community Newsletter.
 

I have spent the last 24 years with Federated Farmers. My background is in office administration and supporting the communication and marketing teams with publication design. I’ve been in Dunedin my whole life! I spent my younger years living in the Valley and attended North East Valley Normal School before moving and swapping valleys for Kaikorai.I now reside in Brockville with my border collies Vienna, and Java Joe (yes, I love coffee). I like to relax doing craft projects and have recently started felting.

The Valley Project has a unique contract with City Sanctuary to employ Emily as our local community trapping coordinator. In this role, Emily provides trapping support to local residents and assists the City Sanctuary team and volunteers in managing reserve traplines in Dunedin’s northern suburbs. This work is part of the Predator Free Dunedin 2050 project and complements the Open VUE project.

Jess joined the Project's team just before the COVID lockdowns. Jess provides invaluable skills and staff whilst keeping the budget and accounts in ship shape order. Jess works closely with our Manager, Chair and Treasurer of the Project. Jess is an extremely valued member of the team and community. Jess has many hobbies and passions she spends her spare time on.