Zoological Society of Auckland inc.
2024 Board Members
President:
Willow van As - MSc; BA.BSc
I completed my BA.BSc (majoring in English and Biology) at The University of Auckland, and followed this by achieving an MSc (with distinction) in Behavioural Ecology at the Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK. After returning to NZ I joined the Zoological Society of Auckland in February 2009, and found attending the seminars an extremely fascinating insight into current research and events related to the broad field of zoology. I am passionate about all creatures, from the tiniest of insects to the largest of whales, and my brood at home consists of three little people, one large great dane, and a frog. After serving as Vice President of the Zoological Society of Auckland for two years, in April 2014 I was appointed President of the Society, and look forward to the challenges this role will bring and seeing the direction that the Society will takeover the coming years. In my spare time I am also known as The Bone Lady, educating children about anatomy, zoology and conservation using animal bones and skeletons.
Vice President:
Dannie Cullen - BSc (Hons) First Class
Dannie has been a member of the Board of the Zoological Society of Auckland since 2016. She holds a Diploma in Marine Studies, and a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) in Environmental Science from Auckland University of Technology. Dannie's professional journey began at Kelly Tarlton's SEA LIFE Aquarium as an Aquarist and Shark Dive Instructor, and she currently works as an Ecologist in Auckland.
In her role as an Ecologist, Dannie specialises in conducting protected species surveys for bats, lizards, birds, and fish, as well as ecological compliance monitoring and producing Ecological Impact Assessments. Dannie’s commitment to conservation is reflected in the accolades she has received, including the Service to the Community AIMES Award by the North Harbour Club and her appointment as one of the first Sir Peter Blake Trust Conservation Ambassadors. She has represented New Zealand as a youth delegate at the 2017 UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Oceans Conference and served as an expert speaker on the environment at the 2015 UN Youth New Zealand Aotearoa Youth Declaration.
In her spare time, Dannie is an avid scuba diver, photographer, and reader, and with a love for all things science, wildlife and conservation, Dannie hopes to motivate and educate young people to care for our planet.
Combined Membership & General Secretary:
Steven Hayns - DipEdPsych; MPhil (Hons); BSc
I have had a ‘sense of wonder’ and been passionate about the natural world for as long as I can remember. I completed a BSc in Zoology and Psychology then an MPhil (Hons) followed by a Diploma in Educational Psychology in the early 1980’s. I was a High School teacher then an Educational Psychologist before specialising for 25 years in child and family intervention through parenting with a role training: health practitioners here in NZ and internationally (Australia, Hong Kong, North America, and the UK). In addition to the Zoological Society I am a member of the Astronomical Society and Birds New Zealand. Now retired with more time available I am eager to make any contribution I can to the development of ‘biophilia’ and a ‘sense of wonder’ about the natural world in society at large.
Treasurer:
Tiffany Thacker
I have been volunteering with the Zoological Society of Auckland as the treasurer since April 2019. I am a Chartered Accountant and a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand. While I spend most of my week working with numbers, I really enjoy the time I spend with the Zoological Society, the people I have met along the way, and learning so much about the research that is being conducted in the field of zoology in New Zealand.
Board members:
Sue Glamuzina
Sue has been part of the Zoological Society since 2007 and joined the Committee in 2017. She is passionate about animals, and has a fond connection with Auckland Zoo, raising her family locally meant many visits over the years. This connection combined with her position on our Committee has fostered a unique viewpoint that represents many Zoo visitors in the community. A mum of three boys, and an avid writer and published author. Sue also volunteers her spare time with leopardseals.org, reporting any sightings and advocating for these native marine mammals.
Dr Lorne Roberts - PhD; BSc(Hons)
Lorne is passionate about ensuring best practice standards in zoos and about the positive effects zoos can have on public education, social attitudes and ultimately conservation. His research has included salivary cortisol testing in sealions and he has supervised student projects on zoo animals including servals, meerkats, golden cats and cheetah. Lorne co-founded the Kea Conservation Trust in 2006, and has since climbed up and down the mountains in the South Island researching kea populations. He is involved with an advocacy programme that tours the South Island in order to educate the human inhabitants about the demise of this unique endemic mountain parrot. He has spoken at zoo conferences in Australia, Singapore and New Zealand as well as at educational conferences.
Abbie Wakelin - MWLM; BSc
Abbie has been on the board since 2018.
By day she is the Interpretation Coordinator at Auckland Zoo (getting information to visitors – usually via. signage), by night she is usually on a field or court somewhere playing sports.
Her conservation passion and experience lie in science communication, bridging the gap between research and the public. She studied at the University of Otago, with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in zoology, and a Masters of Wildlife Management.
As a side hobby she enjoys a bit of wildlife photography, her most memorable experiences in wildlife were snapping photos in Borneo of wild Müller’s gibbons in Maliau Basin, and Sumatran rhinos at the Rhino Alliance Site.
New board member: Sam Clough
Biography in progress
New board member: Caralyn Kemp
Biography in progress