Colin has twenty years experience in project managing and resourcing conservation projects in the Wellington region. His experience includes:

• Eradication of mice on Mana Island;
• Convenor for 17 years of the Wellington South Coast Marine Reserves coalition which applied for the Taputeranga marine reserve in Wellington;
• Translocations of several bird, reptile, invertebrate and rare plants species to Mana Island.
• He has raised more than $4 million for conservation projects and activities;
• Chair of Wellington branch, Forest & Bird for three years, during which time “Natural Wellington” (a strategic blueprint for restoring Wellington’s natural environment) and Zealandia were initiated by the Branch;
• Member of Forest and Bird National Executive for three years;
• He has run workshops on strategic planning for environmental groups;
• Foundation president and Life Member of the Friends of Mana Island;
• Foundation trustee and Treasurer of the Wellington Natural Heritage Trust which purchased and manages an area of native forest in Wellington;
• Assisted with the establishment of a number of volunteer groups;
• Chair of Matiu/Somes Island Charitable Trust;
• Treasurer of the Friends of the Galapagos NZ;
• Initiated and led successful campaigns to protect Baring Head and Watts Peninsula.
• Formed and current Treasurer of the Friends of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve and Friends of Baring Head.
• Awarded Forest and Bird “Old Blue” – a national award for services to nature conservation.
• Awarded Wellington Region Conservation Award 2005 as well as several national and regional volunteer awards in 2010.”

“I have always worked on the premise that conservation is too important to leave to the professionals and the community, because it cares about our natural heritage, can make a meaningful difference towards protecting what’s left and restoring much of what we’ve lost.  Volunteers have already achieved a lot, but initiatives such as Enhancing the Halo will empower the public generally to get involved in their own communities and  together, make a positive and massive contribution.”