Executive Committee
Kia ora – we are APPA’s 2022/2023 committee!
Liam Prince – Chairperson
Liam began his zero waste journey travelling around Aotearoa with his partner Hannah Blumhardt as The Rubbish Trip, giving talks, presentations, and creating zero waste resources. Now based in Pōneke / Wellington, Liam is currently working with the Zero Waste Network and Kaicycle. Liam sees APPA as a unique entity in Aotearoa providing zero waste solutions for the plastic pollution crisis and includes a broad spectrum of people and kaupapa relating to plastic pollution.
Helena Ruffell – Secretary
As a PhD Student at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi / Christchurch, Helena’s research focuses on investigating plastic pollution in soils and biowastes. This involves looking at quantities in different matrices (horticultural soil, biosolids, effluent-irrigated pasture, compost, vermicompost) and impacts of plastic on plant growth.
Dr. Ursula Rojas-Nazar – Treasurer
Ursula has a personal concern for plastic pollution and is always keen to do better! Ursula holds a PhD in Marine Conservation and currently works at EPA focusing on protecting Aotearoa’s marine environment and way of life in the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf, while ensuring Aotearoa grows a strong and vibrant economy. During her spare time, she is conducting marine research to provide knowledge that supports better policies and management to protect our marine environments. Ursula previously served as APPA’s communications manager in 2020.
Emma Hunter – Communications (website)
Based in Ōtautahi / Christchurch, Emma is passionate about science communications! Emma finished her MSc looking at pre-production pellet pollution in Ihutai / the Avon-Heathcote Estuary in 2021. Emma began working as a programme coordinator for Sustainable Coastlines in January 2022, helping organise beach cleans and riparian planting events, plus collecting litter data via the Litter Intelligence programme.
Matt Peryman – Communications (social media)
Matt (Ngāti Awa) is a social researcher based in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. Matt’s sees collective action as vital for addressing plastic pollution and understands kaitiakitanga (intergenerational responsibility) as fundamental for best practice in science, activism, policy, and business. After completing his MA in 2022, Matt now works with several organisations tackling plastic pollution, including Reuse Aotearoa and #BreakFreeFromPlastic.
