Our team
City Sanctuary staff are employed by the Dunedin City Council and are based in the Parks and Recreation team.
Catherine Bradley
Project Manager
Catherine is our Project Manager and has been leading the City Sanctuary project since it began in 2020. She has a background in habitat restoration, volunteer management, community engagement, and supporting community groups to grow their conservation efforts. Catherine has previously worked for the Department of Conservation, Dunedin City Council, and Waiora Forest Landscapes.
“I never thought I would fall in love with Dunedin but the community, landscape and biodiversity is unexplainably special. I love working with a passionate and caring community who work so hard to protect the important native flora and fauna that we have right here in the City.”
Kate Tanner
Project Coordinator
Kate is our Project Manager and has years of conservation experience in Dunedin. She has previously worked for the Halo Project, Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group, the Department of Conservation and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust. There isn’t a lot Kate doesn’t do: you’ll see her out installing traps, working with volunteers, engaging communities, and planning operations.
“Everyday I wake up and feel blessed that I am able to connect people to nature through the work we do. I am humbled and inspired by the positive changes we are collectively making to support, enhance and better Dunedin’s natural environs. We are so fortunate to live in this amazing part of the world.”
Penny Jacks
Community Ranger
Penny is our Project Coordinator and has completed a Master’s degree on skinks in Otago. She has previously volunteered and contracted to the Department of Conservation, working with a variety of endemic species such as mokomoko/skinks in the mountains of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, nesting hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins, and pohowera (banded dotterels).
“I’ve seen first-hand the impact of invasive mammals across a variety of taxa, as well as the success of species once these predators have been removed. I’m excited to be a part of the predator free movement, to help make our city a safe space for endemic species to thrive!”
Zac Martin
Community Ranger
Zac is one of our Community Rangers and is now calling Dunedin home after moving south from Wellington. He has a background in communications work and has previously worked for GNS Science, the Department of Conservation, and the Capital & Coast DHB. He also spent a season working for Ultimate Hikes on the Milford Track. Day-to-day you’ll see Zac out installing backyard traps, training up volunteers, and managing the project’s communications.
“It’s awesome helping others get involved in conservation and feel excited about playing their part in protecting our city’s beautiful nature.”
Kai Blackmore
Community Ranger
Kai is one of our Community Rangers and originally hails from the UK. Before moving to Aotearoa he studied biology and worked in sustainable seaweed harvesting and aquaculture. He has previously worked with pakake/New Zealand sealions for the Department of Conservation and has experience in various habitat restoration projects around Dunedin.
“I’ve been blown away by the biodiversity gains organisations have made recently in Dunedin and New Zealand as a whole. Seeing the profusion of life in predator free reserves such as Orokonui Ecosanctuary makes me incredibly excited to help fill our parks and reserves with birdsong again!”
Natalie Harfoot
Community Ranger
Natalie joins the team as a Community Ranger having been hands on as a backyard trapper over the past few years. She has a background in research management and science communication, and previously worked for the University of Otago, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Tūhura Otago Museum.
“I came to Dunedin to do my PhD in possum research, so it feels wonderful to come full circle and join the City Sanctuary team. I’m excited to be playing a part in protecting Dunedin’s biodiversity and encouraging even more native wildlife to return to the city.”
Emily Peterson
Community Trapping Coordinator
Emily joins the City Sanctuary team from The Valley Project in North East Valley. She is passionate about supporting the community and taking positive local environmental action, and also loves to volunteer. Emily’s role comes from a contract City Sanctuary has with The Valley Project to help residents and volunteers get involved in predator control in Dunedin’s northern suburbs.
“I feel privileged and excited to work alongside the City Sanctuary team and wider community, taking steps to achieve this momentous environmental milestone of a predator free Dunedin!”
Emma Ahlezon
Community Ranger
Emma, a Swedish-born ecologist, was drawn to Dunedin by its renowned natural beauty and diverse wildlife, and has been working in conservation since moving here. She now dedicates her professional life to helping the team in possum elimination, and in her free time, she runs the Brighton Trapping Project.
"That Dunedin is beautiful goes without saying, but what truly has me blown away is the pride and strength of its local communities. It seems every corner and suburb has its own community group, each dedicated to either guarding our environment or caring for one another. I am deeply honoured to call Dunedin my home and to have the opportunity to contribute to and be part of this beautiful city and its community spirit."
Mammalian Corrections Unit (Contractors)
Mammalian Corrections Unit (MCU) is a predator control company based in Te Anau and Dunedin. MCU carries out a broad range of conservation fieldwork in the lower South Island and is City Sanctuary’s key contractor.
The MCU team have helped us design, set up and manage trap lines in urban parks and reserves. They also conduct our seasonal predator monitoring.