Celia Hogan, co-chair for EONZ, has an Outdoor Recreation and Adult Teaching background from Aoraki Polytechnic. She has worked with outdoor education organisations both nationally and internationally. Her experience spans instructing, managing high school outdoor education programmes, tutoring at polytechnic level, leading multi-week wilderness expeditions, and developing outdoor leadership and risk management systems.

In recent years, Celia has focused on connecting younger tamariki with te taiao by raising resilient and well beings through nature and play. She provides professional learning and development for early childhood and primary teachers, helping them integrate outdoor learning into their teaching. Celia also runs a bush kindy and a one-day bush school for primary-aged tamariki, and supports EONZ in an operational capacity.

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Karatī Metcalfe is a dedicated educator specialising in outdoor education, physical education, and health. He currently teaches at Rolleston College, where he integrates his passion for fostering meaningful learning experiences in te taiao. He is committed to honouring Aotearoa and our rich cultural heritage and develops outdoor education programmes that reflect and uphold the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, emphasising the nation's bi-cultural partnership.

In addition to his teaching role, Karatī is an active member of Te Akatea, the Māori Principals Association, where he contributes to advancing Māori leadership and educational excellence. His work exemplifies a deep commitment to cultural inclusion and the empowerment of students through innovative and respectful educational practices.

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With a strong background in education, Fiona has been a PE and outdoor education teacher, EOTC coordinator, Head of Faculty, Assistant, and Deputy Principal at the high school level. She is passionate about building strong relationships and collaborating with organisations across the education and outdoor sectors.

Fiona has played a key role in the development and review of the Ministry of Education's EOTC Guidelines, the EOTC Safety Management Template and Toolkit, and the Good Practice Guidelines for outdoor activities.

Passionate about fostering meaningful connections to the natural world, Fiona champions integrated and inclusive systems that enhance learning experiences for all students. Her vision for EONZ is to break down barriers to outdoor learning, supporting kaiako to deliver enriching, safe, and empowering experiences for all their ākonga

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Dave is Assistant Head of Learning Area HPE: Outdoor Education at Mount Aspiring College in Wānaka where he has taught almost uninterrupted since 2002. In the 1990’s he worked as an Outward Bound instructor in New Zealand and in Canada, followed by a few years of travel and adventure. 

In his free time Dave volunteers for LandSAR and CanyonSAR, and is on the executive of PRANZ. 

Dave is passionate about providing opportunities that enrich the lives of young people through experiences in the outdoors and for this reason feels privileged to be able to contribute to the mahi of EONZ. 

With more than 20 years’ experience in outdoor education, Karen leads a non-profit charitable trust dedicated to supporting schools and teachers to provide equitable access to outdoor education opportunities for their tamariki and rangatahi . Her strengths are in strategic leadership, programme development, and building meaningful partnerships to create lasting impact. Karen is passionate about the benefits of outdoor learning and is committed to fostering initiatives that inspire growth, connection, and resilience in young people.

Phil is Assistant Head of Department HPE: Outdoor Education at Papanui High School in Christchurch and has been on the EONZ Board since 2017, including an extended term as co-chair. He is currently studying towards a Doctorate of Education at the University of Canterbury, investigating the implementation of Mātauranga Māori within Outdoor Education programmes. Phil has a passion for engaging students with Aotearoa New Zealand's unique outdoor environments, creating connections with the places they live in, and facilitating careful and sound decision-making in our interactions with natural environments. Ageing knees mean that Phil spends his outdoor time paddling his waka on Whakaraupō/ Lyttelton harbour or cultivating native seeds, tree planting, and controlling pests in Ōtautahi Christchurch and the Craigieburn Valley.

Caroline has dedicated over 25 years to working in outdoor education, beginning her career as an outdoor instructor before transitioning to teaching Outdoor Education and Physical Education at the secondary school level. Currently, she manages a residential outdoor education centre, having previously served as a Deputy Principal at a secondary school.

As a leader, Caroline is passionate about empowering teachers to utilise te taiao as a platform for fostering resilience, self-efficacy, and interpersonal skills among ākonga.  She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, which has further strengthened her ability to lead and innovate within the education sector.

Chris North is Associate Professor in Te Kura Mātai Hauora/Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury. He works in outdoor and environmental education initial teacher education. Chris is an author of 'Education Outside the Classroom in Aotearoa New Zealand – A Comprehensive National Study'. His research closely examines the links between teaching intentions and the learning of school students and pre-service teachers.

Libby has a long career in education, starting in primary and secondary teaching before moving to the tertiary sector. She spent sixteen years developing professional learning and development (PLD) experiences, and in-school one-on-one support across the schooling sector, mainly involved in, but not limited to, the HPE learning space.

Libby has been both a creator and facilitator of PLD packages that are structured from an Inquiry perspective, which are responsive to teachers’ and ākonga needs and based on evidence and research.

Sharon currently works for the Ministry of Education as a Kaihautū Marautanga/Curriculum Lead in Ōtautahi.  She  comes from the secondary sector where she was a teacher of Outdoor Education, Health, Physical Education and Te Reo Māori, and for the last seven years she was Kaihautū at Te Pā o Rākaihautū. Sharon is currently completing her Masters of Indigenous Studies and getting used to not being in the classroom. She is passionate about Māori educational success and the outdoors, believes the outdoors is a classroom for all, and that connecting to the outdoors enhances any and all experiences.