Read on to find out about the passionate people and organisations behind this initiative, or click through to find out about the community of change-makers we support.
With a professional and academic background in the non-profit sector, social development and change leadership, Ash is a passionate advocate for the power of collaboration to implement meaningful change.
“Having called Wānaka home for many years, I have a deep love for this place and the environment that makes it so special. With a young family, a local business, and a love of the lakes, rivers, and mountains that define Wānaka, it’s a privilege to work in this space.
I hope my children can be proud of the legacy our industry has created, and know the love and care that went into protecting this precious piece of Te Waipounamu for the generations to come”
Ash Bickley, Love Wānaka Community Fund Coordinator
Fi McPhee
We’re so fortunate that Fi calls Wānaka home and brings such a depth of knowledge and passion with her.
With over 20 years working across fundraising, organisational culture and strategic planning, Fi’s expertise in the non-profit space is unparalleled.
Fi is an FIA Fellow, a FINZ Fellow and is a member of the FINZ Ethics Committee.
Katie Hart
Katie has over two decades of industry experience, with key roles in the strategic development and growth of many high-profile charities, including The Fred Hollows Foundation, Amnesty International, and Orange Sky New Zealand.
Now basing herself in Wānaka, Katie is sharing her passion and wisdom for all things ‘non-profit’ with us here in the region.
Love Wānaka is the first project to come to life from the newly adopted Destination Management Plan for the Southern-Lakes region: Travel to a Thriving Future.
It is led by Destination Southern Lakes (DSL), a partnership organisation formed in 2023 by Lake Wānaka Tourism and Destination Queenstown to action our region’s regenerative tourism plan.
The DSL Board consists of executives from partnership organisations as well as independent industry leaders. The role of this board is to drive forward the destination management plan and ensure the projects and activities stemming from this plan are implemented in a way that supports a more regenerative tourism ecosystem across the Southern-Lakes region.
Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown (our joint initiative over the hill) are delivered in partnership with the Wakatipu Community Foundation – a donor driven charitable trust that supports localised philanthropy in our region. The Foundation was integral to the development of Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown, and continues to support in an advisory, audit and compliance capacity.
Our independent distribution committee is tasked with setting the overall distribution strategy, reviewing grant applications, and allocating funds to the organisations and initiatives who are best-placed to provide impact, where it’s needed most. This committee consists of local experts in both the grant-making and sustainability / environmental space.
The 2024 Committee includes: Calum Macleod, Fiona McPhee, Julie Perry, Megan Williams and David Butt.
Love Wānaka is truly a collaborative effort.
Click here to find out more about our partners and supporters.
Or, if you want to be one, simply contact us.
