Our team
Ani Brunet
Chief Executive Officer
Kia ora koutou katoa!
Thank you for showing your interest in Garden to Table by exploring our website.
Our focus is to both inspire and equip schools with everything they need to empower their students to learn to grow, harvest, prepare, and share great fresh kai. We do this because we believe this experience teaches essential skills and enjoyable habits to support our tamariki to live their lives well. Our children are our future and, with these tools in their kete, we support them to make a positive difference to their own health and well-being, as well as contributing to the vibrancy and loving care of their community and papatūānuku, our earth.
While we take our mission seriously, I’m very grateful to have my dream job, and our work in the solutions-world is extremely enjoyable and positive. It’s easy to jump out of bed in the morning for this kaupapa. If you too, are inspired to action, join us!
I would love to connect with you. Please email me at ani@gardentotable.org.nz, phone me on 021 983 580 or join me on LinkedIn.
Ngā manaakitanga, Ani
Our team
Louise Waghorn
Programme Manager
Tokerau– North
louise@gardentotable.org.nz
Becks Kelleher
Regional Coordinator
Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland
(Auckland Central, Auckland North)
AND Strategic Projects Manager (NZ-wide)
becks@gardentotable.org.nz
Candace Weir
Regional Coordinator
Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland
(Auckland East, Auckland South)
candace@gardentotable.org.nz
Kylie Maltman
Regional Coordinator
Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland
(Auckland West)
kylie@gardentotable.org.nz
Jessica Charnley
Regional Coordinator
Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland
(North Shore, Upper Harbour, Rodney)
jessica@gardentotable.org.nz
Vanessa Anderson
Regional Coordinator
Te Tai Tokerau – Northland
vanessa@gardentotable.org.nz
Emma van de Molen
Regional Coordinator
Te Moana-a-Toi – Bay of Plenty
emma@gardentotable.org.nz
Kristen Wilson
Regional Coordinator Te Whanganui-a-Tara – Wellington (Wainuiomata, Hutt Valley, Wairarapa)
kristen@gardentotable.org.nz
Kate Dermer
Regional Coordinator
Waikato
kate@gardentotable.org.nz
Lauren Jarvie
Programme Manager
Taitonga – South
lauren@gardentotable.org.nz
Heather Allington
Regional Coordinator
Tairāwhiti - Taranaki, Manawatū, Whanganui
heather@gardentotable.org.nz
Jo Moorhead
Regional Coordinator
Te Matau-a-Māui – Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne
jo@gardentotable.org.nz
Skye Macfarlane
Regional Coordinator
Ōtākou, Murihiku – Otago, Southland
skye@gardentotable.org.nz
Olivia Boyd
Regional Coordinator
Te Whanganui-a-Tara – Wellington
(Porirua, Kāpiti)
olivia@gardentotable.org.nz
Prashanti Lovegrove
Regional Coordinator
Whakatū, Te Tauihu-o-te-Waka – Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman, West Coast
prashanti@gardentotable.org.nz
Chessa Crow
Regional Coordinator
Waitaha – Canterbury
chessa@gardentotable.org.nz
Rohan Cahill-Fleury
Communications and Engagement Manager (NZ-wide)
rohan@gardentotable.org.nz
Lara Tauri
Business Manager – Programme
(NZ-wide)
lara@gardentotable.org.nz
Sarah Rodgers
Grants Manager (NZ-wide)
sarah@gardentotable.org.nz
Victoria Bernard
Curriculum and Community Relationships Manager (NZ-wide)
victoria@gardentotable.org.nz
Lisa Hall
Business Manager – Operations
(NZ-wide)
lisa@gardentotable.org.nz
Gay Keast
Individual Giving Manager
(NZ-wide)
gay@gardentotable.org.nz
Bex Waddell
Partnerships and Events Manager
(NZ-wide)
bex@gardentotable.org.nz
Our ambassadors
Al Brown
Al Brown is a chef, restaurateur and author. His approach to cooking is all about simplicity and generosity, with dishes that deliver uncomplicated excellence and showcase the culinary landscape of New Zealand. People and place are key to his philosophy – wonderful friends and unique locations will always enhance an eating experience. In Al's opinion, food is the vehicle for conversation, fun and memorable occasions.
Al is the mastermind behind highly successful Auckland eateries Depot and Federal Delicatessen as well as the bagel factory Best Ugly Bagels. Al has presented a number of culinary television shows and is the author of popular cook books 'Go Fish: Recipes and Stories from the New Zealand Coast', 'Stoked: Cooking with Fire', 'Get Fresh: Stories & Recipes from Heartland New Zealand', 'Depot: Biography of a Restaurant', and 'Eat Up New Zealand'.
Al spends his time outside of work walking his dogs and fishing from his ‘new’ old boat, Nautilus.
Niki Bezzant
Niki Bezzant is a food and nutrition writer, columnist, media commentator and speaker.
Niki was the Editor-in-chief of NZ’s top-selling food magazine, Healthy Food Guide. She is the author of two cookbooks, a weekly columnist for the Herald on Sunday, a regular blogger and a frequent contributor to TV and radio.
Niki is a member of the Council of Directors for the True Health Initiative (an international group devoted to disseminating and applying what we know for sure about health promotion and disease prevention).
Niki started a petition for a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
Dan MacKay
Dan is one of New Zealand’s most renowned landscape designers. He’s known for his appearance as resident landscape and gardening expert on TVNZ’s home and garden makeover series HOMEmade and Kiwi Living.
For the past 15 years, Dan has brought his wild ideas to life, all of which are unique and tackled with true enthusiasm. Originally from Timaru, Dan travelled the world before settling in Auckland to study horticulture, landscape design and construction. Nowadays, his talent and passion has made him a household name to many. Dan turned his passion in to a career with the launch of his business Ministry of Ground (an Auckland landscaping solutions company that aims to take a different perspective on landscaping, with its works renowned for being a beautiful collision between art and practicality).
Dan loves to push the boundaries of landscape design with his innovative ideas. However, his dedication to sustainability is what sets him apart. His designs encourage people to sustain themselves and the environment.
In his spare time, Dan loves to skateboard with his five children, and tend to his own vegetable garden.