Richard Leggat

Richard was appointed as chairperson in April 2019. He has extensive governance and leadership experience, particularly with public sector and not-for-profit entities. Richard is a keen cyclist and skier. His headmaster father ingrained an interest and love of New Zealand’s flora and fauna into his own life, and now he combines this interest with his experience to lead Save the Kiwi and help guide its world-leading conservation strategy.

Lady Jennie Fenwick

Lady Jennie Fenwick has spent almost 38 years alongside Sir Rob Fenwick, her late husband and former Kiwis for kiwi’s chair and trustee, regenerating their 360-hectare property on Waiheke Island. A three-decade-long pest and weed eradication program has successfully seen the return of many species across multiple ecosystems.

Much of Jennie’s spare time, and that her of daughter’s, is spent doing what it takes to keep Rob’s vision for the property, Waiheke and New Zealand alive. A massive part of that vision was to see kiwi thrive in New Zealand, and Save the Kiwi is integral to that happening.

Dr John McLennan

Dr John McLennan (QSM) has spent more than 20 years studying various species of kiwi in the wild and is widely published on the subject of kiwi conservation.

​John is involved in a number of restoration programmes throughout the North Island, including one at Lake Waikaremoana, where kiwi have been rescued from the brink of extinction and are now approaching pre-human levels of abundance. He is also a trustee of the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust.

John was awarded the Queens Service Medal (QSM) in the 2004 New Year’s Honours List in recognition of his services to kiwi and the community. He has a PhD from Aberdeen University and a B.Agr.Sc (First Class Honours) from Lincoln University.

Ruud Kleinpaste

Ruud Kleinpaste is a familiar face to television viewers in New Zealand and around the world. Known affectionately as ‘The Bugman’, he is a vocal advocate for insects, and has been a regular guest on television and radio shows, as well as writing articles and books.

Ruud’s working life is a mosaic of national and international speaking engagements, media projects, research and consultancy work, mostly on topics of environmental importance. He also frequently travels to little bits of paradise all over the world.

Alistair Ryan

Alistair is an experienced accountant and financial executive with extensive stock exchange-listed company experience. In addition to being a Kiwi Trust trustee, Alistair chairs the NZX listed investment companies Kingfish, Barramundi, and Marlin Global, and recently retired from the boards of Metlifecare, Kiwibank, and Lewis Road Creamery. Alistair has also previously been involved with EY and SKYCITY.

Alistair volunteers for Whangamata Harbourcare and Rotoroa Island in the Hauraki Gulf. His interests include outdoor activities of just about any sort, travel, and active recreation. He’s married to Julie, and they have three adult daughters and four grandchildren.