Management team

The management team is led by our Chief Executive, Dan Wildy. It includes Deputy Chief Executive Phil Culling, National Operations Manager Elke Thompson, Strategic Relations Manager Doug Macredie, GIS Manager Matt Grose and Communications Manager Stephen Day.

Dan Wildy

Tumuaki | Chief Executive

Dan Wildy brings 27 years of public service experience—18 in uniform with the New Zealand Army and nine in the security sector—to his leadership of the organisation. Drawn by a desire to continue serving the public in a positive and community‑focused way, he sees the Commission’s mission of promoting free, certain, enduring, and practical public access as a natural progression of his career. A passionate hiker and hunter who treasures time exploring Aotearoa with friends and whānau, Wildy brings both personal enthusiasm and professional dedication to expanding and strengthening public access across New Zealand. His vision includes deepening partnerships with communities, mana whenua, and industry groups.

dan.wildy@herengaanuku.govt.nz

Phil Culling

Deputy Chief Executive

Phil Culling is the commission’s Deputy Chief Executive. Phil is also the Corporate Services Manager. Previously, Phil worked in local government - as the Finance Manager for Environment Southland for 5 years and before that as the Group Manager Finance and Customer Service at Southland District Council for 10 years. Phil is a Chartered Accountant with an extensive accounting and auditing background having worked for the NZ Audit Office and the World Bank’s internal audit division in Washington D.C.

Phil manages our corporate services team. The corporate services team keeps our office running smoothly, dealing with finances, administration, IT systems, and corporate and statutory responsibilities.

phil.culling@herengaanuku.govt.nz

Elke Thompson

Pouwhakahaere-ā-Motu — Kōkiri | National Operations Manager

Elke Thompson is an experienced leader with a background spanning local and central government, tertiary education, tourism, and regional development in New Zealand and internationally. She has held senior roles focused on strategy, operations, organisational performance, and stakeholder engagement.

As National Operations Manager, Elke leads the operational delivery of the commission's work to protect and enhance public access to the outdoors. She is passionate about building strong relationships and delivering practical access outcomes that connect people with the whenua and the places they value.

elke.thompson@herengaanuku.govt.nz

Doug Macredie

Pononga Whakatere | Strategic Relationships Manager

Doug provides strategic relationships insights and tactics for Herenga ā Nuku across all its activities. Foundational to Doug’s role are Te Tiriti partnerships and relationships with manawhenua. These complement Doug’s wider role in improving the work Herenga ā Nuku does.

doug.macredie@herengaanuku.govt.nz

Matt Grose 

Kaiwhakahaere Mahere Raraunga | GIS Manager

Matt is passionate about the possibilities of GIS and what it can do for an organisation. He knows enough to be dangerous, but his core role is to enable his team to do the magic that creates, maintains and improves our maps and data for the public good. He brings over twenty years of experience in GIS both in NZ and the UK to the commission.

matt.grose@herengaanuku.govt.nz

Stephen Day

Kaiwhakahaere Whakapā | Communications Manager

Stephen looks after the commission's communications and partnerships team. The team tells the commission's stories and ensures people have the information they need about outdoor access. It is also responsible for building strong and enduring relationships with the commission's partners.

stephen.day@herengaanuku.govt.nz