Our profiles

Peter Lowe chairs HHWET. He's a farmer with 18 years' experience near Hinds, previously partnering in wider family farming operations across Ashburton and Selwyn districts. His 25-year catchment connection includes water user group establishment and Hinds Drains Working Party leadership. He's served on Hinds School and Ashburton College Boards of Trustees plus Southern Rugby Football Club leadership. He represents Federated Farmers and groundwater users, directs family farming companies. Environment Canterbury acknowledged his 2018 water management leadership.

Carolyn Cameron grew up in the Ashburton district on the family dairy farm at Eiffelton and maintains close contact with the area. She has been married to John for 34 years with 2 adult children. Her education includes pharmacy and business studies from University of Otago and University of Canterbury, with roles in pharmacy and pharmaceutical industry. She serves as an elected Ashburton ward member and second-term District Councillor, joining HHWET as community trustee.

Craig Fleming brings 35 years of arable agriculture experience plus dairy farm ownership. His connection spans a lifetime living and farming beside the lower Hinds River. He chairs the Ashburton Hinds Drainage District Liaison Committee and leads the Hinds Drains Working Party. He directs Merredin Farm Ltd and Eiffelton Contractors Ltd, representing Ashburton Hinds Drainage District on HHWET.

Born in Hinds to fifth generation farmers, Evan attended Lincoln University after three years traveling. He's married with two children, farming the Hinds Plains for 33 years - initially sheep, beef and cropping, then dairy for 16 years. He directs MHV Water, RDRML, HHWET and serves LFIC as farm advisory committee member, plus holds BCI Water shares.

Fleur grew up on a Lismore farm bordering the Hekeao/Hinds River. She works for ANZ bank in Ashburton while sharemilking with husband Ralph in Lowcliffe alongside the same river. Community involvement includes ANZ bank employment, Lions Foundation Grant Committee representation, and Art Gallery presidency. She's a Hekeao Holdings Limited director who joined HHWET in 2021 as community representative.

Marcus is an engaging and experienced business consultant and Chartered Accountant. His 12-year Ernst & Young tenure spanned global roles delivering results across commercial and agricultural enterprises. He holds expertise in strategy, financial management, project management, technology, contract negotiation, tax and reporting. Married to Amy with daughters Lily and Sophia, he enjoys outdoor activities. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and Chartered Accountant certification.

Neil Brown serves as Mayor of Ashburton District Council. A lifelong Ashburton resident married 27 years to Judy with three children, he has farming experience throughout the district and business interests there. Before October 2019 mayoral election, he served three years as Deputy Mayor and 12 years as councillor. His catchment connection includes shareholdings in Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Limited and Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Limited, plus Rangitata Diversion Race Management Limited directorship. He represents ADC on HHWET.

Vincent Lobb was born in Taranaki, dairy farming there 17 years before moving to Hekeao Hinds Plains in 1997. Active in irrigation since 2014, he directs RDRML, MHV Water and Irrigo. He represents MHV Water on HHWET.

Mark Webb represents the community as HHWET trustee.

Brett grew up on a lifestyle block beside the Halswell River in the Selwyn District. His education includes BSc (Hons) in Management Science and PhD in Natural Resources Engineering. He worked 17 years as Lincoln University researcher, then 11 years as Environment Canterbury's Project Leader for Environmental Infrastructure. During 2021-2022, he transitioned to HHWET Executive Director. He previously chaired Waihora Ellesmere Trust and currently chairs Pandemonium Trust.