Meet the Epro Team

Kane has built an enduring career in the predator control industry, following his initial training in forestry management in Rotorua. The son of farmers, having spent all his life in the Central North Island and King Country, he has a great understanding of the local environment.

Throughout his time at Epro he has built a strong industry presence and developed solid relationships with clients, landowners, forestry groups, government agencies, and iwi landowners.

One of New Zealand’s most experienced aerial project managers, Kane has been through many of the industry changes and challenges over the past 20+ years and has helped drive many great improvements to process and delivery of this type of work, at the same time facilitating the delivery of some of the largest landscape projects in the country.

Kane is driven by the challenges of our mahi, the support of the great people around him, and the contribution that our mahi provides to so many.

Rich was drawn to the predator industry from a life in the marketing and business development world in Auckland. Attracted not only by the recreational pursuits of Taupo (as an avid snowboarder and kite surfer), but also the chance to be part of an exciting journey in this high-profile industry with an enterprising company.

He oversees the tendering, contracting, and scheduling of projects, to ensure the right resources are in place throughout the Epro business to successfully complete projects while adding value for our clients.

Rich facilitates the development and improvement of Epro’s core business systems, focused on improving efficiencies, a wonderful team culture and personal development pathways. He knows that a successful business happens with the right people, doing the right job, at the right time.

Rach is rural through and through, having held many roles in and around the agricultural industry, so knows the challenges of our rural environment. She is our people person; her role is built around her passion for getting things done and involving everyone in that journey. She supports her teams to deliver our busy ground control project schedule in the very fluid environment of changing weather and other access and planning challenges.

Rach provides extensive project management support and oversight for the Epro team, ensuring that project planning and communications are delivered to the highest standards. She is responsible for the continuous improvement and development of all aspects of operational and training systems and processes. Drawing on her farming background she is also a valuable resource for engagement and consultation with our farming stakeholders for both ground and aerial control projects.

Mike knows his stuff, and knows how to successfully implement some of our larger landscape projects. He has been with Epro for the past 18 years evolving this experience. It is this experience that he now shares with others in his leadership role as Epro’s Aerial Programme Manager, developing some of those same skill sets in the wider team.

Mike has an oversight of Epro’s aerial delivery schedule ensuring that the multiple pivotal points of planning, consultation, and delivery are occurring on time. He is very proficient in GIS and other planning software implementation to ensure the significant level of accuracy that our work demands. He is a skilled and experienced hunter, chasing deer, wallaby, and rabbits both recreationally and operationally.

Andy is another highly experienced member of the Epro team, having been with the company from the very start. He has spent most of his working life in the animal pest control industry as well as being a skilled hunter, hunting both recreationally and professionally, he relates easily to farmers and landholders when discussing control options for both aerial and ground projects.
With a strong belief in the value of innovation, Andy seeks to review operational practices to improve how they are implemented. Additionally, he spends lots of his time with our staff in a training and mentoring capacity to ensure that we are proficient in our delivery.

Andy’s superior expertise is sought-after for complex predator projects that are attempting to get pest levels down to very low levels and keep them there. He meticulously plans and implements this mahi, so predators don’t stand a chance.

Josh came to the Epro team from a diverse background in tourism and customer relations, but it is his advanced skill set in the technical and digital aspects that is widely utilised throughout our business.

His role within Epro is split between the operational support for both our aerial and ground teams, and Health and Safety system implementation as our lead Health and Safety officer. He is our lead for all GIS and digital platform software programmes.

Jane is the community lead on our locally based projects working with schools, early childhood centres, and community groups such as Greening Taupo/Kids Greening Taupo and those community groups requiring our advice and support.

She can be found at most local planting days, trapping possums in school gullies, and chatting to kids about predator control. Jane grew up in the outdoors in Turangi and the Tongariro National Park and has a great passion for the health of the ngahere while being an active relaxer.

Paula began her early working career in the predator industry straight after school, before spending some time as a deer farmer and mother, and then choosing to return to Epro at a time when the industry is advancing and evolving in an exciting direction. She has spent much of her life in the rural and bush landscape, as well as enjoying time with family on the water.

Her strong field experience allows her to provide leadership, mentoring and on-the-job training for our field staff, managing our teams for high performance and the safe delivery of projects. As Operations Coordinator, Paula organises the resources and timeframes for her project delivery, ensuring compliance with landowner, client, and regulatory requirements.

Kataraina is from the foot of Mount Ruapehu. She joins the Epro team with a diverse working background in business and finance management, education, and iwi engagement. She has the knowledge and experience to support our team in the tender and contracts area and understands the importance of partnering with iwi, farming communities and local government in environmental development.

Kataraina is passionate about stakeholder relationships and engagement, she has a great appreciation that team culture is what creates and maintains a positive environment for the business and people to grow.