When Head of Environment and Sustainability Kim Kelleher first joined LPC in January 2010, she was the first environmental science professional employed at a New Zealand Port.

After more than a decade at the Port, she leaves behind an phenomenal legacy, including a team of three environmental scientists, strong relationships with our community and mana whenua and environmental values and sustainability having been woven into our strategy.

When she started at LPC, Kim says that no one really knew what she did.

“I was focused on a lot of compliance work, not any strategy – sustainability wasn’t even a word that was used,” says Kim.

However, that all changed after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

“The earthquakes were a real game changer in many ways,” says Kim. “The Port recovery provided an opportunity to look at things differently.”

“We were having to rebuild so much, that we needed to first understand the impacts of the work.

“It became a chance to set the Port up for the future.”

As part of the Port recovery, Kim was an integral member in building the relationship LPC now has with mana whenua.

“It’s something I’m really proud of, helping to set up a partnership that would be valuable for both parties,” says Kim.

“They challenged us to look at the Port’s impact on our local environment as a whole, rather than consent by consent.”

Since signing a joint statement in 2014 with Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, LPC continues to have quarterly Mana Whenua Advisory Group meetings and work in partnership alongside iwi in programmes like Whaka Ora Healthy Harbour.

Another one of Kim’s programmes she has championed is our biodiversity-positive ambition and projects like the Port Saddle.

“We started out with 17 hectares of largely weed-infested land that the Port owned, with no community access,” says Kim.

“Now we’re working closely with the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust to restore the site, we are running environmental education days for local schools, creating trails for recreational access and improving ecological values with native planting and predator control.”

But the best legacy Kim will leave is the team that she has built over the years.

“Crystal, Kirsty and Charlotte are skilled environmental scientists with brilliant expertise – there are few companies that have such a high level of technical knowledge in-house,” says Kim.

“I think there were always people who truly cared about the environment at LPC, but having a strong team now means we have the resources to problem solve and support others.”

Reflecting on her 12 years at LPC, Kim says it’s satisfying to see that environment and sustainability are now a core part of the business.

“You can’t do a project now, big or small without looking at the impact on the surroundings,” says Kim.

“Having kaitiakitanga as one of our four pillars means we are committed to the harbour, with goals of being biodiversity positive, net carbon zero and zero waste in the long term.

“Climate change is a global crisis, I’m proud to see LPC take a leadership position and we will continue to grow in that space.”

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Phil de Joux says Kim has made a massive contribution to ensure that LPC is a leading Port in the environmental management space.

“Not only was Kim an important part of the Port recovery process, but her leadership in the CCHL Sustainability Group has helped LPC to be widely seen and respected for the work we are doing,” says Phil.

Kim will be moving on as Sustainability and Community Manager at Contact Energy.

“It’s a company with big ambitions, along with a big role to play in helping New Zealand meet our climate commitments,” says Kim.

“I’m excited to work with a nationwide company and learn more about renewable energy.”