Meet the team
EkeRua runs like a well-oiled chain thanks to the hard mahi of our dedicated kaimahi and volunteers. Meet some of the people you might see at our workshop or events.
Our employees and contractors
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Roisin Owens (she/her) – project and fundraising manager
Our latest addition to the team, Roisin has come on board to manage the day-to-day operations of EkeRua ReBicycle and assist with our future fundraising goals, so we can continue to grow and get more people on bikes. When not at the workshop, Roisin is usually off exploring the motu on her bike, or training for her next cycle touring trip.
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Gareth Jardine (they/them) – workshop coordinator
Gareth coordinates the collection of our donated bikes and helps get them running smoothly. You might see them pedalling around town on our e-bike with a trailer load of bikes. Gareth is committed to teaching mechanic and cycling skills in an accessible way, and can be found sharing their knowledge at our fix-ups.
Our trustees
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Hilleke Townsend (she/her) - co-founder and trustee
Hilleke has been riding a bike since her toddler days in the Netherlands but discovered cycling advocacy relatively recently, in 2009. Since then she has changed career paths to promote and enable people to use active transport. Growing up in the ‘poor part’ of Hastings, she has seen the hardship good people face, and is driven by a desire to enhance people’s lives. Providing a bike is a simple gift but it can make a big difference.
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Mike Townsend (he/him) – trustee and co-founder
Mike has worked alongside Hilleke from the beginning. He grew up in Castlecliff, Whanganui and has many tales (i.e. scars) about bike adventures gone wrong. These days, Mike works as an editor and has made many promotional and safety films about transport. He has also worked as a Pedal Ready instructor. He loves working with kids, new bike technology, and finding new ways to help get people riding.
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Leah Murphy (she/her) – co-founder, treasurer & secretary
Leah has long worked in the transport sector and has been a pioneer for getting more people on bikes. One of the founders of Frocks on Bikes, it is her mission to make cycling for transport acceptable and accessible for more people. Leah came across the same Facebook post as Hilleke, asking for bikes for a former refugee family back in 2015, which was the beginning of the ReBicycle journey.
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James Burgess (he/him) - trustee
James has been at the forefront of cycling advocacy in Wellington for over a decade. He was chair of Cycle Wellington during a revolutionary period for the city's cycle budget. James is an expert negotiator and the voice of reason in many heated debates. He has an in-depth knowledge of all things bike and the inner workings of local government. While a confident cyclist, he also understands the vulnerability of riding with your child on the back of a cargo-bike through busy streets and works hard to make this safer for everyone.