Our Team
The Green Lab is a small organisation with a big heart. Our team is comprised of part-time staff and a whānau of skilled contractors. We are a registered charity with a governance board.
Operations Team
Bridget Allen
she/her, Tangata Tiriti
Director
Bridget has a background in contemporary fine art, with a Bachelor’s in Fine Art, majoring in sculpture, from Canterbury University in 2002. Her practice as an multi-media environmental artist has lead her to researching various forms of green sculpture, horticulture, landscape design, community development projects, and conservation efforts. Most recently, she has trained as a landscape architect at Lincoln University. She has lived for the majority of her life in Ōtautahi and has raised her tamariki there. She co-founded the New Brighton Stitch-O-Mat Charitable Trust, a community sewing room that sews projects for the local community.
When she has free time Bridget enjoys riding one of her many bikes, discovering new music and connecting with people and the community.
Katie Hallam
she/her, Tangata Tiriti
Communications Manager
Katie joined The Green Lab in 2021. She was involved with community and environmental activism before completing a BA Hons in Film and English Literature in 2007. She has skills in PR, website admin, social media coordination and graphic design, and has used them exclusively for non-profits, including The Conservation Volunteers – a charity working to connect people and green spaces, a child health charity, and the magnificent YSP. In 2015, she came to Aotearoa with her whānau, became Communications Manager for and opened her heart and mind to the creative and cultural landscape of a new country. Katie took a break in 2018-2021 to work as a gardener, develop a creative practice and take care of her young tamariki. Katie also works for Oxford Gallery as Community Engagement Coordinator and serves as a Volunteer Firefighter.
Our Board
Piers Furney
Acting Board Chair
Piers is a Senior Product Manager in Education Technology with a Master’s degree in Psychology. Based in Christchurch with his wife, he brings a strong background in strategy, product development, research, and graphic design. As an author of science fiction and fantasy, he values creativity and forward thinking.
Piers is passionate about building inclusive, sustainable futures and contributes this vision to The Green Lab board. He hopes to put his experience designing impactful learning solutions towards shaping community spaces that connect people with one another and the living world.
Hanna-Mari Saxman
Board Secretary
Hanna-Mari has been in New Zealand since 2015. After working in various IT roles she went back to studying to become a Landscape Architect and rediscovered her enthusiasm for plants, wildlife, and connecting with nature.
Hanna-Mari has often found herself acting as the secretary from student union activities to work and study teams and is happily filling that role for The Green Lab.
Karen Lyon
she/her
Treasurer
Karen joined The Green Lab in 2021 and was Chair 2022-2023. She brings her extensive experience as a Chartered Accountant and is a plant enthusiast. This is Karen’s third governance role and she is excited to lead and grow the important mahi and kaupapa of the Board and The Green Lab. Originally from England, Karen has lived in Ōtautahi for the last decade with her husband and two small dogs. She enjoys relaxing with her family and friends when she isn’t working.
Abhishek Gautam
Abhishek works as Senior Scientist-Risk assessor with one of the Public Research Organisations based in Christchurch. Abhishek is an experienced regulatory toxicologist with a pharmaceutical background, and has worked in government administration, FMCG and consulting.
His works revolve around hazard and risk assessment of industrial chemicals, pesticides, consumer products (detergents, multi-purpose cleaners, air fresheners, floor cleaners etc), and contaminants, preservatives and pesticide residues in food.
With his experience in human health and product safety, Abhishek is excited to support Green Lab’s mission and contribute to building community spaces that are safe, sustainable and have a positive impact on the community’s overall health.
Zuberia Hosanoo
Zuberia has over 18 years of academic experience in Strategy, Human Resources, and Management, gained through teaching and leadership roles in diverse higher education settings globally. Prior to relocating to Christchurch, New Zealand, she served as an Academic Board Member at Curtin Mauritius, contributing to academic quality and institutional strategy.
Now in her first governance role within the charitable sector, Zuberia is excited to support Green Lab’s mission through her expertise in strategy, learning and development, and inclusive leadership. Outside of work, Zuberia loves baking, sampling diverse cuisines, and exploring new destinations with her husband and son.
Carl Gildea
Carl stepped into his first governance role when he joined the The Green Lab in 2025. He brings 19 years of experience in landscape contracting, including running his own construction business. Having recently completed his studies to become a Landscape Architect, Carl is passionate about thoughtful design and practical solutions in the public realm.
He hopes his background in design, construction, and project management will be a valuable asset to the team, supporting projects that make Christchurch’s public spaces more functional, inviting, and community-focused.