Team Focus - Elvisa Van Der Leden

Elvisa Van Der Leden is one of our newest team members at Sustainable Taranaki, and she’s come on board wearing a few hats but mainly will be our Zero Waste Educator at The Junction - Zero Waste Hub.

Elvisa is super enthusiastic about community and the natural environment. Equipped with a media studies degree and a diploma in marine science, she loves that she can weave the two fields together in her role as a environmental educator. Elvisa began her environmental journey while studying and volunteering with the Western Bay of Plenty Wildlife Trust. Monitoring little blue penguins / kororā on Mauao (Mt Maunganui) sparked her passion to protect the environment and its native inhabitants. She continued to volunteer with various organizations, leading to professional work as a marine conservation and penguin educator with the Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society, which she is still involved with. Elvisa is also currently an elected member on the Taranaki Regional Council.

When she’s not working for the environment, Elvisa enjoys learning, doing anything creative, hanging out with friends, and teaches breakdance at a local hip hop school.