Back (from left):  Simon King, Evan Chisnall, Campbell Tait, Paul Munro.

Front (from left): Jen Crawford, Cole Groves (Chair), Vince Lobb

Back from left: Russ Kelly, Keith Hyslop, Sam Anderson, Murray Neutze, Mark Wilson, Ethan Forbes. 

Front from left: Justin Legg, Jo Naylor, Melanie Brooks, Nicole Matheson, Sarah Thomas, Ben Naylor, Ella Stokes.

Mel is the Chief Executive of MHV Water Ltd and began her role in June 2017. 

As Chief Executive of MHV Water, Mel ultimately leads the team to deliver the vision of Sustainable Solutions for our Community, now and into the future.

Mel was previously a Trustee on the Hekeao Hinds Water Enhancement Trust, which governs the Managed Aquifer Recharge and Targeted Stream Augmentation Trials in Mid Canterbury, and is acutely aware of the responsibility that comes with the use of our water resources and is proud of the role MHV plays in supporting the catchment for improved water quality outcomes. “Historically, our role was just to deliver water. Our role has evolved to more efficient and effective water delivery and we now have considerable storage incorporated into our delivery network. In addition to the delivery of water, importantly, we support our farmers with their Farm Environment Plans and provide practical education for our farmers to enable changes in practice that will drive improved environmental, cultural, social, and economic outcomes.”

Prior to leading the MHV Water team, Mel spent over 18 years in the Financial Services Industry, both in NZ and abroad, spanning roles within Money Broking, Business Banking, Corporate Finance, and Leadership.

Jo began her role as Executive Assistant in 2017.

Her work involves supporting the MHV Board and Management Team, Share Registry functions, assisting shareholders with enquiries and other administrative tasks.

Jo enjoys being part of a successful, productive, and forward-thinking team, with farmer shareholders at the forefront and where no two days are the same.

Ethan came on board at the beginning of August 2020. Ethan’s focus is to build resilience in our existing network assets and strategic planning for future infrastructure. He also supports the MHV Operations Team. Ethan comes from a sheep and beef background in the lower South Island and has a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Mechanical). He also has considerable sales/design experience, from time with Waterforce in South Canterbury and more recently design, construction, and commissioning experience of large-scale irrigation schemes throughout the South Island while working for Monadelphous, including Amuri, Pukaki, and Kurow-Duntroon irrigation schemes.

Justin is MHV’s resident Senior Hydrogeologist with a background in mineral exploration, hydrogeology and integrated water management. 

Since joining MHV in 2020, Justin has managed MHV’s ground and surface water monitoring program that has enabled the development of evidence-based concepts and ideas that help inform practical, economic, and sustainable Nitrate (NO₃-N) mitigation strategies for MHV shareholders and the greater community of the Hekeao Hinds Catchment.

Nō Te Pāpaka-a-Māui ahau
Nō te rohe o te tangāta ngāi Mayonebulluk iwi au
Ko Oliver’s Hill te māunga  
Ko Sweetwater pūkaki te awa
Ko Port Phillip te kopanga
Ko Echidna tōku kararehe
E mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe o Ōtautahi, te wāhi e noho nei au
Ko Ngāi Tahu te mana whenua, te iwi whakaruruhau
Nō MHV Water
Ko Kaimātai Wainuku matua ahau
Ko Justin tāku ingoa

Murray joined the MHV Operations team in 2015 before moving to the role of Hydrology and MAR Officer due to the expansion of the MHV groundwater and surface water monitoring programme.

Murray’s role involves working with the Hekaeo Hinds Water Enhancement Trust (HHWET), maximising infiltration rates, and undertaking regular groundwater and surface water sampling for Nitrate and Ecoli levels.

Murray enjoys the challenges of his role, working in a rural backdrop, and is proud of the part he plays in addressing environmental issues facing farming.

Nicole began her role as Environmental Manager in May 2022, prior to that she had been on the Irrigo Environmental team since June 2018, so is very experienced in environmental management in relation to farming systems, especially in the Mid-Canterbury area. Her job involves supporting farmers to achieve continuous improvement through the Farm Environment Plan process. Nicole enjoys working with farmers to improve water quality in the Hekeao Hinds whilst ensuring cultural, economic, and social outcomes are still being met.

Sam joined MHV in 2008 after working in several roles and seeing the scheme develop, he became Operations Manager in January 2017. His job involves all things operations, water movements, leading the operations team, scheme innovations/improvements, maintenance, scheme efficiencies shareholder relations, and more. 

Sam enjoys the on the job learning and the ongoing challenges of adjusting to every season which are all unique to ensure that water keeps flowing to our farmers. Sam has a farming background and is practically minded, and he enjoys working with the team to find sustainable solutions for the shareholders and the community for years to come. 

Mark began in the Operations team in 2012 and has seen a lot of changes to the scheme over the years.

Mark’s role involves delivering water, planning, and communicating with farmers about future projects, and undertaking race maintenance tasks.

It is important to Mark that water is delivered efficiently, effectively and fairly to shareholders.

Ben began the role of Scheme Operator with MHV in late 2018. During the irrigation season, his role is primarily focused on the delivery of water to shareholders on MH laterals 1 and 2. Ben balances proactive maintenance with the physical delivery of the water to ensure the delivery of water is consistent at all times and is very proficient with the Rubicon systems and accessing data for analysis on race performance. During the off-season Ben can be found doing maintenance to have the line ready for the following irrigation season. Ben appreciates having the ability to grow his family in a rural setting while working with water and talking to a range of farmers and growers regularly. Ben enjoys the variety of his role where daily work can see him doing both physical outdoor work and technical work.

Mark joined MHV in February 2024, as a Scheme Operator.

With a diverse background in Automotive and General Engineering, Mark's journey has taken him from behind the wheel of a truck, transporting everything from grain to earthmoving equipment and milk, to the dynamic world of car sales and management.

Having grown up on a farm himself, he understands the invaluable role farmers play in our district's prosperity. Mark firmly believes that when our farmers thrive, so does our entire community.

Cam joined the Operations team in August 2024.

With a decade of experience in the dairy industry and five years in engineering and maintenance, Cam is excited to apply his experiences to the Operations team. 

Cam is looking forward to learning about the scheme and how it all works, to provide our shareholders the water they need.

Outside of work hours, Cam enjoys heading out into the outdoors, fishing rod at hand and spending quality family time at home.

Sarah joined the MHV team in June 2022 as a Business Support Administrator, having previously worked for Irrigo in a similar role.

Sarah performs our debtor and creditors functions and other administrative tasks in a part time capacity. Sarah enjoys working with shareholders and the MHV team. She comes from a farming background and lives on a dairy farm with her husband Toby and their daughter.

Sarah is currently on parental leave.