Learn more about the Chief Executive and Directors.
Leadership team
Stefanie Rixecker
Chief Executive
Stefanie was appointed Chief Executive in August 2020. She has an impressive background in leadership and management, with more than a dozen governance roles – in education, primary industry and more. Stefanie was previously Director of Science and has led the Science team, the Freshwater portfolio and the Climate Change Integration programme.
Stefanie has valued and strong relationships with Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, territorial authorities, stakeholders, Ministers, Ministries and central government departments.
David Perenara-O'Connell
Te Pou Herenga/Director Ngāi Tahu
The Te Pou Herenga role recognises the significance of our partnership with Ngāi Tahu and is responsible for the strategic oversight of the relationship and enabling our organisation to become a Treaty partner of excellence.
David has held management roles with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Environment Canterbury, where he has worked for 10 years. He uses his expertise, experience, and Ngāi Tahu te ao Māori worldview to provide leadership in resolving challenges and opportunities facing the organisation.
Tafflyn Bradford-James
Director Communications and Engagement
As Director Communications and Engagement, Tafflyn leads a team dedicated to informing and engaging the community around the regional council’s responsibilities, including the challenges and opportunities for water management, the relationships between land use and environmental quality, and how poor air quality can be improved.
Tim Davie
Director Science
As Director Science, Tim manages the Science Group, with a vision to deliver the right science, at the right time and in the right way for the benefit of our communities and the environment.
Giles Southwell
Director Corporate and Public Transport Services
Giles is originally from the United Kingdom and has worked across central, regional and local government in a variety of roles, both there and in New Zealand since moving here in 2008.
He is an experienced executive leader and is responsible for ensuring that our corporate functions can effectively support the work of Environment Canterbury, while also ensuring that the organisation is safe, secure and financially sustainable. In addition, he is also responsible for the delivery of public transport services in Canterbury. This includes urban public transport services in Greater Christchurch and Timaru, subsidised door-to-door transport services for people with mobility impairments as part of our Total Mobility scheme and funding grants for Community Vehicle Trusts.
Amy Allison
Director Strategy and Planning
Amy leads the Strategy and Planning Directorate providing a strategic centre of excellence and framework for the organisation’s work programmes, regulations, and action. Amy has held senior roles at The Treasury, the Public Service Commission, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and Ministry for Primary Industries, as well as Deputy Chief Executive roles in the Ministry for Social Development and Department of Internal Affairs. She is a sector expert in strategy, transformation, governance, and public sector financial management as well as a proud public servant.
Brett Aldridge
Director Operations
Brett leads the Operations Group who deliver the on-the-ground work to our communities, for two of the organisation's three core services : environmental regulation and protection, and community preparedness and response to hazards. Brett is a former staff member, with a long history of the work of the regional council, from customer facing work as a Compliance Monitoring Officer through to the time of his departure 18 years later, as the Senior Manager Service Delivery. He has returned to us in 2025 following eight years at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi where he was the National Manager Road Regulation, responsible for the operational delivery of the land transport regulatory function.