Plant and Food Research NZ

Having had a terrific ten years, Partner and Co-Founder Katherine Short has decided to seek new opportunities (from end March 2024). Katherine intends to dive wholeheartedly into marine and coastal systems change and the policy, research and advocacy required alongside the empowerment of all who seek to better care for the ocean.



Katherine understands how those reliant upon natural resources for their livelihoods must be supported to adopt more sustainable practices and approaches this with passion, honesty, creativity and perseverance.

She worked with WWF globally for 17 years to grow healthy and well-managed fisheries gaining significant experience in designing ecosystem-based approaches and growing the uptake of the Marine Stewardship Council. She holds a Masters in Conservation Science (Imperial College London) on natural capital and ecosystem services and is business partner with Tony Craig in Terra Moana Ltd, a sustainability consultancy, including advising Moana New Zealand.

Terra Moana was instrumental in the establishment of On-Board Social Accountability (OSA International) Ltd, a not-for-profit social enterprise that sought to improve social accountability in seafood (2016-2023).

Katherine is a Trustee of Blue Cradle and has also served as an adviser to the Clare and Whakatupu Foundations, on the Moonjelly Academy Science Advisory Committee, and on the Steering Group of Te Ahu o Rehua - the Māori marine science network. She has also served as a WWF New Zealand Emerging Director (2019-20) and co-founded Gecko NZ Trust (1995-2015). She is a trained Regenesis Practitioner, Alumnus of Imperial College London, Victoria University of Wellington, and United World College, completed Te Pūtaketanga (Te Reo Level 4), and an Ovate in the Grove of the Summer Stars.

Katherine has a deep commitment to people healing nature healing people.