Momentum
For Change

Forward inspires climate action and environmental stewardship through community building, education and collaboration. As mountain bikers who ride in the local environment, we feel a responsibility to protect and regenerate Te Taiao the natural world that contains and sustains us, for generations to come.

Our work is centered on the principles of reciprocity, locality, regeneration, and the interdependence of people and nature. We act inclusively, with respect for all outdoor users and stakeholders, and provide a platform for knowledge sharing, improved cooperation, and aligned action in the Whakatipu Basin.

  • Co- Founder + Chair

    Daisy is a bit of a creative enigma. No one knows exactly what she does, but she’s the one steering the vision for Forward Whakatipu. With a background in the outdoor industry, she’s previously worked with a bunch of brands, film companies, and nonprofits at the intersection of outdoor sports and climate justice. Inspired by community organising, she’s interested in how we can harness the power of Queenstown’s mountain bike community for effective, collaborative action to protect the natural world and serve future generations. When she’s not locked into her laptop doing some big-picture thinking, you’ll most likely find her pedalling in the beach forest or cutting laps.

  • Co-Founder + Treasurer

    If you don’t know Ben, you’ll probably have heard about his legs. So far, they’ve provided him with some incredible achievements in the Queenstown area including a Double Everest (pedalling 17,697m in one go) and riding the height of Olympus Mons, 21,900m in one push up Coronet and into Skippers and back. As well as his superhuman abilities on the bike, Ben is a long standing member of the local mountain bike community, working his way through most of the bike shops in town, and more recently setting up his own wheel building business on Gorge Road.

  • Secretary

    Miss Mackie might just be Scotland’s best export (in our humble opinion). After leaving Scotland in 2022 to cycle through Europe and then tackle the length of New Zealand, she rode into Queenstown in 2023 and never left. Teaching Social Sciences at Whakatipu Highschool and also being the conservation-focused committee member of QMTBC, Meg is focused on the future generation and how we can best support a regenerative vision of the Whakatipu Basin for everyone.

  • Trustee

    Iz is a whiz when it comes to nonprofit communications and governance. Working full-time at iwi-led, native catchment rehabilitation charity, Te Tapu O Tāne, Iz is adept at connecting with stakeholders and providing insight on our responsibility to the land and people of Tāhuna. Through the summer, you’ll find her ripping DH laps at the bike park or working on her tables at Gorge Road.

  • Trustee

    When Sam’s not designing for well known brands, he’s usually out on his bike. Jumps, tech trails, or long distance gravel races, Sam doesn’t care as long as it’s on two wheels. A quiet dark horse on the bike, Sam’s all in for seeing a positive future for mountain bike culture in the Whakatipu Basin. He believes in fostering connections between people for the common good and oversees all things visual over at Forward.

Forward is gratefully supported on a pro-bono basis by Anderson Lloyd Queenstown and Rotto Chartered Accountants. If you’re interested in contributing your skills or services to our cause, please reach out on our contact page for more information.