Peri DrYsdale - chair
Peri Drysdale is the founder and CEO of sustainable lifestyle fashion brand Untouched World and Chair of the Untouched World Foundation. In 1981 with $200 in capital, she began a cottage industry knitwear business, then called Snowy Peak. While travelling extensively exporting her knitwear, Peri became deeply concerned about the ecological trajectory the planet was on. And so, in 1995, Untouched World was born out of a desire to use fashion as a vehicle for change, and to do better for people and the planet. Peri’s infectious desire to do better by the next generation has driven the Untouched World Foundation to achieve the impact it has, while empowering it to grow each year.
David PerenaRa O'Connell - trustee
Ko Nuku Mania te maunga
Ōrakaiapākihi te awa
Te Kete Ika a Rākaihautū te hāpua
Ko Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki te hapū
Ko David Perenara-O’Connell toku ingoa
David is currently the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Representative for Te Taumutu Rūnanga. He has been an active member of the Rūnanga since the early 90’s and held various positions staff and governance roles. David is passionate about tribal and community development, realising whānau, hapū and iwi potential and supporting the next generation of Ngāi Tahu rangatahi to realise their full potential.
david gribble - trustee
David became a trustee of UWF in 2020, to direct his passion for helping youth realise their leadership potential. David graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Structural Engineering, and later pivoted to a more commercial role via a Masters of Business Administration at London Business School. He then worked in a variety of advisory and principal investing roles, including Goldman Sachs in Sydney and Hong Kong. David brings a breadth of commercial experience to the UWF Board, and is looking forward to helping increase the impact of the Foundation as it grows in both stature and scale in the years to come.
PETER SUTTON - trustee
Taking the lead teacher role on one of the earlier Blumine Island programmes has led to two decades of association with the Untouched World Foundation in various capacities. He has been able to assist in taking the learnings from these programs to inform the develop of other UWF programmes in other contexts. In recent years, as a member of the UWF board, Peter has been working to establish a digital platform to help in data management, reconnecting with alumni and streamlining logistics to support the sustainable future of the Untouched World Foundation.
Matthew Shepherd - trustee
Matthew lived in New Zealand between 2016 and 2022, and was an active participant in all that the Untouched World Foundation had to offer. He attended his first Waterwise programme in 2017, Blumine Island programme in 2018, before going on to lead/co-lead a further 5 leadership and advanced leadership programmes in succeeding years. This culminated in Matt joining the UWF board starting in 2020. Matthew completed undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in the field of Geography with a focus on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change. He was also a Project Manager of the Wānaka Water Project at WAI Wānaka. Matt now lives in San Francisco with his wife and works for a software company that aims to solve some of the world's most complex data problems.
Caroline Hepburn-Doole - trustee
Growing up at the foot of the Waitakere Ranges, Caroline’s interest in the natural world began well before graduating from Otago University with a BSc and BTchg (Sec) specialising in junior Science and senior Biology; with a particular emphasis on youth leadership and encouraging individuals to understand their place in the wider world and their responsibilities to it. Caroline is now Head of Knox College, where developing and implementing student-driven sustainable practices in a residential tertiary environment is an ever-evolving challenge.
Jill taiaroa - trustee
Jill Taiaroa has been a member of our board since 2004. She is the manager of Business Mentoring at Canterbury Development Corporation, and has dedicated much of her career to the development of young New Zealanders. Between 2007 - 2015, Jill was a trustee at the Winding Road Charitable Trust. Her passion to support the next generation continues, with her dedication to the Untouched World Foundation and work with ZONTA International.
Fiona Bretherton - company liaison
Fiona Bretherton started at Untouched World in 2000 as a young designer graduating from RMIT- Melbourne, Australia. After 2 years of working as a junior designer, Fiona headed overseas for 6 years. She returned to Untouched World in 2008 as Head Knitwear designer, developing the knitwear collections for Merinomink and Untouched World for 12 years. In the last 3 years, she has moved into the role of Development Manager, championing the company's sustainability work and focusing on new fibres and yarn innovations. Fiona is also the company - board liaison officer, supporting the connection between the UW Brand and Foundation.