Welcome to the Forest & Bird Youth Alumni profile page. We hope they will inspire you to join us!
Sophie Handford Sian Crowley Spencer Potbury
Sophie Handford
Sophie Handford.
How long were you involved with Forest & Bird Youth (F&BY) for?
I was involved with F&BY for two years, through the Wellington F&BY Council which Sian founded. I feel super honoured to have been involved with a group doing such practical mahi, founded by a mana wāhine I admire deeply.
What were your roles?
My main role was helping with event organising and digital communications. We all pretty much chipped in where needed though - working as a high functioning team, all driven by the same passion for ensuring the protection and preservation of our collective home, the nature that sustains us and the living creatures we share this place with.
What were the main benefits you got from being part of F&BY?
The connections, friendships and opportunities to hone my leadership skills, as well as being involved in impactful mahi. All of these things feel so fulfilling.
Do you have advice for future rangatahi being involved in the environmental space?
I’d say, back yourself and step into the responsibility and opportunity we have to be good ancestors. As young people, we inherit the action that is or isn’t taken now. We have the most at stake. If our leaders aren’t going to lead, it is up to us.
Sian Crowley
Sian Crowley
How long were you involved with Forest & Bird Youth (F&BY) for?
I joined F&BY in 2017 at the Forest & Bird Conference after hearing about the new team! I was involved up until 2023.
What were your roles?
In 2017 I stepped into the National Co-Director role alongside Connor Wallace. I held this role for around three years. In 2018 I established the Hub of activity in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and recruited and coordinated a youth council as part of this role. I acted as a Youth Advisor for the Taupō-Rotorua Hub of Activity from 2019-21.
During the summer of 2019 I helped run some on the ground events in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Late 2021 I moved to Ōtautahi Christchurch and then joined the Christchurch Hub leadership team helping to coordinate and run events locally as my last youth stint before ageing out! I remained on the National Youth team from 2017 to 2023 and held a Youth Advisory role as part of this.
You can find out more details about my involvement here (especially the cool events!).
What were the main benefits you got from being part of F&BY?
It has given me a platform to develop as a young leader, to plan large scale and small events for the community, and to mentor younger leaders coming through into leadership positions... I think the best word I could use for all of that is EMPOWERMENT!
F&BY is for-youth, by-youth; it's a platform that allows young people to be given equal access to opportunities to authentically lead and participate. That is rare, and I will miss this for sure... but now I'm well on my own journey with The Seed Pod now (my own social enterprise) and that feels just as wonderful!
Do you have advice for future rangatahi being involved in the environmental space?
Opportunities will come up that have the potential to change your life. Take those opportunities to push yourself and expand your horizons. Those opportunities will likely be the moments that you reflect on with deep passion, and that lead you to new opportunities through the connections you make!
Also, get out there and connect with nature, share your love for it and spread the word! The more people who feel deeply connected to te taiao/the environment, the whēnua, moana, ngāhere, awa and maunga the better! Everyone has a part to play in environmental protection, whether you are passionate about planting days, predator control, photography, education, data science, law/policy, communication, art, or anything not listed you can contribute to a better future for all!
Spencer Potbury
Spencer Potbury
How long were you involved with Forest & Bird Youth (F&BY) for?
Two years.
What were your roles?
Leader within F&BY Auckland and Co-Coordinator for F&BY Auckland.
What were the main benefits you got from being part of F&BY?
F&BY taught me a great number of things, including working with a diverse range of volunteers and community members. Learning valuable environmental skills including traplines, vegetation monitoring, and freshwater monitoring. F&BY also introduced me to highly knowledgeable and connected contacts, as well as fellow youth leaders who will be friends for life.
Do you have advice for future rangatahi being involved in the environmental space?
Go out and do it! Take every opportunity that comes your way. The people you meet, the memories you will create, and the skills you will learn are the most important things in life and they will take you so many places!