Our people
Leigh Cooke
Accountant
Leigh is our Financial controller and a chartered accountant with extensive experience in the education and financial services industries.
She also works with other conservation projects, including Predator Free Wellington, Project Janszoon, Predator Free South Westland, Taranaki Mounga and the Rotoroa Island Trust.
Leigh studied at Victoria University and subsequently had several roles with the ANZ Bank in New Zealand, London and Melbourne. On returning to New Zealand, she took a change of tack in 2011 and began working in the education industry. She joined NEXT Foundation and began working with Te Manahuna Aoraki in 2019.
As a person who enjoys the outdoors and bush-walking, she is loving the opportunity to use her skills to support aspirational work that will make such a big environmental impact. She also loves working with people who are passionate about what they are doing.
In her spare time she enjoys playing the piano, fitness classes, visiting new places and spending time with her family.