Sustainable Ōtautahi Christchurch (SŌC) is an incorporated membership society, formed in 2005, which carries on the vision of two previous local voluntary organisations, Sustainable Cities Trust and Christchurch-Ōtautahi Agenda 21 Forum.
Former members of both those groups are involved, along with a new generation of Christchurch people, who work towards the bold vision of Christchurch people “practising, living and demonstrating sustainability in all that they do.”
SŌC’s registered charitable aim, which recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi as a foundation, is to actively contribute within Ōtautahi-Christchurch to opportunities and means for achievement of long term sustainability. In trying to make a difference, and head that direction, SŌC members seek to:
- ensure that all people have their basic needs satisfied,
- so that they can live in dignity, in healthy communities,
- while having the minimum adverse impact on natural systems,
- both now and in the future.
Our Annual General Meeting, which elects an executive committee from the membership, is held in June.
Click here for information on the SŌC Constitution.
Click here for details about how to join our email list, or Facebook page, or to become a member.
Patron – John Peet
John Peet was born in the UK and has been living in Christchurch, New Zealand for the last 50 years. John has a BSc in Chemical Technology, a PhD in Chemical Engineering and has worked in the petroleum industry. He is a Retired Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Canterbury, where his main focus over the last two decades was sustainable development.
John is the author of Energy and the Ecological Economics of Sustainability and papers on systems, sustainability and the ethical requirements of stakeholder involvement. Since retiring from the University of Canterbury, John works closely with a number of local, national and international non-government organisations on issues of sustainable development.
Committee Members
Chair – Colleen Philip
After a career in education linked with decades of work in the union movement, Colleen is focused now on her primary passion: the natural world.
A recent reading of Paul Hawken’s “Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation” has reminded her of the importance of the small; plus the linkage between local, national and global. We are all in this together; and together we will find a pathway that works for people and the other species that share this wonderful planet with us.
Vice-Chairperson – David Guthrey
David has a background in farming , organics and tourism. In 1985 He helped established the national cooperative Health 2000 network. David owned and operated 5 of the 80 shops before the earthquakes.
David’s community work has been focused on alternate housing/building including almost 10 years sponsoring Wikihouse social enterprise development in Ōtautahi Christchurch. David has been a dedicated cyclist in this city for over 50 years. He especially supports the successful cycleways developments with the slower traffic speeds near schools and shops for safety as well as biking for emissions reduction.
David is a passionate advocate for collectively planning now for our continued population growth. For an expected 1 million to be living in greater Ōtautahi in 30 to 60 years we need good urban design from now to effectively half the number of cars we currently drive. We can get back to being a cycle city.
Treasurer – Thi Toan (Zoe) Pham
Zoe works professionally in the accounting field. She chose to support SŌC as our treasurer due to her interest in sustainability, particularly in community connection and development; and because of her gratitude for support she herself has in the past received from third sector/community organisations. Zoe lives and works in Lincoln and is furthering her studies at Lincoln University.
Joyce Yager
Joyce is an Earth scientist with a passion for climate change and biodiversity in Aotearoa. She works as a consultant with US-based Imaginative Futures as a podcast host with Be Giants Media and actively researches and publishes in Earth science.
Joyce is an Earth scientist with a passion for climate change and biodiversity in Aotearoa. She works as a consultant with US-based Imaginative Futures as a podcast host with Be Giants Media and actively researches and publishes in Earth science.
Phil Pearson
Previously a lecturer in Art Education at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, Phil moved into the antiques trade in the early 2000s. He believes antiques represent one of the most sustainable consumer products on the planet. There is no built-in obsolescence with an object in use today created decades, even centuries ago. Phil believes in the importance of the local economy in supporting and empowering a community to live sustainably.
Ben Jassin
Prior to moving to New Zealand in 2018, Ben grew up in Chicago, USA and studied civil engineering at the University of Miami in Florida (where he met Joyce, his wonderful partner and fellow SŌC executive member). As a transportation engineer, Ben has always been fascinated by the complexities of how people get around. He is acutely aware that transport is not only a significant portion of our carbon emissions, but is also one of the key sectors that we must target for carbon reduction if we are to reach our climate goals. When he’s not working on how we do that at Christchurch City Council, you can find him kitesurfing on the Ihutai Avon Heathcote Estuary as much as possible.
Katrina Miller
Katrina is an environmental scientist with a passion for creating a world where our lifestyles are kind to the environment, kind to each other and kind to ourselves.
Katrina began her career working in the waste processing industry in 2008. This is when she first encountered the term zero waste. She was already very efficient with her own resources, upcycling, mending and buying second hand. But learning about zero waste was the start of the big wide journey. Learning about the circular economy also lead to understanding the challenges. One of
the biggest challenges questioned the pressures and inequalities in society. When people are struggling to put food on the table how could we expect them to care about sustainable living? Lives are so busy, asking someone to sort rubbish can be quite overwhelming. Then there is the challenge of capitalism itself and the alarm bells that ring in peoples head if we suggest an alternative.
Katrina believes there needs to be a holistic approach and is passionate about projects that align with the Sustainable Development Goals. She will not turn away from those that disagree. She sees a difference in opinion as an opportunity to listen and learn.
To read more about Kat’s projects here.
Support Staff
Anthea Ibell – Communications Coordinator, Business Liaison, Digital Admin
Anthea Ibell has been involved with SŌC in various roles since 2017. She has a background in marine science, science communication and waste minimisation and now runs two environmental focused companies in Ōtautahi. She has a passion for the science, the environment and connecting people.
Anthea’s skills in digital marketing and enthusiasm for collaboration make her a great person to have in our communications role.
Anthea has been the co-secretary of SŌC, has helped coordinate events, worked as the marketing manager for Speaking 4 the Planet and is now in our jack-of-all-trades digital admin support.