Our Board
Land Search and Rescue’s governance body is the Board of New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Incorporated.
The Board comprises of elected directors chosen by the Land Search and Rescue membership and appointed directors. The Board meets at least six times a year and appoints three of its members to the Audit Committee, which reviews all policies and financial commitments and undertakings.
Charlotte Aronsen, Chair
Charlotte is a member of the Christchurch Land Search and Rescue Group and was elected Chair to the Land Search and Rescue Board on December 2023. She is a keen tramper who wanted to give back to the community in a practical way.
In 2018 Charlotte became a Committee member, later moving into the Group Secretary role, whilst also managing most of the Christchurch groups’ social media presence as well as fundraising.
Charlotte’s partner is also a member of the Christchurch Land Search and Rescue team as well as NZRT1, so she understands and appreciate the commitment and challenge that can present to a volunteers’ family.
Charlotte brings 14 years’ experience in the insurance industry, and brings a strong interest in risk and governance.
Megan Dimozantos, Vice Chair
Megan was elected Deputy Chair to the Land Search and Rescue Board on December 2023, and is a member of Rotorua Land Search and Rescue.
She has been involved in Search and Rescue for the last 9 years and is a keen tramper, climber, packrafter, skiier and mountain biker. Megan brings a strong background in project management, leadership, change management, volunteer workforces and advocacy to the board. She is particularly focused on keeping an “on the ground” connection to ensure decisions have the best long term outcomes for those doing the work.
Stefan Lerbs
Stefan was elected to the Land Search and Rescue Board in December 2023, and is a member of Motueka Search and Rescue.
With a background in corporate senior management and as the owner of an IT business, Stefan brings a wealth of experience to the board. Over the past decade, he has been actively involved in Search and Rescue as a volunteer, where he has gained extensive experience in operational management, group governance, tutoring, mentoring of future leaders, and serving as an advisory group member.
In his role as a board member, Stefan is dedicated to listening to and understanding our volunteers, ensuring that the board’s strategic work and decisions effectively address their needs. He is particularly committed to driving technology innovations, advocating for diversity and inclusion, and fostering representation, collaboration, and teamwork.
Beyond his work and volunteer activities, Stefan loves to spend time tramping and experiencing the outdoors.
Julian Tovey
Julian is a member of the Wellington Land Search and Rescue Group and was elected to the Land Search and Rescue Board on 10 October 2020. Julian’s involvement in Land Search and Rescue started in 1999 on the West Coast and actively continued when he headed to South Westland. In 2015 Julian moved to Tongariro National Park where he became actively involved with the RARO group. In 2017, Julian ended up in Wellington, joining the Wellington Land Search and Rescue group. This involvement with some of the smallest and remote groups, as well as a larger urban group has provided great perspectives of how different groups operate, their needs and priorities. Julian share’s the commitment and passion volunteers bring to helping those we are all here for. Julian’s blended career in the tourism, outdoor, government, aviation, community, and volunteer sectors has gained him a strong and diverse experience to contribute to the Land Search and Rescue Board and its strategic direction.
Bryan Lau Young
Bryan joined the New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Board as an Independent Director in November 2024. He is an experienced Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, with extensive governance expertise across both public and private sectors. Over a 30-year career, Bryan has worked with Boards and Audit & Risk Committees, leading a wide range of corporate and operational functions at executive level.
His industry experience spans freight and shipping, aged care, science and research, aviation, financial services, telecommunications, and professional services. Bryan is a strategic leader who enjoys shaping vision and aligning day-to-day operations with organisational goals. He has a strong track record of building effective relationships with key external stakeholders, including government agencies.
Based in Wellington, Bryan is an avid outdoors enthusiast who enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and boating in his spare time. His passion for the natural environment aligns with New Zealand Land Search and Rescue’s mission to support safer outdoor communities across Aotearoa.
Ron Paterson
Ron joined the New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Board as an Independent Director in November 2025. He has worked in tertiary education (law professor, Auckland University) and the public service (Deputy Director-General of Health, Health and Disability Commissioner and Ombudsman).
Ron is on the board of the Health Quality & Safety Commission and the Medical Council, and is a former chair of the Banking
Ombudsman Scheme and director of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He is a trained mediator and investigates Code of Conduct complaints as Principal Conduct Commissioner at Auckland Council.
Ron has led several major inquiries and independent reviews in New Zealand and Australia, in patient safety and quality, aged care, mental health, veterans’ support, the regulation of lawyers, and energy and water complaint schemes.
He was awarded an ONZM for services to health in 2011. Based in Auckland, Ron loves the outdoors and enjoys off-road running, tramping and helping on a farm near Lake Waikaremoana.
He has a strong alignment with the values and mission of Land Search and Rescue.
Gareth Chaplin
Gareth is a highly experienced public sector leader, advisor and economist with a career spanning senior roles in central government and economic consultancy. Gareth regularly works with a range of boards and organisations delivering strategic, governance, commercial, and funding advice to a wide range of public sector and not-for-profit clients.
He brings deep expertise in public policy, business cases and regulatory economics, developed through leadership roles at the Treasury, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. Gareth is a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and regularly teaches courses on public policy and regulation.
Gareth lives on a lifestyle block, with his wife and family, and is slowly whittling down the possum and deer numbers in the surrounding hills. He is passionate about the New Zealand outdoors.