Jean Ross’s background in nursing, rural health, sustainability, community development and geography is originally from Wales, UK and has lived in Aotearoa New Zealand since 1991. The cumulation of her work associated with rural nursing, includes activism, research, and education. Jean’s initial work with rural health commenced in Wales and continued in 1994 with the establishment of the first Centre for Rural Health in New Zealand and in 1999 the National Centre for Rural Health of which she was co-director. Jean is also an advocate for sustainable rural community development and nurse education. Her books, Rural Nursing: Aspects of Practice dedicates a space for rural research to be presented, while being the first rural textbook published in New Zealand. Stories of Nursing in Rural Aotearoa: A Landscape of Care promotes rural health and in particular rural nursing practice. Equally, Growing Rural Health Tipu Haere Tuawhenua Hauora: 30 Years of Advocacy and Support in Aotearoa has captured rural activism amongst health professionals and the support of rural communities. Samuel Mann’s background in geography, sustainability, computing and botany has enabled him to dedicate his career to developing frameworks to allow professionals to deliver on this promise of socioecological good which encompasses community development. His book The Green Graduate: Educating Every Student as a Sustainable Practitioner, outlines a framework for integrating sustainability into every course of study. This framework was successfully adopted by all polytechnic computing programmes in New Zealand, following its transformation of education at Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin. Sam has been working with indigenous groups to better understand the potential and urgency of de-colonising computing, and how we can ensure that computing serves the needs of all members of society. Sam’s book Sustainable Lens: A visual guide explores the visual narrative of sustainability. Keith Whiddon’s background in geography was formerly a teacher and Educational Inspector/Adviser and a passionate advocate for how new technologies may transform learning and teaching. He moved to Shropshire to become a full-time musician and community activist and founded the Bishop’s Castle Community Partnership; chaired the town’s Michaelmas Fair and is a school governor. Keith has instigated many innovative community projects, including the development of an online platform designed to improve community mental health and wellbeing. He is an enthusiastic explorer, capturing wild and forgotten places on camera, both over and underground.
