JANEEN WOOD

Janeen Wood and her husband moved to Cromwell in 2006 to establish a tourism business and be closer to family. Immersing herself in community initiatives, Janeen played a pivotal role in bringing together successive Community Plans, starting in 2008. Utilising her expertise in corporate management, teaching, environmental stewardship, and health and safety, she structured the plan’s action points into a formal framework. One significant action was to investigate the feasibility of a trail from Cromwell to Clyde, a project Janeen passionately championed as it expanded into a remarkable network of trails connecting the entire region.

Janeen volunteered as a trustee when the original Lower Lake Dunstan Trails Trust was formed, and she has played a crucial role in managing the region’s trail projects ever since. Her various voluntary roles facilitated a community collaboration, leading to the formation of the Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust (COQTNT) in 2016, which developed the highly successful Lake Dunstan Trail. This trail has exceeded all expectations, earned Great Ride status and continues to deliver wide-ranging benefits to the community.

Currently, Janeen serves as Trail Manager for the Lake Dunstan Trail and Chief Executive of the rebranded Southern Lakes Trails Trust. She oversees the Kawarau Gorge Trail and Wānaka Link projects, fostering collaboration among all parties to bring these trail networks to fruition.