Sam Mander, Director, B.EMP
Sam has always had a strong passion for the environment and outdoors on a professional and recreational level. After completing his degree in environmental management and planning majoring in conservation and ecology at Lincoln University in 2014, he pursued a career in the agriculture sector working alongside farmers all over New Zealand and abroad for 2 years practically and theoretically. He undertook additional education at Massey University in 2015 becoming accredited in sustainable agriculture and nutrient management. The last 2 years Sam has been involved in the production of an extreme outdoors TV show called NZ Hunter Adventures where he helped develop a commercial quality media production as lead cameraman and post-production editor. Sam’s vision is to use their technology to help business’s achieve environmental sustainability while optimising production and economic efficiency. He also loves to create film and media projects around the work they undertake to advocate this education and awareness.
Kim Teear, Director, B.Com
Kim comes from a practical background, although earning a degree in accounting in 2013, he quickly found himself gravitated towards the engineering and construction environment. He worked for an accounting firm for 1 year before quickly learning his passion was lent towards civil construction. Kim was employed by OCEL, a coastal and marine engineering consultancy, where he first applied the use of drones under survey development. He has spent the last 3 years undertaking work under his own construction and property maintenance company which he still manages today. Kim has been using RPA’s since their mainstream inception in 2011 and keeps the company up to date with the latest technological advances in their hardware and software. He is CAA accredited, meaning he can fly drones legally under civil aviation law. His mission is to use their technology to enhance better industry decision making and efficiency, particularly across the construction and marine industries where his skill set is highly applicable.
Ben Beachen, Director, B.Ag.Sci
Ben grew up on a sheep and beef farm located in Hawke’s Bay where he developed a deep passion for both agriculture and the outdoors. This interest lead him to study at Lincoln University where he undertook a Bachelor of Agricultural Science majoring in Environmental Management. Upon graduating in 2014, Ben worked as an agronomist for a large cropping company located in Gisborne. After a recent stint working and travelling overseas, Ben is now an agricultural and horticultural specialist at Dronescape, providing technical consulting to farmers and growers across New Zealand. Ben’s vision is to use his knowledge of soil and plant science, combined with drone technology, to create a more sustainable model of farming where production can be maximised without impeding the state of the environment.