Based on an interview with Lorna Doogan, edited by Janey Taylor.
I first met Charlie standing at the Silverdale Park and Ride, dive bag on shoulder and and an excited grin on his face. We chatted on the drive, realising that our fathers had been in police college together, no degrees of separation in NZ! We were heading north to jump on Steve Hathaway's boat for a foray into Te Hāwere-a-Maki with Young Ocean Explorers. Seeds of volunteering were planted and Charlie started as kayak safety, then a senior snorkel guide, most recently leading a workshop at our 2024 Ngunguru Wānanga.
Thank you for volunteering with us Charlie! Read his story below.
Kia ora koutou, my name is Charlie and I’m a volunteer for Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust. I’ve always loved doing ‘ocean stuff’, and I’ve done snorkelling since I was a kid. It’s awesome that I get to do something with my passion for the moana and turn it into a career.
Back in school, I was one of those gifted kids who did really well until about age 14 or 15. Then, the (at that point undiagnosed) ADHD went from being a superpower, to stopping me from being able to do anything. As my grades fell, I looked to an alternative that I could excel at, and left school at 16 to begin my career in conservation. And it worked out! I’ve been full-time in the field for six years now.
My first time as a volunteer for Mountains to Sea was awesome. I can remember so clearly having the best day ever, surrounded by people with the same passion for the ocean that I have.
As a queer and neurodivergent young person, it has been awesome to have the opportunity to join the conservation community. When I came home, I made my transition clear to the people in my life: “Please just call me Charlie, these are my pronouns.” Looking back, I do wish I’d had someone like me to look up to, and I thought it would be a tricky space to transition in, but everyone has been amazing.
Water activities aren’t always an easy thing to get into for everyone who might want to. I know from experience that queer people sometimes struggle to go to the pool or beach because they don’t feel comfortable in swimwear. While I have struggled in a similar fashion due to dysphoria, I have now found affirmation in marine spaces — snorkelling for the first time after top surgery was a very freeing experience.
A specifically queer-friendly snorkelling event would be awesome to be a part of some day — we could spot nudibranchs, the ultimate androgynous marine creatures, or run a 'Sex on the Beach’ education talk about marine wildlife reproduction!
I hope my experiences can inspire people to be bold and follow their dreams, no matter their background. Passion and hands-on involvement can be just as valuable as a formal education in achieving a conservation career. Let’s make a difference and keep making marine conservation (and any conservation space for that matter!) inclusive and accessible, for everyone.
You can find out more about Charlie's mahi at www.charliesbirds.com or follow them on social media on @charliesbirds_
Inspired by Charlie's story? Start your volunteer journey today.
Help us fund a Nudi (branch) Snorkel for Pride 2026 - contact lorna@mountainstosea.org.nz if you would like to back the event.
Want to learn more about neurodiversity? Learn more and celebrate Neurodiversity Week.
Want to share your volunteering journey with Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust? Send your story to lorna@mountainstosea.org.nz with your favourite photos of you in the field.
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