Jo Fearn

Originally from the UK, QS Regional Support Coordinator Jo Fearn arrived with her husband in 2007 on a two-year working holiday visa, fell in love with NZ and never went back. They settled on the Coromandel, got their permanent residency, then purchased and managed a seafood restaurant for ten years. 

Despite a working career mainly centred around hospitality, Jo had a long-standing love of nature and the natural environment and always dreamed of having land and animals. 

During the time they owned the restaurant, Jo embarked on six years of study (via distance learning) in environmental management and environmental science, determined that she wanted a role in helping to reduce the impacts of agriculture on the environment.

They sold the restaurant and made the big move south to Canterbury for a change of scenery in September 2020. They bought a 10 acre lifestyle block near Tai Tapu and Jo ended up working on a local organic market garden whilst she finished her studies. 

In July 2021, through a chance encounter, she was offered an opportunity to be the Extension Project coordinator for a farmer led catchment group in Ellesmere which enabled her to utilise her unique skill set in event management and communication as well as her love for agriculture and the environment.

Jo has been passionate about regenerative agriculture for a few years and had been following the work of Quorum Sense for some time. Through her work with the catchment group, she got to know a few of the QS team and board members and was delighted when she was offered a part time position in the QS regional support team.

Jo enjoys her work with QS and the catchment group, helping to organise workshops and activities, getting out on to farms, learning from others and being inspired by the farmers she works with.

Jo and her husband are in the process of establishing a small edible flower and herb growing business on their block. She also enjoys listening to podcasts, gardening, growing veggies, planting native trees, being creative, spending time with her husband and animals and walking on the local Port Hills with her dogs.