General Manger

Ashley Shadbolt

Born and raised in Sheffield, Canterbury, Ashley’s passion for the natural environment has been a defining aspect of his life and career. After attending Darfield High School, he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Conservation and Ecology at Lincoln University, where he graduated with First-Class Honours.

With extensive experience in land restoration and vegetation establishment, Ashley’s career spans multiple roles that highlight his expertise in environmental management. His previous experience includes overseeing large-scale landsacping projects in the South Island and hydroseeding and sediment and erosion control.

Throughout his career, Ashley has demonstrated a strong ability to understand clients’ needs and deliver innovative, solutions-based outcomes. His focus on sustainability, along with his collaborative approach, aligns perfectly with Southern Woods’ commitment to environmental stewardship and customer service.

Director, Business Development & Marketing Manager

Rico Mannall

Rico is a Director at Southern Woods, where he also leads Business Development and Marketing. With over a decade in the nursery industry, he’s worked across nearly every part of the business, building a hands-on understanding of what it takes to deliver quality plants and successful projects.

These days, you’ll find him working with clients, stakeholders, and fellow plant nerds on plant supply projects across the South Island.

Way back in 2019, Rico won the NZPPI Young Plant Producer of the Year. He went on to place 2nd in the NZ Young Horticulturist competition. He’s driven by a love of sustainability and a curiosity for what’s new, both within the nursery sector and well beyond it.

Rico deeply distrusts variegated plants.

Plant Centre Manager

Alex Dowie

Alex joined Southern Woods as a Plant Centre Assistant in 2019. With six years of experience in the retail plant centre, he takes pride in offering expert advice and helping customers find the perfect plant for their space.

As Plant Centre Manager, Alex now plays a key role in staffing, sales, purchasing, and cultivating a positive team culture. His deep knowledge of plants, particularly native species, drives his commitment to supporting biodiversity and a thriving ecosystem.

Outside of work, Alex channels his competitive energy into kickboxing and social pool competitions. He’s also an avid reader and nature lover, often exploring the stunning landscapes of the South Island. Alex lives in Doyleston with his beautiful Rottweiler, Freya, who’s been known to make the occasional guest appearance at the plant centre.

Production Manager

Emma Jarvis

Emma is our Production Manager.  She started here after completing a Bachelor of Horticultural Science at Lincoln University in 2005, and after working in a range of departments over the years, she has settled in her current role.

Her main role involves looking after the inventory in the nursery, ensuring stock numbers are perfect for the sales team. This is becoming a full-time job as the nursery grows larger each year!

She also looks after the Health and Safety of the team and the company and is often out on her red bike with a red helmet surveying the site ensuring everyone is behaving and working safely.

Emma loves baking, and we tend to love her baking too! When she’s not busy at work you’ll find her relaxing with her husband and Otis the cat.

Propagation Manager

Lydia ODowd

Lydia is our Propagation Manager. With eight years of experience in nursery production and a lifelong passion for plants, Lydia is committed to regenerating Aotearoa’s natural landscapes, through the propagation of native plants.

Her role involves managing the propagation of all species grown at Southern Woods, the production of our environmentally-friendly Ellepot lines and our 1L grades. She’s especially interested in using biological control to improve IPM strategies, making them more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Having completed a horticulture apprenticeship, she’s currently studying towards a Diploma in Horticultural Business at Lincoln University – because apparently, sleep is optional when you love horticulture this much.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find her halfway up a mountain or deep in yarn – literally. She’s completed 10 of the 11 Great Walks of NZ and trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp. When she’s not hiking, she’s crocheting everything from jewellery to winter woollies to life-sized greenhouses.

In 2023, Lydia took out 1st Place in the NZ Young Plant Producer competition and went on to place 3rd in the NZ Young Horticulturist competition, where she also achieved 1st place in Countdown’s Innovation Project and 1st place in RNZIH’s Best Speech Category.

Commercial Sales Manager

Ezra Alexander

Born in Christchurch and spending his early years in Templeton, it feels like a full-circle moment to now be part of the Southern Woods team. After moving to Auckland as a child, Ezra spent many years there before returning to Christchurch in 2026.

His horticultural background began in large-scale nursery production, where he worked in propagation producing seedlings from cuttings, seed, and tissue culture for nurseries throughout New Zealand. Starting as a nursery hand, Ezra worked his way through to becoming one of the head growers, gaining experience across production systems, plant health, and nursery operations.

Ezra enjoy being actively involved within the horticultural industry and regularly take part in conferences, competitions, and industry events. He is passionate about connecting with other plant people and continuing to learn and grow within the sector.

Outside of work, he has a strong passion for organic gardening, urban food production, and education. Through creating online content, Ezra enjoys helping people feel confident growing their own food, no matter the size of their space. He also have a keen interest in foraging and enjoy exploring the connection between people, plants, and the natural environment.

Give him a follow > @diyplantman @nz_forager

Logistics Manager

Hunter O’Connor

Born and raised in Masterton, Hunter is the youngest (and most excitable) member of our management team, energy that goes straight into making sure every order leaves the gate healthy and on time.

As Logistics Manager, Hunter coordinates hundreds of orders across the country, working with a network of freight partners to transport living stock that needs to arrive looking as good as it did at the nursery. When peak planting season hits and the pressure comes on, his practical, problem-solving approach helps keep things on track.

Since coming on board in 2022, Hunter has streamlined how the department runs and put a real people focus at the heart of it. He’s also forever lobbying for shiny new dispatch gear for the shed (and a new shed too).

At home, the man practises what he preaches, with more houseplants than your average mid-size garden centre.