Programme Manager · Behavioural Scientist · Marine Engineer · Musician
Ben
Mansfield
An integrative thinker navigating the spaces between society, science, and policy. Passionate about the ocean, and making music.
Programme Manager · Behavioural Scientist · Marine Engineer · Musician
An integrative thinker navigating the spaces between society, science, and policy. Passionate about the ocean, and making music.
From a world-first network of community bike spaces to city-wide behavioural change programmes — taking complex, multi-stakeholder projects from idea through to lasting impact.
End-to-end project delivery
May 2022 – September 2024
Synthesised and delivered the world's first network of free, community-run bike repair shops — growing from 4 to 14 locations across Auckland on a $2 million budget.
April – November 2019
Led the delivery of multiple doorstep engagement projects to inform householders about their travel and energy choices on behalf of the local council.
Scaling systems and operations
November 2025 – Present
Managed day to day operations to develop new approaches to delivering core services while reducing cost, complexity, and staff pressure.
September 2021 – May 2022
Tripled team capacity, saving 500 hours annually by developing numerous customer facing and backend systems.
Evidence-based behaviour change
November 2019 – September 2021
Developed behavioural science–informed, equity-based transport initiatives including the e-bike loan scheme, unicycle hackathon, and area-based action plans.
A First Class Honours in Marine and Environmental Science, grounded in real-world field monitoring and a track record of turning evidence into policy and public action.
University of Auckland
How do science, society, and policy overlap in the use of wastewater-based epidemiology to monitor and reduce drug-related harm in Aotearoa New Zealand? PhD proposal pursued for 1 year, but eventually abandoned due to a lack of funding available during Covid-19.
Community, Place and Greenways — Social Perspectives and Meaning of Place in Green Transport Infrastructure. An exploration of how different users of urban infrastructure relate and give meaning to these spaces. GPA 8.0 / 9.
GPA 6.8. First in Course, Marine 202. Runner-up, Budding Marine Conservation Steward Award (Conservation International).
Research, monitoring & advocacy
Co-convened a standing committee managing ten policies across democracy, global affairs, and science. Led research and drafting of transport, housing, and urban policy. Facilitated a team of eight using decolonised engagement methodologies.
Monitored Auckland's long-term environmental conditions via regular field sampling. Managed databases in R, wrote department-wide protocols, and identified cost-saving efficiencies.
University of Auckland, 2017–2021. Conferences, community events, and public advocacy for plastic-free living.
Founding member, University of Auckland, 2018–2019.
From restoring yachts to pay university tuition, to standing watch aboard a 48m superyacht in New York — I've spent my life on and under the oceans.
S/Y Arabella · New York, USA
June – October 2025
Contract Yacht Work · NZ & USA
2015 – 2018
Chesapeake Boating Club · Baltimore, USA
May 2013 – February 2016
JWorld Annapolis · Baltimore, USA
May 2014 – February 2015
Music
Multi-instrumentalist and live music performer. Small time musician on the lookout for more people to jam with.
Primary instrument. From jazz standards to improvised sessions and live performance.
Acoustic and electric. Songwriting, live looping, and backing chords.
Music theory, jazz harmony, and composition.
Whether it's a conversation about growing your non-profit, drafting reponsive policy, fixing your yacht, an offshore adventure, or a musical collaboration — I'd love to hear from you.