Built by people who've spent decades in the paddock, the lab and the boardroom
Raymond Dobbe
Founder & Managing Director
Raymond launched his first venture at 22, and built World Moving & Storage (2004–2020) into a three-branch national operation — New Zealand's first carbon-neutral trucking company, and a multiple award-winner for sustainability. Carbon-Kai draws directly on years of hands-on experience engineering biochar production technology in New Zealand.
Carbon-Kai began when a government-proposed methane levy threatened to squeeze the farmers Raymond worked alongside. Rather than build a compliance product, he set out to build a carrot: a supplement that pays for itself in milk, with the emissions reduction coming along for free. He's been developing the science, formulation and go-to-market model since 2022, self-funding the venture's lab work and early trials.
Governance and science backed by decades of experience
Darcy Finch
Founding Partner, Investor & Advisor
A Massey University BHortSci graduate farming 700 hectares of dairy, beef, sheep and cropping country in the Waikato, alongside a substantial agricultural contracting business. Darcy gives Carbon-Kai direct credibility with the farmers it serves, and practical reach into the Waikato dairy region.
Mike Pohio
Advisor, Mentor & Incoming Board Member
Four decades of executive leadership and governance across dairy, energy, logistics, property, banking and iwi development, including CEO of Tainui Group Holdings and Chief Executive of Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation. Recipient of the 2026 Foundation North Tohu Kahukura Māori Leadership in Finance Award.
Dr John McDonald-Wharry
Product Development Scientist
A PhD in Engineering (2015) on biochar nanostructure, with four peer-reviewed papers cited over 400 times and research presented internationally. Over a decade in biomass processing and materials science, John leads Carbon-Kai's formulation work, from literature and bench trials through to trial-ready production.
Nic Conland
Technical Advisor
25 years across freshwater science, RMA regulation and primary sector policy, with a network spanning regional councils, DairyNZ, MPI and iwi. Nic bridges Carbon-Kai's product science and its path to market acceptance with farmers and regulators.
“We set out to build businesses for good — environmental solutions delivered as a carrot, not a stick.”
That's the test every part of Carbon-Kai is held to: if it doesn't make sense for the farmer's bottom line first, it doesn't ship.
Interested in joining our mission or trial network?
We are rapidly growing our team and on-farm partnership network across New Zealand.