Indigenous Peoples involvement in Planning

Darren Thomas (CAN)
Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Initiatives and an Associate Professor in the Indigenous Studies Program at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Dr. Darren Thomas is Bear Clan and a member of the Seneca Nation who resides at the Grand River Territory of the Haudenosaunee. Darren is an Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Initiatives and an Associate Professor in the Indigenous Studies Program at
Wilfrid Laurier University. As a senior leader of Indigenous Initiatives at Laurier, he manages a staff team that is responsible to support Indigenous students, staff, and faculty by developing and implementing an Indigenous strategic plan for Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation. Darren’s personal research interests are: Indigenous thought and philosophy, Indigenous community development, strengthening and improving Indigenous health and well-being, Indigenous law, and Indigenous rights and resource governance.

Antoine Coffin
Spatial Planning Manager, Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

With over 25 years experience he has worked with private and public sector clients in strategic planning, decision-making, infrastructure, cultural heritage management and building relationships with tangata whenua. Antoine has served as an independent Commissioner on more than 50 hearings panels around New Zealand. He is a certified RMA commissioner with Chair endorsement and appointed by the Crown as a Freshwater Commissioner.

He has been awarded NZ Planning Institute’s ‘Nancy Northcroft Planning Practice Award’, the Institute’s supreme award for excellence in planning practice for project managing and writing the Ngāti Rangitihi Environmental Management Plan.

Antoine hails from Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Raukawa and Ngāpuhi and is a New Zealand descendant of French and American settlers. Antoine has had a strong role in leading Treaty settlements for his Iwi Ngati Ranginui and establishing a number of new post-settlement governance entities. He is a member of joint management committee for Mauao.

He has most recently taken up a new role as Spatial Planning Manager for Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Elle Davidson
Director, Zion Engagement and Planning

Elle Davidson is a Balanggarra woman from the East Kimberley in Australia and descendant of Captain William Bligh, and describes herself as being caught in the cross-winds of Australia’s history. With a passion to empower the voices of First Nations People, Elle combines her Town Planning and Indigenous Engagement qualifications to shape our places and spaces. Through her approach, she creates a strong platform for Aboriginal Knowledges in the planning process and builds allies to advocate for Country, community and culture. She is the Director of Zion Engagement and Planning, an Aboriginal training and consulting business and an Aboriginal Planning Lecturer at University of Sydney. Elle has also been actively involved in the Planning Institute of Australia’s Planning with Country Knowledge Circle.

Lara Taylor
Kaiwhakahaere – Director | Principal Planner, Analyst, and Strategist, E Oho!

Lara’s whakapapa is to Ngāti Tahu, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Pāhauwera, and Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku. She is passionate about Māori rights and interests, particularly related to Te Ao Tūroa. Her career has involved Māori planning and strategy – Auckland Council, Māori researcher at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, and advisory and governance roles for hapū and iwi. She is Chair on the national Māori planner’s forum Papa Pounamu, associated with the New Zealand Planning Institute. Lara has recently established her own business, E Oho! which specialises in Māori policy and planning regarding natural resource governance and management. Lara leads and engages in projects across three of the National Science Challenges (Sustainable Seas, Resilience to Nature’s Challenges, and Our Land and Water). And collaborates with Uri and councils within Tāmaki Makaurau (where Lara and her whanau live on the west coast), northland, and Waikato. Her drive and commitment to Kaupapa Māori comes from a sense of obligation and respect for Te Ao Māori – and belief that all of Aotearoa (people, place, ngā taonga tuku iho) would benefit from an equitable, well-designed, Tiriti-based system.