I am excited at the prospect of being able to represent, champion and promote the profession of planning in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our industry is front and centre of significant changes not only to the frameworks we work under, but the way in which we plan for our future and the rapidly evolving challenges that we must adapt to.
I have been a practicing planner since starting my career in 2012, after graduating from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Environmental Management and Planning and a Postgraduate Diploma in Resource Studies. I became a full member of the Institute in 2020. My experience includes roles covering local and central government, with the majority of my career based in multi-disciplinary consulting, in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
I am passionate about the planning profession and feel we have a key role to play in shaping a better, more future-proofed Aotearoa, by sharing our knowledge through education and greater advocacy of the industry. I strongly support the 5 whāinga pou set out within the Strategic Plan and would relish the opportunity to be involved in the delivery of these. Of these whāinga pou, I hold a passion for the advocacy of planning and the role and value our profession adds to tackling the resource management challenges we are facing. I am also deeply interested in the growth and education of our profession and how we can support each other to expand and develop our unique skillset but also attract rangitahi to our vibrant profession.
My involvement with NZPI stretches back to my university days, being an active member of the Lincoln University Planning Association, the Canterbury/Westland Emerging Planners group, regional Emerging Planner representative for Canterbury/Westland and an active member of Canterbury/Westland Branch as a committee member, secretary and currently as treasurer.
I am currently working for Aurecon as a Senior Consultant in the Environment and Planning team, based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. I have a strong interest in disaster response, risk and resilience having studied through the Canterbury Earthquake sequence and am looking to expand this speciality through further study. In my spare time I can be found hiking or walking in the hills and mountains around Ōtautahi and wider Waitaha Canterbury region and helping run a social enterprise whose purpose is to create community connections through shared skills.
