Natural Hazards Risk Management
At Otago Regional Council (ORC) I provided executive leadership of the natural hazards function, developing it over almost 20 years, and leading collaboration with territorial authorities on District Plan land use planning for natural hazards risk management. I applied the PARA approach to this work, aligning infrastructure, emergency management and land use planning solutions. I am a member of the Multi-Hazard and Liquefaction Peer Review Panel, convened by Christchurch City Council in 2018. I draw on my experience to provide the following services:
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Development of strategies and plans for managing natural hazards risks.
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Business planning and organisational reviews.
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Peer review and expert opinion.
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Policy and legislation advice, analysis and submissions.
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Preparation of business cases.
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Development and application of risk management frameworks.
Climate Change Adaptation
I was a Member of the Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group, convened by the Minister for Climate Change and supported by the Ministry for the Environment. We undertook the first stocktake of NZ's preparedness to adapt, and made recommendations to the Minister. Many of those recommendations were acted on by the government, including the National Climate Change Risk Assessment, preparation of a National Adaptation Plan and legislative reform. At ORC I initiated and oversaw the climate change adaptation planning and natural hazards risk management programmes for South Dunedin, head of Lake Whakatipu (Glenorchy) and Clutha delta. These all use the Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways (DAPP) approach. I initiated the first Climate Change Risk Assessment for Otago. I draw on this experience to provide the following services:
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Development of adaptation strategies and plans.
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Business planning.
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Project planning and management.
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Peer review.
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Policy and legislation advice, analysis and submissions.
Flood Protection and Land Drainage Infrastructure
I have significant experience in the planning, consenting, delivery, operations and review of flood protection and land drainage infrastructure, and river and stream engineering. At ORC I had executive accountability for planning, operation and maintenance of flood protection and land drainage schemes that provided protection and drainage to 24,000 ha of rural and urban land. This included delivery of the Climate Resilience (Shovel-ready) programme of capital works projects co-funded by Kānoa, the Regional Economic Development Unit of MBIE. I draw on this experience to provide the following services:
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Preparation of business cases and investment proposals.
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Development and review of Infrastructure Strategies.
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Assessment and reviews of flood protection scheme performance and risks.
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Reviews of levels of service, resilience and design standards.
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Peer review of hydraulic modelling and analysis.
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Policy and legislation advice, analysis and submissions.
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Scoping and management of technical investigations.
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Development and reviews of flood protection and land drainage bylaws.
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Asset management planning and plans (AMPs).
River and Environmental Management
I have significant experience dealing with complex river management issues, including the development and implementation of strategies and plans and the investigation, modelling, consenting and delivery of works. These include management of river geomorphology and gravel extraction, improvements to lake, wetland and river water quality, and the application of nature-based solutions. I draw on this experience to provide the following services:
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Advice on consenting and implementation strategies.
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Project planning.
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Scoping and management of technical investigations.
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Peer review and expert opinion.
Regulation of Dam Safety
I have a thorough understanding of the Building Act 2004 in relation to dams and the history of dam safety legislation in New Zealand. I have been heavily involved in the development and implementation of the Act, dam safety regulations and building control for dams since 2005. I played a leadership role in the accreditation of regional authorities as Building Consent Authorities (BCAs), the design of BCA processes and the transfer of functions between councils. I led the provision of BCA services for dams in Otago, West Coast and Southland regions. I was a Member of the Dam Safety Technical Working Group convened by MBIE and MfE, and earlier working groups, that provided advice to officials on content and implementation of the dam safety regulations. I draw on this experience to provide the following services:
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Advice on implementation of the Building Act and regulations for dams.
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Business planning, organisational reviews and management services.
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Support for Potential Impact Classification (PIC) and Dam Safety Assurance Programme (DSAP) processes.
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Development and review of policies on dangerous dams, earthquake-prone dams and flood-prone dams.
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Support for decision-making on building consents, certificates of acceptance and code compliance certificates, and compliance and enforcement actions.
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Design, implementation and reviews of BCA processes and systems.
RMA Hearings Commissioner
I completed the Making Good Decisions Foundation Programme in September 2024 and am accredited as an RMA Hearings Commissioner. My fields of expertise are natural hazards risk management, climate change adaptation, flood protection and land drainage infrastructure, river and stream works and stormwater management. I offer services as a commissioner, drawing on my significant experience with the RMA and regulatory processes over the past 30 years. As a staff member I have represented councils as parties to proceedings in numerous resource consent hearings and plan change matters and variously acted as applicant, expert witness for the applicant, expert witness for the s42A reporting officer, expert witness for the prosecuting consent authority, and submitter (affected party). I have participated in Environment Court facilitated mediations with delegated authority to settle proceedings.
