ABOUT CITIES AND REGIONS NZ

WORK PHILOSOPHY AND STYLE

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More latterly in my career I have been lucky enough to work in roles that have provided a strong sense of meaning and purpose. Bringing private sector, public sector and academic experience I can bring rigour to research and consultancy but move to action by bringing common interests and groups together to achieve big things. These experiences have allowed me to work across sectors, with communities of interest and people at all levels.

The DiSC® behavioural workplace style is iD which describes workplace priorities as taking action, generating enthusiasm, getting results, valuing collaboration and offering challenge. I am high on intellectual curiosity, socially competent and politically astute. I am a systems thinker and a pragmatist. I get things done

RECENT PROFESSIONAL ROLES

• Founding Director Cities and Regions Ltd www.citiesandregionsnz.com

• Independent Advisory Panel for the Provincial Growth Fund, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment https://www.growregions.govt.nz/about-us/governance/independent-advisory-panel/ (Mar 2018 – present)

• Chair, Economic Development New Zealand www.economicdevelopment.org.nz (2016 – present)

• CEO, Northland Inc www.northlandnz.com (Sep 2013- Mar 2019)

• Director Institute of Public Policy, AUT (Jan 2007- Sep 2013)

EDUCATION

• PhD, AUT University (2016) ‘The Metropolitan Auckland Project: a step-change in governance and regional economic development in a city-region’ for full thesis click here

• Masters in Public Policy (1st class Hons), Massey University (2002),

• BA (Psychology and Social Policy), Massey University (1998)

PERSONAL

I am married to a beautiful lady “Doctor Anna” with two great kids Ash and Jessica and our red retriever Lilly.

Anna is an exceptional family doctor working in a low access practice in West Auckland loved by her patients.

Ash is a straight A student with a BA and MA in Philosophy with first class honours from Auckland University having previously won the undergraduate philosophy prize at Massey University. We have great discussions on politics, development and philosophy!

Jessica is a professional dancer having recently completed full-time commercial training at the Apollo Theatre College where she was top in NZ for American Jazz two years running. Jess has taught me that meaning can be conveyed through movement and timing as well as written and verbal communication.

The family enjoys holidays in the far north at the beach with plenty of seafood, wine and friends. At school I was a prefect, deputy head of the boarding house, in the first XV, captain of the basketball team, held the triple jump record for thirteen years and was sportsman of the year.

My interests now, a little more sedate, include: 

1. Basketball and netball - I have gained immense satisfaction in encouraging youth to be the best they can be both as individuals and as part of a team

2. Fishing

3. Surfing – good for the soul. Hawaii teaches humility.

4. Rugby – just watching these days

5. Music – just a listener and mainly driven by kids interests nowadays

6. Dance – really only watching my daughter and the shows she is in

7. Movies – mainly political intrigue/adventure, current affairs and great thinkers 

8. Reading – currently: ‘What’s up with Catalonia?’, ‘Basic Income: and how we can make it happen’, and ‘Enlightenment Now’ by Steven Pinker.