Karl began his planning career in 1992 with stints at Auckland City Council and North Shore City Council before joining Connell Wagner in 1994. Karl joined B&A in 2001 and became a director in 2002. Karl has a Master of Planning from Auckland University and has been a full member of the NZ Planning Institute since 1995.

Matt completed his Bachelor of Planning degree (Auckland) in 1992 and took up positions with Rodney District Council and the Auckland Regional Council. In 1995 he moved to Connell Wagner before joining B&A in 1997. Matt has been a director since 2002 and has been a full member of the NZ Planning Institute since 1998.

Following completion of his Bachelor of Planning degree (Auckland) in 1992, Nick took up a position with Bloxham Burnett and Oliver in Hamilton. In 1994 Nick joined Connell Wagner as a senior planner before leaving in 1997 to form B&A as a founding director. Nick is a member of Auckland’s Urban Design Panel and is also a member of the working group development Auckland’s new unitary plan representing council as lead planner on the city centre zone and residential zone sections of the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.

Following completion of a Master of Science in Geography degree (Canterbury) in 1994, Gerard worked in the telecommunications industry for a number of years. In 2002 he completed a Master of Resource and Environmental Planning degree (Massey) and worked for North Shore City Council before joining B&A in 2003. Gerard has been a principal since 2013 and is a full member of the NZ Planning Institute.

Burnette is a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute and has a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning with Honours from Massey University.

Burnette has over 23 years of planning work experience in a range of roles including work for local authorities and private practice. The range of work that Burnette has been involved in includes small and large scale development projects involving greenfield development, land use, subdivision and coastal consents, policy advice to local authorities (most recently Kaipara District Council and Whangarei District Council) and the presentation of evidence to both Council and the Environment Court for private and local authority clients. Burnette is also an accredited Hearings Commissioner and has sat on resource management hearings for Kaipara District Council and Whangarei District Council. She also mentors planning students.

Rachel began working at Auckland City Council in the Central Area Planning team in 2006. During that time Rachel completed the Masters of Planning Practice (Auckland University). Since then, Rachel has worked at Haines Planning in Auckland and has more recently worked for Auckland Council in the Unitary Plan team. Rachel joined B&A in February 2014. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts from Auckland University.

Evita has worked across a variety of residential, commercial, mixed use and industrial projects in three metropolitan cities, commencing in Auckland in 2000 and then gaining 10 years of experience in various senior planning roles in London and Sydney. After returning to Auckland in 2012 she worked in the resource consent and policy departments at Auckland Council including managing qualifying developments and plan variations within identified Special Housing Areas. Evita joined B&A in January 2016. She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Resource Studies from Lincoln University and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Canterbury University.

Matt has worked as an urban designer since 2005 when he completed a Master of Architecture (Urban Design) (Hons 1st Class) at Auckland University.

Matt worked for Auckland City Council and then Auckland Council for nine years in a range of urban design roles focused on urban design strategy, input to Council and private sector development projects, and brown and greenfield masterplans. Since joining B&A in 2014 Matt’s work has included providing urban design expertise to multi-unit residential and mixed use schemes, masterplanning and greenfield subdivision, and giving urban design evidence at resource consent, plan change and district plan hearings. Matt is a member of the Auckland Council Urban Design Panel and an Independent Commissioner for Auckland Council.

Since 2008, Cam has worked as an urban designer and planner across the public and private sectors in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Prior to joining B&A in November 2018, Cam spent over three years working as a Planner and then Principal Planner for Transport for London and provided planning advice on schemes including the proposed Bakerloo Line and Dockland’s Light Railway extensions along with numerous large scale private residential and commercial schemes across East London. Prior to his time in London, Cam worked as a planner and urban designer at a large multi-disciplinary consultancy in Auckland providing advice to a range of institutional and public sector organisations. Cam holds a Master of Urban Design (Hons 1st Class) and Bachelor of Planning (Hons 1st Class) from the University of Auckland and has been a Full Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute since 2014.

Lara completed her Bachelor of Planning Degree at the University of Auckland in 2010, from here she worked with an architectural practice for several months before joining Auckland Council as a Planner and Compliance and Monitoring officer. In 2014 Lara joined a multidisciplinary consultancy where she gained further experience with ‘regional’ consenting, land development and subdivision. More recently Lara has been working with Auckland Council on the Auckland Unitary Plan. Involving an intensive hearings process, mediation and presentation of expert evidence across a range of specialist areas. As a result Lara has also been involved with inputting into national policy direction in the area of coastal hazards and climate change. She is an intermediate member of the New Zealand Planning Institute and member of the New Zealand Coastal Society.

Following completion of a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning degree (Massey) in 2001, Devon took up a position with Manukau City Council in 2002 before moving to Waitakere City Council in 2003. In 2006 Devon moved to the UK where he worked for London Borough of Hounslow, London Borough of Southwark and London Borough of Tower Hamlets before returning to New Zealand at the end of 2011. Devon then spent one year at Auckland Council before joining B&A as a Senior Planner in 2013.

David manages our Whangarei office which opened in August 2016. Following completion of a Bachelor of Planning Degree (1st class Honours) at the University of Auckland in 2010, David took up a position with Whangarei District Council (WDC) as a resource consent planner for two years. In early 2013 David left WDC to take up a consultant role with the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Resource Management Unit whilst looking for work in Australia. A nine month stint working as an Environmental Advisor in the Queensland mining industry followed. David returned to New Zealand in January 2014 and took on another position with the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Resource Management Unit before returning to WDC in mid 2014 as a policy planner. David joined B&A in late 2015. He has been a Full Member of the NZPI since April 2015.

Since 2006 Jeremy has worked in consultancy and local government with roles based in Queenstown, London and Auckland. Jeremy’s experience and strengths include resource consent application project management, policy analysis and implementation, environmental effects assessment and involvement in a wide variety of land development, subdivision and infrastructure projects. Jeremy has an open and collaborative approach with clients, project advisors and local authorities, with a focus on the ‘big picture’ to ensure project goals are achieved. Jeremy has a Bachelor of Science, Post Graduate Diploma in Planning and is a Full Member of the NZ Planning Institute.

Kerstin began her planning career in Scotland, where she worked for Planning Aid for Scotland on a project funded by the Scottish Government that sought to remove the barriers to engagement for ethnic minority and Gypsy/Travellers within the planning system. She has a MA (Hons) in Geography and Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh and a Postgraduate Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Heriot Watt University. She moved to New Zealand in 2008, where she spent 8 years with Harrison Grierson in their Christchurch Office, and latterly as their Planning Manager, before joining B&A in 2016. Kerstin completed a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration in 2016 and is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, as well as an Associate Member of the NZ Planning Institute. She has a wide range of planning experience, including land development, subdivision, telecommunications and securing resource consents.

Ruth has worked as a planning consultant in Christchurch, Queenstown and Brisbane, and as a graduate for Transit New Zealand (now NZTA). Prior to joining B&A in July 2017 Ruth worked for multidisciplinary consultancy Harrison Grierson for more than nine years. Ruth has experience in policy planning (including as a reporting officer for Christchurch City Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council on various topics including natural hazards, noise, resort zone and rezonings), resource management plan drafting and resource consent preparation. Ruth holds a Master of Regional and Resource Planning and Bachelor of Arts from Otago University and is an intermediate member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Helen has over ten years’ experience in planning and resource management in New Zealand, Australia, England and Scotland. Helen gained her Masters in Town Planning (Hons) from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. After shifting to New Zealand in 2008, Helen worked as an Environmental Consents Planner at Taupo District Council, and then as an Airport Planner at Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL) for five years. Helen’s experience has been broad ranging from resource consent applications and submissions on plan changes, master planning and noise management plans. In 2015, Helen joined a multidisciplinary consultancy in Christchurch, where she worked on a range of development projects often requiring regional consents. Helen is an associate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute. 

Mary joined B&A in late 2015 after four years in the resource consents team at Auckland Council. During that time she has consented a range of residential and commercial developments. Mary completed her Bachelor of Planning degree at Auckland University in 2011 and is a Grad+ member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

After gaining a Masters of Regional and Resource Planning from Otago University, Venessa began her planning career with Dunedin City Council. She then joined a consultancy firm doing consenting work for Dunedin City and Queenstown Lakes District Councils. After Ngai Tahu received their Treaty Settlement, the Otago Runaka set up a resource management office, which Venessa managed – Kai Tahu ki Otago Ltd. After a time overseas, Venessa worked for Duffill Watts & King in Whangarei doing consenting work. She then joined the Kaipara District Council team doing a variety of policy work. Venessa is a member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Following completion of her Masters of Resource and Environmental Planning degree (Massey University), Briar has worked as a planner in both the public and private sector in New Zealand and Australia. Briar began her planning career in central government working for the Ministry for the Environment. She then went on to work for a multidisciplinary consultancy and most recently in local government as a Senior Planner in Melbourne. Briar has an extensive range of planning experience including policy planning and implementation, environmental planning, resource consenting and stakeholder engagement and consultation. 

Pamela began her planning career in 2010 as a part-time planning assistant at Barker & Associates. Following her completion of a Bachelor of Planning Honours degree at the University of Auckland in 2011, she took on a full-time planning role. In that time she has worked on a wide variety of residential projects ranging from Ponsonby villa renovations, apartment developments at Stonefields and has also been involved in a number of Special Housing Area projects. In 2016, Pamela moved to Canada where she worked for the City of Toronto on a number of infill housing projects, high-rise apartment developments and re-zoning projects across the North York district before returning to New Zealand at the end of 2018. Pamela is an Intermediate member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

After graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts (Geography) and Law degree (Honours, Otago), Elizabeth began work with a large national law firm specialising in Resource Management Law. In 2007 Elizabeth moved to a policy role with the then Auckland Regional Council before returning to legal practice in 2010 in the areas of Resource Management and Local Government Law with Brookfields Lawyers. Elizabeth was involved in advice for private clients and local government entities on a broad range of Resource Management issues. Following a period of maternity leave Elizabeth joined B&A in March 2018.

Ailish began working at B&A as a student during her final year of study in 2013. Upon completion of a Bachelor of Planning degree with Honours from the University of Auckland, Ailish has taken up a position as a planner in the firm, working on various commercial and residential developments

Following completion of a Bachelor of Planning with Honours from the University of Auckland, Raheel spent three years in Auckland Council’s resource consents team. During this time she processed a range of residential and commercial applications in both urban and rural contexts. Raheel joined B&A in 2016 and is an Intermediate member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Following completion of a Bachelor of Planning with Honours from the University of Auckland, Jessica spent four years at a planning consultancy working on various residential developments and community projects. Jessica has also processed on behalf of Auckland Council and completed a secondment in the resource consents team. During this time she processed a range of residential and commercial applications in both urban and rural contexts. Jessica joined B&A in 2017 and is a Grad+ member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Following completion of a Bachelor of Planning (First Class Honours) degree at the University of Auckland, Sarah took up a full time position with B&A in November 2015 after working part-time for a year and a half. She served as a member of the Auckland Emerging Planners’ Committee between 2013 and 2017, and was the recipient of the New Zealand Planning Institute Reginald Hammond Scholarship in 2015. She has worked on a wide variety of projects in resource consents and policy.

Shannon completed her Master of Environmental Planning degree at Queen’s University Belfast in 2010. Shannon worked in the pharmaceutical industry for a couple of years before moving to Auckland in 2013, taking up a position with B&A in August 2015, working on various commercial and residential developments.

Danielle graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Geography, after her studies she travelled around Europe for 16 months. On her return she took up a position with Watercare as a sampling technician working predominantly in the field sampling from Auckland’s dams, rivers and reticulated water supply.

In early 2016 she started with Auckland Council in the resource consents team as a planner processing residential and commercial applications in both the rural and urban contexts. She is now also studying part time for her Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Science, which she will complete in July 2019.

Since completing her undergraduate studies at Victoria University in Wellington in 2013, Stacey joins B&A after spending time working with the Far North District Council and for a planning consultancy based in Hamilton. During this time she processed and prepared a range of residential, industrial and commercial applications in both rural and urban settings. Stacey is due to complete her postgraduate studies in 2018 and is an Associate member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science Nina has worked in a variety of sectors including, conservation, environmental management and planning industries. Upon graduating, Nina worked as a Planning Assistant with Whangarei District Council for two years which sparked a newfound passion in the planning profession. She has just completed a stint with a planning consultancy in the Far North working on a variety of residential and commercial developments before joining B&A in June 2016. She is now studying towards a Post Graduate Diploma in Planning with Massey University and is a Associate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

In 2017 Fern completed her Bachelor of Urban Planning (hons) degree at the University of Auckland. During her studies she joined B&A as a planning assistant before taking up a full time role in November 2017.

While studying towards a Bachelor of Environmental Planning at Massey University, Eleanor worked part-time at Horizons Regional Council, mainly answering public enquiries regarding resource consenting. Eleanor interned at B&A in the Warkworth office between her third and fourth years of study, and joined the team full-time as a graduate planner in November 2018.

Phoebe joined the B&A team in November 2018 after completing a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning with Honours at Massey University. Phoebe has experience on both small scale residential projects and large scale infrastructure projects, such as the M2PP expressway in Wellington. Phoebe is also a Graduate member of the NZPI.

Sarah joined the Barker & Associates team in June 2017 after taking some time out to have a baby. Prior to that she has worked for nearly 20 years in the property industry, mainly in London then here in New Zealand. Sarah is executive assistant to Karl, Matt, Nick and Gerard and is responsible for all marketing and communications, she also provides overall support the team.

Administrative Assistant to Burnette O’Connor and the Warkworth Team

Nick joined Barker & Associates in July 2016 after completing a Bachelor of Science at Otago University. Nick has worked on a variety of projects including residential and commercial developments, and also a large scale structure plan in South Auckland. Nick is currently completing a Master of Urban Planning and Master of Urban Design at the University of Auckland.