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.

Rachel has over 12 years of experience as an urban planner working in all aspects of the profession, including strategic planning, policy development, and consenting, in both the public and private sectors.

Rachel’s experience includes district plan reviews, structure planning, and strategic planning in greenfields and brownfields areas, and consenting for large scale developments throughout New Zealand. Rachel has experience in all aspects of consultation and engagement as well as presenting planning evidence at hearings.

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.

Janice manages our South Island business, and has a Master of Science (Hons) degree in Resource Management from Canterbury University.

Janice has worked for two local authorities: Wanganui District Council and the Christchurch City Council, but has spent the majority of her career to date as a planning consultant working as lead planner on a wide variety of projects for public and private sector clients.

Areas of particular technical planning expertise include natural hazards and climate change, three waters, land development and ports. Currently Janice is planning lead for the Christchurch City Council’s submission on Environment Canterbury’s Plan Change 7 (addressing water quality and nutrient management) and RMA advisor to the Christchurch Cathedral Reinstatement Project as well as drafting and peer reviewing provisions on natural hazards and climate change for District Plan Reviews.

As a full member of the NZPI, Janice currently provides a planning policy writing workshop for NZPI’s Continuing Professional Development Programme, and is on the Interview Panel for NZPI Membership.

Janice joined B&A in September 2019.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Rebecca began her planning career at Auckland City Council in 2009 where she was selected for the Graduate Planning Programme. On completion of the programme, Rebecca joined the Auckland Council Planning & Policy Department. Her work has seen her provide specialist planning input on a variety of spatial and resource management planning projects across the Auckland Region, with a particular focus on the urban development and residential provisions of the Auckland Unitary Plan. More recently Rebecca has been utilising her knowledge of the Unitary Plan to work on a number of strategic projects focused on quality intensification. Rebecca has a Bachelor of Planning from the University of Auckland.

Fraser was initially involved with the Maungatautari Ecological Trust in the Waikato, in 2005 he pursued his environmental passion and completed a Bachelor of Social Science (REP) in Resources and Environmental Planning at Waikato University (2008).

He has since worked as a Planner through to Manager of the Planning Guidance Unit at Hamilton City Council over the past 12 years. During his time there Fraser worked through and managed a variety of Land Use and Subdivision consents. He has knowledge and experience in Development Contributions, Event Management, Building Consents and Local Government processes.

Fraser is a Full Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (MNZPI).

Gareth started his planning career in 2006 and has had experience in both the public and private sectors. Up until recently Gareth was employed by Waipa District Council as Consents Team Leader, meaning he was the gate keeper of all planning advice and the outcome of all resource consents lodged within the district. Given Gareth’s experience working at local authorities he has a vast knowledge base regarding the intricate nature of council processes which enable him to provide valuable advice to clients.

Gareth has a bachelor of Resource Studies from Lincoln university and is a full 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.

Melissa has 17 years of experience in resource management planning.  Melissa has worked for local authorities throughout the Northland Region, most recently as District Plan Manager at Whangarei District Council. During her time at Whangarei District Council, Melissa worked internationally with Pacific Aid undertaking policy work in Vanuatu.  Melissa previously worked in private consultancy undertaking consenting and policy work throughout New Zealand.  Melissa has a range of planning experience in consenting, policy development, consultation and public engagement.  Melissa has a Masters in Resource Management from Massey University and is a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Jack is an urban designer who is passionate about working collaboratively to create meaningful outcomes for people and places. Prior to joining B&A in 2021, Jack has previously worked at a large multi-disciplinary consultancy in Christchurch and Auckland. During this time has developed nationally recognised experience in urban regeneration, transport planning, stakeholder and community engagement and tactical urbanism, to note is his NZIA award for Planning and Urban Design 2020. Jack holds a Master of Urban Design from the University of Auckland and a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from Lincoln University.

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.

Clare joined Barkers and Associates in 2019 following 10 years’ experience working in Local Government as both a Resource Consents Planner and Policy Planner. This involved processing a wide range of subdivision and land use resource consents and being involved with the preparation and processing of both public and private plan changes with a range of complex planning issues.

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.

Kathryn has over 10 years’ experience in Planning and Resource Management in New Zealand. Following completion of a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning degree (Massey) in 2006, Kathryn took up a position with MWH (Dunedin) before moving to Burton Consultants (Auckland) in 2008. In November 2014 Kathryn Joined Barker and Associates as a Senior Planner in November 2014. Kathryn’s experience has been broad ranging from resource consent applications and submissions on plan changes and resource consent applications to preparation of Evidence and Presentation in Hearings. Kathryn is an Intermediate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Kathryn is currently on maternity leave and is returning to B&A late 2020.

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.

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.

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.

Alisa completed a Bachelor of Urban Planning degree with Honours at the University of Auckland in 2013, before spending 5 years in the Hamilton City Council consents team. During her time at HCC Alisa processed a wide range of residential and commercial applications. Alisa joined B&A in 2019 and is an Intermediate member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Following completion of a Bachelor of Planning (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland, Cassandra spent five years at multidisciplinary companies and working on policy and consenting projects. She has experience in residential, commercial, parks and infrastructure developments, processing resource consents and research projects. Cassandra is an Intermediate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Alice joins Barkers & Associates having spent five years working in the resource management space; two years with the Department of Conservation as a consents and concessions advisor and the following three years at Far North District Council. During her time at Council, Alice spent two years processing a wide range of subdivision and landuse consents, and a year as a Policy Planner where she contributed to a consolidated plan review and project led the mapping of Northlands Significant Natural Areas. Alice has a Bachelors of Environmental Management and Planning (honours) from Lincoln University (2014) and is an Intermediate member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Stacey joined B&A in 2018 after spending time working in local government and for a multidisciplinary consultancy. She has experience in preparing and processing resource consents and has worked on a number of policy projects. Stacey has a Postgraduate Diploma in Planning from Massey University and a Bachelor of Science from Victoria University, and is an Associate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Following completion of a Bachelor of Planning with Honours from the University of Auckland, Georgia spent two and a half years in Christchurch City Council’s resource consents team, before moving to the UK for her OE where she spent two years as a planning officer for the London Borough of Wandsworth. During her time in Local Government, Georgia has processed a variety of residential and commercial applications. Georgia returned to New Zealand in 2018 and worked for a multi-disciplinary consultancy in Christchurch, gaining experience in preparing resource consent applications for residential, rural and subdivision activities. Georgia joined B&A in 2019, and she is an Intermediate member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

In 2017 Fern completed her Bachelor of Urban Planning (hons) degree at the University of Auckland where she was awarded the Auckland Town Planning Association Prize in Planning for her honours dissertation. During her studies she joined B&A as a planning assistant before taking up a full time role in November 2017. Fern has worked on a variety of rural, residential and commercial projects and is a Graduate member of the NZPI.

In 2018 Rebecca completed her Bachelor of Environmental Planning degree at the University of Waikato. After graduating Rebecca spent 18 months at Matamata-Piako District Council as a Policy Planner for their Corporate Strategy and Governance team before moving to the South Island where she worked for Clutha District Council as a Planner for their Planning and Regulatory team before joining BA in February 2021. Rebecca has experience in processing both land-use and subdivision consents, climate change adaptation and consultation on private and public projects. Rebecca is also a Graduate member of NZPI.

Nick joined Barker & Associates in July 2016 whilst completing a Masters in Urban Planning (Prof) and Urban Design at the University of Auckland. Nick has worked on a variety of planning and urban design projects, including residential and commercial developments, and also large scale spatial plans and plan changes. Nick also has a Bachelor of Science (Geography) degree from the University of Otago.

Hannah interned at B&A in November 2018 and joined the team in December 2019 after completing a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning (Hons) at Massey University. Whilst studying, Hannah gained experience with a range of planning projects and was involved with preparing an environmental report for the PCE. Hannah is a Graduate Member of the NZPI.

Keely worked as a planning assistant in the Hamilton office in 2020 before joining the team in January 2021 after completing a Bachelor of Environmental Planning at Waikato University. Keely has gained experience in preparing and processing consents throughout the Waikato Region.

Sarah joined the B&A team in June 2017, and has over 20 years’ office manager/PA experience in professional services, mainly in London then here in New Zealand. Sarah has recently transitioned from the executive assistant role and is now practice manager across all our regional offices. She is responsible for developing an effective, efficient practice, managing our brand/marketing, HR/recruitment as well as being involved with team workplace culture and development.

Administrative Assistant

Mel started with the B&A team in February 2019 after moving to New Zealand from Perth, Australia. Mel has done some extensive travelling around the world where she spent time living and working in the UK and Canada working in similar roles.

Mel is executive assistant Gerard, Karl, Matt, and Nick, as well as supporting the rest of the B&A team.