After an eclectic professional property, business and economic development journey spanning over 40 years, I’m now directing my energy to researching third sector housing systems and policy interventions, how these contribute to improved housing outcomes — especially for people where conventional property ownership or market pricing is out of reach — and how they can be enabled to positively disrupt the housing ecosystem.
My corporate and independent consulting work has mainly been concerned with the front-end planning, concept development and financial analysis stages of capital asset, economic and business development initiatives in New Zealand and Australia. I’ve been entrusted with finding solutions to some vexing property issues and managing complex large-scale projects — often in dynamic contexts involving ambiguity and risk.
I’ve had the privilege of contributing as a team member to some impressive outcomes across a wide range of sectors including dairy processing plants, supermarkets, marinas, office and warehouse buildings, community-scale mixed-use developments, heritage restoration projects, rural-residential developments and infrastructure projects. I’m also a former registered property valuer, licensed agent and CEO of a specialist agri-sector and infrastructure valuation firm.
In the economic development sector I held the role of Executive Director of a state economic development agency mandated with providing ministerial advice in relation to major events (e.g. America’s Cup, Commonwealth Games, APEC). During my time there I worked alongside a highly experienced largely private sector board and my counterpart in the policy unit Scott Morrison (former Australia Prime Minister). I also have business development experience helping export-focused and not-for-profit enterprises in the ICT, bio-tech, agri-research, niche manufacturing and tourism sectors.
I’ve pursued a number of personal entrepreneurial initiatives across tourism, property, online-media and e-commerce sectors. These are what I’ve enjoyed the most. They have given me a hands-on appreciation of enterprise ideation, the hard work, highs and lows that go hand-in glove with converting a concept into a commercially viable reality and valuable lessons on when to dig my toes in, when to pivot and when to walk-away.
At a governance level I have contributed around the board table in the public sector (both central and local government), as Chair of a private network water utility, as Director and Trustee of my own business and holding entities over many years and in the not-for-profit sector with Rotary International.
I hold a Master of Business Administration Degree (First Class) from Massey University Business School and a Diploma in Valuation from University of Auckland School of Architecture. I have recently completed a thesis on ‘third sector’ housing policies and systems for a Master of Philosophy Degree at Auckland University of Technology School of Future Environments — as a pathway for potential further academic research. My focus is learning about exemplar third sector (not-for-profit) housing systems and related state policy interventions, how these contribute to improved housing outcomes — especially for people where conventional property ownership or market pricing is out of reach — and how they can be enabled here (or for that matter anywhere).