What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
Tonkin + Taylor Group is made up of four companies – Tonkin + Taylor New Zealand, Tonkin + Taylor Australia, Chadwick Geotechnics, and Geotechnics.
People are the driving force behind success, and our leadership team bring a diverse range of consultancy skills, experiences, and backgrounds to the table.
Their collective strength, vision, and stewardship empowers our team to create and sustain a better world.
An independent member of the Board, Vanessa brings a wealth of governance experience. She holds a BCom/LLB (Hons), a PGDip in Professional Ethics, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), and a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors (CFInstD).
Vanessa currently serves as a Director for Channel Infrastructure, Waste Management, and international forestry company OneFortyOne, in addition to sitting on several advisory and not-for-profit boards. Vanessa has also held governance roles with listed, private, public sector, and cooperative organisations in New Zealand and Australia, and has chaired numerous health, safety, and people committees.
Prior to her governance career, Vanessa held senior leadership positions, including Head of Engineering and Human Resources at Air New Zealand and Chief Executive of Carter Holt Harvey Packaging Australia.
A member of Global Women and a mentor for Kupe Scholarship candidates and Multiethnic Young Leaders, Vanessa is deeply committed to fostering inclusion. She is a Companion of Engineering New Zealand and an Honorary Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand.
With 20 years of experience at Tonkin + Taylor in a combination of consulting and management roles, Tim has previously served as Executive Leader for Engineering, Clients, and Australia, as well as Water Sector Leader.
Tim is also a Technical Director specialising in water engineering, with expertise in stormwater management, water quality, flooding, rivers, and sedimentation. He has worked extensively in these areas as a design lead and expert witness, delivering award-winning projects and outcomes for clients. As a trusted advisor, Tim has been involved in four Boards of Inquiry and numerous planning, Environment Court, and legal proceedings. He is most active in the water, transport, and land development sectors.
Tim is a Chartered Professional Engineer and a former President of Engineering New Zealand (2022/23). He served on the Engineering New Zealand Board from 2018 to 2024 and was previously a member of the ENZ Auckland Branch Committee for five years, including three as Chair.
In recognition of his leadership in the industry, technical excellence in water engineering, and contributions to the profession, Tim was made a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand.
With a strong focus on leading digital transformation and innovation, Pam’s career is defined by her commercial acumen, leadership expertise, and passion for reshaping organisations and guiding them towards a digital future. Her contributions through a series of influential roles have established her as a change-maker in the industries where she has worked.
Pam’s commitment to digital transformation is exemplified by her role as Chief of Strategy, Innovation, and Digital at World Vision Australia. Leading strategy and digital transformation for Australia’s largest international NGO, she played a pivotal role in reimagining the organisation’s future.
In the financial services sector, Pam served as General Manager Digital at ANZ Bank, one of Australia’s leading banks. She successfully navigated the dynamic digital landscape, driving innovation and enhancing customer experiences.
Pam currently works with Boards to improve their digital literacy and applies her expertise across various governance roles. She serves on the Board of Defence Bank Limited, Emergency Services and State Superannuation Trustees Board, and is Chair of the Board for InfinityStudio.AI Limited.
She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) from Queensland University of Technology.
This is further supported by his governance experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors in New Zealand and the USA, which includes serving on the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board from 2007 to 2018. Brett was reappointed to the board in 2021.
Brett has extensive experience in people leadership and building high performing teams, which reaches back to before he joined Tonkin + Taylor in 2002. Brett built Tonkin + Taylor's Ecology sub-discipline from scratch and led it until he took a role on the Executive Leadership Team in 2016, looking after the Environmental disciplines in New Zealand.
Brett has been the Executive Sponsor for the delivery of several of Tonkin + Taylor Group’s strategic programmes, including Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Vision to Vantagepoint, Technical Leadership, Graduate Programme, Sustainability Strategy, and our most recent Digital Strategy.
Bruce is a Chartered Professional Engineer, holding a BE (Hons) in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Victoria Business School.
Over the past decade, Bruce has played a pivotal role in the success of major Tonkin + Taylor projects. He has led design and consulting teams to deliver large, complex civil infrastructure projects, including the Aras Tunnel, Haywards Interchange, Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway, and the Mt Messenger Bypass in Taranaki.
With a wealth of experience, strong industry relationships, and a deep understanding of Tonkin + Taylor’s key markets, Bruce provides practical knowledge and strategic leadership. In his senior leadership roles, including Alliance Director of the Mt Messenger Alliance, he maintains close connections with senior leaders across New Zealand’s consulting and construction industries, government agencies, councils, and the renewable energy sector.
Renowned for his design leadership, innovative thinking, and ability to foster a focused and collaborative team environment, Mark leads major projects at Tonkin + Taylor. He is highly regarded for his commitment to ensuring teams deliver exceptional results with pride and precision.
Since joining Tonkin + Taylor in 2001, Mark has contributed to the delivery of some of New Zealand’s most significant infrastructure projects. His portfolio includes the Te Ara Tupua Alliance, the Downtown Infrastructure Development Programme, the Well-Connected Alliance (responsible for the Waterview Tunnel), and the LEAD Alliance (delivering the Auckland Housing Programme).
As one of New Zealand’s leading air quality specialists, Jenny is a trusted expert advisor to clients across the Waste, Industry, Energy, and Transport sectors. She is highly sought after as an expert witness and frequently engaged by Councils as a decision-maker for resource consent and plan change hearings.
Jenny is a Life Member of the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand and was awarded the Society’s Clean Air Medal in 2019 in recognition of her contributions to the air quality profession. A former President of the Society’s New Zealand Branch, she currently serves as Secretary on the Society’s Executive.
In addition to her technical expertise, Jenny has held several leadership roles at Tonkin + Taylor, including Air Quality Practice Lead and Discipline Director for Natural Resources. She is actively involved in mentoring and coaching, supporting the growth of Tonkin + Taylor’s technical and project delivery capabilities.
Jenny is deeply passionate about ensuring Tonkin + Taylor remains renowned for the exceptional calibre of its people and their unwavering commitment to delivering excellence and sustainable outcomes for clients and communities.
Passionate about complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure and public works projects, Manea possesses extensive expertise in disaster recovery, resilience, community engagement, and environmental reporting.
As Pou Arahi (Lead) of Planning, Engagement, and Partnerships at Tonkin + Taylor, Manea specialises in emergency communication, stakeholder engagement—particularly with indigenous communities—integrated resource management, regional and city planning, and policy development.
A trained Geographer with a focus on Environmental Management, Manea holds a BSc, PGDip, and MSc from the University of Auckland. Her research evaluated the impacts of waste management on small island economies.
Fluent in te Reo Māori and adept in cultural values, Manea incorporates this knowledge into all aspects of her work, engaging with mana whenua and providing technical oversight on cultural and community values.
Rhys has held senior roles as Chief Financial Officer and in similar capacities within the financial services sector, including positions at ASB and Fisher & Paykel Finance. His experience extends to infrastructure organisations such as Crown Fibre Holdings Ltd (now Crown Infrastructure Partners) and City Rail Link Ltd. He has significant governance experience in the not-for-profit and funds management sectors, having worked with large sporting organisations and employee superannuation funds managing assets exceeding NZD $50 million. In addition, he has expertise in government, regulator, and investor relations gained across various roles.
With a strong understanding of the financial sector and macroeconomy, Rhys brings valuable insights into sustainability and resilience, helping to position businesses for future success. He also provides an authentic Te Ao Māori perspective, embedding this worldview into organisational thinking to foster meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
A seasoned leader with nearly two decades of governance experience, Jim is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors. His expertise and forward-thinking leadership are instrumental in steering Tonkin + Taylor towards a future of growth and innovation.
Of Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, and English descent, Jim is passionate about leveraging his leadership experience and commercial acumen to make a meaningful contribution to the success of communities.
Between 2002 and 2018, Jim served as Chief Executive Officer for three organisations, leading highly successful transformation and performance improvement strategies.
With 25 years of business leadership experience, Jim is a qualified accountant who led two of the most prominent Māori organisations over a 14-year period – Māori Television and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Business Trust from 2002 to 2005.
In addition to his governance and leadership roles, Jim has held a variety of private sector positions, including General Manager of a marine engineering business and Financial Controller for a local subsidiary of a Swiss multinational.
Complementing his commercial background, Jim is a former officer in the New Zealand Army, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour in recognition of his distinguished achievements in officer training.
Having been with Tonkin + Taylor for 20 years, working in blended consulting and management capacities, Tim has previously been Executive Leader for Engineering, Clients, and Australia, and was formerly Water Sector Leader.
Tim is also a Water Engineering Technical Director, specialising in stormwater engineering, water quality, flooding, rivers, and sedimentation. He has worked extensively in these areas as a design lead and expert witness to deliver award winning projects and outcomes for clients. As an expert advisor to his clients, Tim has been involved in four Boards of Inquiries, and many planning, environment court and legal proceedings. He is most active in the water, transport, and land development sectors.
Tim is a Chartered Professional Engineer and former President of Engineering New Zealand (2022/23). He has been on the Board from 2018-2024. Prior to this Tim was on the ENZ Auckland Branch Committee for five years, including three years as Chair.
In recognition of his industry leadership and technical excellence in water engineering, as well as his services to the profession, Tim was made a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand.
As T+T New Zealand Chief Executive, her role is to provide leadership, direction, and management oversight of TTNZ’s business strategy, performance, and delivery.
Penny joined T+T in 2006 after 10 years’ research and consulting in the United States. She has previously been T+T’s Discipline Director Natural Resources, Technical Leadership Team chair and Client Manager.
This is further supported by his governance experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors in New Zealand and the USA, which includes serving on the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board from 2007 to 2018. Brett was reappointed to the board in 2021.
Brett has extensive experience in people leadership and building high performing teams, which reaches back to before he joined Tonkin + Taylor in 2002. Brett built Tonkin + Taylor's Ecology sub-discipline from scratch and led it until he took a role on the Executive Leadership Team in 2016, looking after the Environmental disciplines in New Zealand.
Brett has been the Executive Sponsor for the delivery of several of Tonkin + Taylor Group’s strategic programmes, including Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Vision to Vantagepoint, Technical Leadership, Graduate Programme, Sustainability Strategy, and our most recent Digital Strategy.
Tim’s focus has been on the specialist side of investigation and testing. With an emphasis on client service and relationships, Tim has developed a reputation in the industry for providing quality services on high-risk projects and creating significant and long-lasting relationships.
Kavita brings a wealth of governance experience to her role at Tonkin + Taylor, having served as a Board member and as an advisor to boards on People, Culture and HSW governance matters. She brings a focus on building positive relationships in the workplace through a restorative practice. She believes that a positive and healthy work environment is critical to people’s well-being and performance and is committed to creating a culture of collaboration and support.
Kavita's leadership empowers her teams to achieve multiple key objectives – from ease of doing business, commercial goals, strategy, and risk management. Kavita’s passion for simplified management processes, allows teams to focus on practicality, workplace experience, and managing risk.
Furthermore, Kavita cares about equitable compensation for employees and is an advocate for appropriate investment in skill development. Kavita frequently brings ‘outside-in’ thinking into the company – backed by global research. Importantly, she plays a crucial role in helping Tonkin + Taylor Group navigate intricate people and culture-related risks, utilising her executive position and participation in the Ethics Committee.
Kavita is the National President of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRNZ). She is also the Vice President for Oceania for Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management (APFHRM) an international network of human resources and people management associations' representative of countries in the Asia Pacific region: branch of the World Federation of People Management Associations.
Paul is the Chief Executive of Geotechnics, with extensive experience in site investigations, specialist instrumentation and field and laboratory testing. He is responsible for the Geotechnics group of companies including testing and sales operations along with the Measurement & Calibration Centre.
Paul is a Project Director for a variety of projects in New Zealand and the Pacific region and holds IANZ KTP (Key Technical Personnel) status for our field and laboratory testing.
Paul is currently the Secretary for the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Technical Committee – Field Monitoring in Geomechanics (ISSMGE – TC220) and is a former board member for the Association of Consulting Engineers NZ (ACE NZ).
An accomplished civil/environmental engineer with over 30 years’ experience working on large infrastructure projects across New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific, Asia, and the United Kingdom, Simonne’s decorated career has seen her earn recognition as a Chartered Engineer, a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager, and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Engineering New Zealand.
During her tenure with Tonkin + Taylor, Simonne has held various client delivery, management, business development, and strategy roles within Tonkin + Taylor New Zealand, Tonkin + Taylor New Australia, and Tonkin + Taylor Group.
Simonne's governance experience extends to the private and public sectors, not-for-profit organisations, and education. She also has extensive regulatory experience and has provided advice to central and local governments.
In addition to her client-focussed role, Simonne is also the Response Director for the Tonkin + Taylor Group, responsible for implementing the company's Business Continuity Plan in the event of natural or people-induced threats.
A key presence on many Boards across various businesses before joining Tonkin + Taylor, Gary was a member of the Group Board since its commencement in 2003 until retiring from the Board in 2023.
Gary has been a significant contributor to the development of Tonkin + Taylor’s employee share scheme and the overall growth of Tonkin + Taylor.
With astute negotiation skills, Wayne has experience identifying savings in technology costs through strategic partnerships and innovation, most recently delivering a programme of digital transformation projects in his previous role as CIO for an indigenous organisation.
Wayne has a passion for people development, and the recruitment and retainment of top talent, and is a collaborative leader and business partner.
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