June Workshop Critics

Helen Mellsop BLA, BHB, Dip. Hort, Registered NZILA Landscape Architect

Helen has over fourteen years’ experience as a Landscape Architect and prior experience as a technical journalist and landscape contractor. She holds a degree in landscape architecture from Unitec Institute of Technology and has been an associate member of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects since 2004 and a registered member since 2010.

Helen is a generalist landscape architect but has particular skills in landscape planning, public open space design, environmental design, streetscape design, client liaison, and public consultation. She has excellent written communication abilities, is well organised and efficient, and has a creative approach to design problem-solving. Some of her personal strengths include an ability to work well with others, a high level of integrity, and a positive attitude.

Project work has included design and project management for parks and reserves, town centres, residential and commercial developments, stormwater facilities, ecological restoration projects, rural subdivisions, educational facilities and residential gardens. Landscape and visual assessment work is one of Helen’s specialist areas, and she has considerable experience as an expert landscape witness in Council hearings and the Environment Court. Please refer to www.helenmellsop.co.nz for details of selected projects.

Michael Hawes Landscape Architect, Associate Partner Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Hons), Kingston University, UK Postgraduate Diploma, Kingston University, UK UK Landscape Institute NZ Institute of Landscape Architects Urban Design Group

Michael has been in practice as a landscape architect since 1997. Prior to joining Boffa Miskell, he practiced for seven years with Lovejoy London during which time he was made a Director leading a landscape and urban design portfolio both in the UK and internationally.

Through his wide range of experience in landscape architecture, master planning and urban design he has developed his strengths include developing a good understanding of client needs and requirements with creative conceptual design and technical expertise to deliver memorable places for people to enjoy.

Currently he is the Auckland Design Studio’s design leader, providing design review and input across a range of projects as well as leadership and strategic direction.

Michael has tutored in urban design to students at Victoria University, has served as the NZILA Wellington Branch Chairperson and currently represents the NZILA Auckland Branch on Auckland Council’s Urban Design Panel Governance Board.

Sara Zwart Senior Associate Landscape Architecture, Auckland Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) Affiliate, New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects

Sara has over 13 years of experience in architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. Since graduating with an honours degree in architecture, she has worked on a wide range of projects across these disciplines in Wanaka, Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland.
Sara is currently Studio Manager of the landscape team at the multidisciplinary design firm Jasmax.  Sara has been the design lead on a range of landscape architectural projects, and in recent years has focused largely on design in the areas of transport infrastructure and campuses.
Sara has an ongoing passion for sustainable urban and landscape design and is actively involved in promoting this through her project work and internal advocacy role within Jasmax. She believes that effective integrated design thinking is instrumental to the success of sustainable design outcomes, and sees landscape architects as playing a key role in this design process..

Garth Falconer

Garth graduated in landscape architecture from Lincoln University,  completed a Masters in urban design from Oxford Brookes (UK) and is fellow of the NZILA.  He is founder and director of Reset Urban Design, a specialised design practise focused on taking strategic projects into a realised form. Previously Garth was a founder and director of Isthmus Group from 1988 to 2008. Garth is foremost a designer and has over 24 years’ experience leading design teams on large scale urban projects around New Zealand,   Garth has been at the forefront of the development of urban public realm projects such as waterfronts, river edges, parks, streets, plazas and  central city environments. He believes landscape architecture has a critical responsibility in improving the quality and sustainability of life for our people and the wider ecology.

Garth has received national and international recognition.  He has won numerous  national design awards and lectures at the landscape architecture schools at Lincoln, Victoria and Unitec . Garth has presented at conferences and universities in Australia, USA,UK, Greece and Italy.

Omar Barragan

As an urban designer/urban planner with more than 15 years experience, Omar is driving the design review service for Auckland council. His experience both in New Zealand and internationally, give Omar a strong background in Urban regeneration and design, Regional Planning , Policy making and implementation and design review.

Omar have been leading the design review process at Auckland Council since 2011, managing the portfolio from policy to implementation. The service includes major infrastructure projects, public realm and private developments. Auckland is proud of successful urban transformation where design quality is at the top of the agenda. Omar has also leaded other large regenerations projects in the UK, Spain and South America. His energy is focused on achieving quality urban environments that are inclusive and liveable.

 Martin Udale Expert Adviser (BSc. (Hons), UK)

Martin has more than 30 years experience in commercial and residential property development and investment in UK, Australia and New Zealand. Before moving to New Zealand in 2003, Martin spent 22 years working in the Australian property markets holdings senior roles in a number of organisations.

Martin is a property professional with a difference. His interests lie in business, providing strategic advice to a wide range of public and private sector clients and the creation of enduring places based on strong design principles and an innate understanding of commercial reality as to what is possible.

From 2003 - 2009 Martin led McConnell Property as a general manager and then CEO. In that period he established McConnell Property as a highly regarded business and market leader in New Zealand. As a result of his leadership and personal stance on business making a difference, McConnell Property became a respected leader in the industry playing a significant role in New Zealand's urban design and development agenda.

Martin has developed a strong understanding and appreciation for the future of business, cities and their communities. He understands and is motivated to ensure that our businesses cities and institutional environments are developed as valuable and enduring places that deliver benefits to all those that work and live in them.

His interests now lie in the areas of business and how property works for it; urban strategy and city development; urban regeneration and major projects; developing successful partnership models for public and private sector participation; and, institutional transformation.

Martin holds a number of board and governance roles and is a current or past member of The Auckland Mayoral Taskforce on Urban Design; Tamaki Transformation Programme, Committee for Auckland; Property Council of New Zealand Urban Issues and Infrastructure Committee; Auckland City Urban Design Panel; New Zealand Government Taskforce on Urban Intensification; Sustainable Urban Development Unit working group; and NSW Urban taskforce.

Duncan Ecob

Duncan is the Auckland Studio Director for Isthmus, an interdisciplinary practice of landscape architects, urban designers and architects.  Duncan has over 20 years experience in delivering change in the built environment.  He has significant experience in masterplanning of residential projects and education, health and research campuses
He is passionate that quality masterplans can deliver change and value to development which are attractive to people that wish to work , live and relax in.   He has a focus on urban design as a collaborative process that can deliver high quality places that encourage investment  both economically and emotionally.  His skills include encouraging, developing and managing diverse teams of people that can share their experience  to create quality places, whether they are professionals, clients or stakeholders.
Duncan joined Isthmus in 2013.  He has been design lead for a series of Estate Strategic Frameworks for New Zealand Defence Force and prepared a number of residential masterplans for private clients. His previous experience includes some of the leading UK Planning, architecture and landscape architecture practices with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors.

Rod Oram

Rod Oram is a New Zealand journalist writing on corporate, economic and political issues. He is a columnist for The Sunday Star-Times, a regular broadcaster on radio and television and a frequent public speaker. He is an adjunct professor in the business school at Unitec in Auckland and he has contributed to several regional economic development projects.

Rod spent 20 years as an international financial journalist in Europe and North America, and travelled extensively in those continents and in Asia. From 1975–1979 Rod held various journalist positions in Canada and from 1979–1997 he held a variety of posts at the Financial Times, London and New York.

In 1997 he and his family emigrated to New Zealand, where he was editor of the Business Herald section of The New Zealand Herald from 1997–2000. Oram was a triple award-winner at the 2004 Qantas Media Awards; as business columnist of the year, business feature writer of the year and winner of the NZTE travel scholarship for his writing on innovation in New Zealand.

in the 2006 Westpac Business & Financial Journalism Awards Oram won the Reporting on Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability or Community Engagement category.

Penguin published Oram’s book about the New Zealand economy, Reinventing Paradise, in August 2007.

Kathleen Kinny Editor: Landscape Architecture NZ; Contributing Editor: Urbis Magazine, Interior Magazine AGM Publishing Limited

International Publications Editor Trends Media Group International Auckland, New Zealand. Editor of the United States, Southeast Asia/Gulf, China and India editions of the Trends series of home and shelter publications. Titles include Home & Architectural Trends, Home Renovation Trends, Kitchen Trends, Bathroom Trends; Gulf Design Trends, China Home Trends, India Home Trends and Southeast Asia Home & Apartment Trends. General Manager, Caravan Express Publications Tribune Media Corporation, Los Angeles, California. General manager and editor of 5 weekly real estate publications in the greater Los Angeles area. Founder/COO Real Estate Lifestyle Los Angeles, California