Coastal

Mark is our Auckland-based Principal Ecologist. Mark has over 25 years of experience in resource management, planning, project and contract management, ecological research and operational delivery.

At PDP Mark leads our Auckland ecology team and provides ecological advice to a wide range of clients. Before joining PDP, Mark was a lecturer at Auckland and Massey Universities. He’s also been heavily involved with the Maruia Society and the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society. He’s a science advisor to the Wildlife Conservation Trust of New Zealand.

Mark loves the outdoors: tramping, cycling, running and kayaking. His passion lies in New Zealand’s ecological diversity and we are privileged to have him on our team.

Ramon is a Chartered Professional Engineer with 30 years of experience in civil engineering, primarily in the areas of river engineering/flood management and geotechnical engineering. That’s mainly been in Aotearoa but includes working in Australia, Indonesia and the UK. He is a member of Engineering New Zealand and the Rivers Group and is a member of the NZ Society on Large Dams (NZSOLD) management committee.

His experience encompasses both broader management approaches/ strategy development for river systems as well as the technical and practical/operational aspects. That encompasses modelling (physical scale and computational) and gravel/sediment transport to the design and construction of stopbanks, training structures, weirs/ drop structures and spillways. Ramon is also an experienced assessor of irrigation and detention dams.

Chris has experience across climate change science, strategy, policy, and implementation in local and central government, and the private sector. He has had an interest in climate change since the early 1990s and worked directly in the climate change field for the last 15 years. He has a PhD in climate science and has represented New Zealand at international climate change negotiations, disaster risk reduction and science panels (UN and IPCC).

Chris was involved in developing the model that is used to estimate inflows into New Zealand’s hydro-lakes and has developed other models and tools to support decision-making and provide insights into patterns and trends. He has strong networks and can support clients in all aspects of climate change across all sectors of the environment, covering both emissions and impacts. Taking innovative strategic approaches to respond to climate change is a particular strength of Chris’s.

Lisa is a strategic thinker practised in policy analysis, development, environmental planning and provision of advice, with a particular interest in the climate adaptation/planning/risk management interface. Lisa has led adaptation work at national and regional levels, including technical work, methodology and policy development as well as engagement with a range of stakeholders, including iwi/Māori, businesses, the local community and technical experts. She is well-connected within the Aotearoa climate adaptation space and is passionate about helping to increase adaptation skills and expertise across the private and public sectors. Lisa is PDP’s primary contact for climate adaptation work.

Shari (Ngāti Maru, Te Rarawa) is a coastal scientist with broad national and international experience in interdisciplinary projects focused on the coast. This includes coastal hazards such as flooding and sea level rise impacts, geomorphology and morphodynamics, estuarine processes and restoration, and more recently, blue carbon in restored coastal wetlands. A key focus of her work is bridging Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) with western science, to understand coastal dynamics and plan for climate change.

Shari also works as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Science at the University of Waikato, is Co-Chair of Women in Coastal Science & Engineering (WICGE), and is Associate Editor for Anthropocene Coasts.

Akuhata (Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa) is a climate change adaptation specialist with a background in coastal hazards, sea level rise, coastal geomorphology, adaptation and managed retreat.

A key focus of his work is bridging Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) with western science, to understand how iwi Māori can adapt and respond to climate change impacts.

Sam is an environmental scientist with a particular interest in adapting to uncertain but increasing risk to coastal communities. He has experience in the coastal and climate change adaptation and strategic planning sector. 

Sam’s Masters research involved an examination of the elements and execution of managed retreat within coastal communities.  He has a passion for exploring innovative and proactive strategies to effectively manage the risks to coastal communities associated with uncertain future conditions.