Our People

Originally born and bred in Taranaki, Kate has lived in Central Otago since 2006, when she and her husband relocated to manage the family dairy farm in Ettrick. It was during this time that the idea of Landpro was born, and in July 2007 Landpro opened for business. Kate graduated from Victoria University with a degree in Geography and Political Science, and since this time has predominantly worked in the private sector as a resource management planner.

Kate has a background in planning and project management in the extractive industries, including Mining and Oil and Gas, and in more recent years has been heavily involved with irrigation development and consenting, and consenting and consulting work for the dairy industry. Kate also leads a range of contracts with Land Information New Zealand, which involves undertaking a variety of work within the iconic New Zealand High Country. Kate is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Management (NZIM), and the Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand (RMLA), and is involved at a local level with a number of clubs and organisations. Outside of work you can usually find Kate spending time with her young family, milking the odd cow, or enjoying all the benefits of Central Otago food and wine, you may also occasionally find her behind the wheel of her husband’s 1981 Toyota Starlet Rally Car (affectionately known as the Orange Roughy).

Born and raised in Gore, Mike started out his surveying career with the Royal New Zealand Navy, training in the Hydrographic branch of the Navy. After numerous deployments around New Zealand and the South Pacific gaining experience in all aspects of Hydrographic Surveying, Mike left the navy to start a role in a survey consultancy firm back in the south.

He then moved into a mining role at one of New Zealand’s largest gold mines, before heading overseas to work on a variety of projects, including Oil and Gas, Railway, Roading and civil projects. At the start of 2008 Mike and his family returned to New Zealand choosing Cromwell as their final destination and commencing work for Landpro as a Senior Surveyor.

In April 2012 Mike became a director in the company and along with Kate and Kathryn strives to provide the level of service and detail of care for his clients that he would expect himself. With over 20 years in the survey industry you can rest assured that Mike and his team of surveyors will provide the right solution for your project.

Living in Central Otago, Mike and his family make the most of the recreational activities that the region has to offer and will often be found on a mountain bike or set of skis or simply relaxing down at the lake, that is when he’s not off fighting fires with the local fire brigade.

One of the founding Company Directors, Kathryn is the Company’s North island connection.

A Taranaki local, Kath graduated from Massey University with a degree in Natural Resource Management (Applied Science). She then did a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management at Central Queensland University and completed her Masters in Applied Science in 2012. After a short stint in monitoring and enforcement at Taranaki & Wellington Regional Councils, Kath has worked in the private sector as an environmental planner since 2001.

Kath’s background is in Natural Resource Management and leading projects. This includes large scale land development, minerals, petroleum and agriculture, with a strong a focus on driving public consultation, relationships and environmental management/compliance around these projects as they progress. Kath also has over 20 years experience with Health, Safety and Quality Management and is responsible for our QHSE System (ISO9001:2015).

Kath is a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI), a Certified Nutrient Management Adviser (CNMA) and is involved at a local level with the Taranaki Property Investors Association and on the Board of Taranaki Women’s Refuge. 

In her spare time, Kath will usually be outdoors with her family, either enjoying the lifestyle in Taranaki or spending time at her forestry block at Waitaanga.

Jason is our CEO based in our Cromwell Office. He brings his wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience within the private and public sectors at an executive management level to the team.

With over 26 years in the planning, spatial, environmental and engineering space, Jason is no stranger to the ever changing industry we work in. Prior to this role, Jason was the CEO of a local environmental and geotechnical business in Central Otago, Southland  and Canterbury, and prior to that the NZ Director of Operations (Environmental Spatial, Planning and Water Engineering)  for a large global consultancy.   

Jason is practical and people focused, and it is his passion for our industry that makes him a great fit for our business. 

In his spare time, Jason enjoys spending time with his family, farming, classic cars and anything outdoors from fishing, hunting, boating to gold mining and prospecting!

Being part of the rural sector has always been a part of Jason’s life in someway or another, from growing up in the farming community of Otautau to attending Lincoln University where he studied a Bachelor of Resource Studies with a postgraduate Diploma in Commerce. This combined with a vast career across multiple industries both domestically and internationally, makes Jason a great fit for our National Farm Environmental Manager role.

With over 20 years experience in senior management and business operations in a variety of industries from logistics, aviation contracting/consulting, forestry and horticultural, Jason has wealth of knowledge and understanding in areas business growth, building teams and systems to support expansion.   

Jason’s clients can expect an honest and detailed approach to their project needs, with a strong focus on providing positive and practical outcomes.

In his spare time, Jason can be found hunting and fishing in back country New Zealand.

Walt brings deep planning expertise, variety of commercial experience and an enthusiasm for NZ into his life with Landpro.

He has a Postgrad Diploma in Planning from Massey and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Otago University. He got into planning because he enjoys being part of interesting projects and finds it satisfying helping clients achieve their goals.

Walt grew up on a deer farm. He enjoyed a few years in the central North Island as a private consultant planner working on subdivisions, building consents and project management associated with geothermal energy exploration activities. Then a move south beckoned; Walt spent four years working for the Southland Regional Council as a resource planner with a particular focus on Energy, Infrastructure, Natural Hazards and River Management work. Then the commercial world grabbed him, for five years in logistics with a focus on contract management and business development.

Walt and his  family have moved to Central Otago, and love exploring our beautiful environment together.

We are excited to have Claire join the Landpro family as our Planning Team Leader.  Claire may have spent most of her career in the four streams of water – Storm water, drinking water, waste water and irrigation but is far from wet behind the ears!  Claire is a graduate of Otago University with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Management and has added to this with a post-grad certificate in Integrated Catchment Management from the University of British Columbia.  She spent 10 years with MWH (now Stantec) where she added to her exceptional skills with project management and leadership training.

What will our clients expect when they come to Claire with their jobs? “ Completed on time, on budget and with a solution that meets or exceeds their expectations” That’s the Landpro spirit!

Claire is an active committee member of the Upper Clutha Plunket, and secretary of the Pioneer Netball Club.  With her young family Claire enjoys being part of her community and we are happy to have Claire in our Landpro family.

Nathan is a Licensed Cadastral Surveyor and joined the company’s Cromwell office in 2012. He began his surveying career in 1995 working for a small firm specialising in engineering and industrial measurement survey. While working he studied part time towards the New Zealand Certificate in Land Surveying and graduated in 1998.

He then moved to a Land Surveying firm and gained a wealth of experience in Cadastral Surveying before heading to Dunedin to study towards his bachelor’s degree. Nathan graduated with a Bachelor of Surveying with First Class Honours in 2004. He stayed in Otago and proceeded to gain experience in highway design, land development engineering and construction. He has since passed his Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board requirements and admitted as a full member to the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. Nathan is now working towards becoming a Registered Professional Surveyor.

Nathan brings over 20 years of experience in a variety of survey disciplines to the company. He has worked on a number of large land development projects including stage 1 and 2 of the Millbrook Land to the west development and also held a leading role in geometrical design and construction of the Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell.

Nathan now calls Cromwell home after living in there for the past 10 years. He is an avid mountain biker, hockey player and motorsport enthusiast.

Ian joins the Landpro team as a Survey Manager based in our New Plymouth office. He brings with him a wealth of experience both in New Zealand and abroad. He started off his surveying profession in the far north and then moved to Dunedin where he graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Surveying.

Shortly after graduating, Ian ventured over to the big city lights of London where he worked on major projects like Canary Wharf and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, for the last 15 years Ian has been working for a North Island based surveying company. He also is part of Survey and Spatial New Zealand (formally known as the Institute of Surveyors) where he chairs the Taranaki Branch.

Ian’s clients can expect honest and reliable advice and matters dealt with in a timely manner.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and young family at the beach and enjoying the outdoors.

Wally joined the Landpro team in 2015 while settling in Pisa Moorings to raise his two boys with wife Tracey.

With over 15 years experience in the surveying industry working from offices in Taupo, Darwin and now Cromwell, Wally has gained in-depth knowledge in very small to very large scale subdivisions and construction, deformation monitoring, urban design, topographic and hydrographic surveys.  

Highlights while working at Landpro include the design and project management of Prospector’s Park, tenure reviews of Obelisk and Omarama Station, the numerous large scale subdivisions and easement plans around the district and Clutha River cross sections between Roxburgh and Balclutha.

In his spare time, Wally spreads himself thinly over boating, fishing, gold panning, mountain biking, community involvement, DIY and working on his Zephyr.

Debbie joined the Landpro team in May 2011 and has over twenty years administration experience in both the public and private sector. Debbie uses her considerable experience and skill to ensure everything runs smoothly and is often the first person people talk to.

Originally from Dunedin, Debbie moved to Cromwell in 2007 to bring her family up in this stunning area.

In her spare time, Debbie and her husband are kept busy with their two boys and their out of school activities.

Jon joins the team as a People and Capability Coordinator, based in our Cromwell Office. He brings his wealth of experience in the leadership, coaching, mentoring and people space to the team.

Prior to joining Landpro, Jon spent the last 15 years in the high performance sport world in New Zealand and Australia. It was on the modern battlefield of international sport that he found his passion for helping people become better versions of themselves and for supporting teams to work better together.

Prioritising people, partnerships and performance, Jon is focused on getting our staff to be the best they can be at what they do, so we can deliver world class outcomes for our clients.

In his spare time, Jon enjoys spending time with his young family, rock/ice climbing and getting stuck into a DIY landscaping and building projects!