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 lives on a lifestyle block on the slopes of Mt Taranaki with her husband & two boys and leads our projects in the North Island from our New Plymouth office.

Kath graduated from Massey University with a degree in Natural Resource Management (Applied Science). Since then Kath has completed a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management at Central Queensland University (Gladstone) and completed her Masters in Applied Science in 2012. After a short stint in Regional Council monitoring and enforcement in Taranaki & Wellington, 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 15 years experience with Health, Safety and Quality Management and is responsible for Landpro’s QHSE System (ISO9001:2015 and ACC WSMP Tertiary).

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

Outside of work you can usually find Kathryn spending time outdoors with her family - often planting trees on their forestry blocks in New Plymouth & Ohura. You may also find her at the office in Cromwell, and with a Dutch husband, she regularly visits the Netherlands to touch base with 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.

Debbie Roberts joined Landpro 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.

Away from work Debbie and her husband are kept busy with their two boys and their out of school activities.

Sara first joined Landpro in 2008 as a survey technician and rejoined the team in late 2013 after taking some time out to have her family. Sara is responsible for the plan drafting in the office, preparing plans for a range of clients, and also helps out in the field when required. Outside of work Sara enjoys spending time with her two children, outdoor activities and sports.

Jason was born in Clyde and raised in Cromwell. Jason attended St Kevins College in Oamaru before completing a bachelor of science majoring in zoology and ecology at Massey University. Jason has returned home to Cromwell to fill a survey technician position with Landpro and is excited for the future with the company.

Richard is a born and bred Southlander, growing up in Drummond and educated at Southland Boys’ High School. Now living in Bannockburn, Richard enjoys the lifestyle Central Otago has to offer.

In 2012, Richard completed University, gaining a Bachelor of Surveying with first class honours. Following work experience with the team as a student, Richard joined Landpro in a graduate role, attaining full membership of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, and Licensing as a Cadastral Surveyor in 2016. In addition to the traditional role of a surveyor, Richard was extensively involved with the initial development of aerial survey and mapping services at Landpro.

The outdoors aspect of a surveying role and the precise nature of the profession appealed to Richard, and he fits the mould of the company very well. During his time at Landpro, Richard has provided a broad range of services - assisting the rural sector being a particularly satisfying aspect of the job.

In his spare time, Richard likes to immerse himself in the great outdoors of Otago/Southland. This means you will likely find him running, mountain biking, hunting, skiing, boating, water-skiing, kayaking or fishing. Or seeing the countryside at a less sedate pace in a rally car as a driver or co-driver.

Geoff joined Landpro in November 2014, after completing four years studying surveying at The University of Otago. 

In the holiday breaks between studies, Geoff worked in the Frasers underground gold mine at Macraes Flat in order to gain practical surveying experience. 

Prior to attending university, Geoff spent 13 years working for the Department of Conservation at Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast and at Takaka in Golden Bay.  The majority of this work was walking track, structure and hut maintenance, along with construction of new tracks.  The balance of his time with the department was spent working on the Okarito Brown Kiwi Recovery Program and in the department's electronics lab in Wellington.

Geoff and his fiancée Sarah now live in Cromwell and are looking forward to exploring the outdoors around the region with their new son Oliver.

Wally is a born and bred Stags fan having grown up in Otautau and attending Central Southland College before moving north to Dunedin and graduating from Otago University with a Bachelor of Surveying in 2006.

Post-graduation, Wally spent six years working Taupo and two years in Darwin, Australia gaining experience in a wide range of surveying from small and large subdivisions.  Taupo focused on hydrographic surveys, construction set-out, Geothermal Power Stations and associated steam fields, deformation monitoring and earthworks.  In Darwin Wally worked on four various projects associated with the Ichthys Gas project. Wally has been a Licensed Cadastral Surveyor since 2012.

Wally joined the Landpro team in January 2015, looking forward to a rural focus on surveying, while maintaining the broad range of skills developed over the prior eight years. Being in Central Otago means being central to family in Southland, Dunedin and Fairlie - crucial ingredients in raising three boys with wife Tracey.

It can be quite hard to spot Wally after hours, as he spreads himself thinly over boating, gold panning, golfing, mountain biking, community involvement, and working on his Zephyr and property at Pisa Moorings.

Zoe graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Environmental Management in 2012.

On completion of her degree she commenced her 'OE', mostly travelling and living abroad in South America, then diving much of the South Pacific.  She returned home three years later and is now in her third year planning at Landpro.

Passionate about hiking, Zoe tries to get out into the hills as often as she can, and enjoys hanging out with friends and family, yoga and playing netball.

Born and bred in the North Island, Kristena made the move down south 10 years ago, with the past 3 years in Cromwell.  Having over 11 years' experience with other professional services, Kristena's focus on customer care brings a fresh and modern approach to the administration of our business. 

With her bubbly personality and friendly nature, she ensures that everyone feels welcome and strives to keep our systems up to date and efficient, assisting the team in keeping the operation of the business smooth and easy.

Kristena welcomed her daughter in January 2018 and returned from maternity leave August 2018. She loves to get out in the outdoors and enjoys spending time with her family. 

Zen's broad experience in regional, district and auditing work for councils and large corporates come to Landpro with her outstanding academic achievements. Zen has a Bachelors and Masters in Chemical Engineering, a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Science and a second Masters in Resource and Environmental Planning! She is also a member of New Zealand Planning Institute, Engineering New Zealand and Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand, and has recently completed Intermediate Sustainable Nutrient Management Certificate and Farm Dairy Effluent: System Design and Management Certificate.

In her Philippine homeland, Zen had the opportunity to work with international experts in the energy sector particularly preparing the Environmental Impact Assessments (Assessment of Environmental Effects in New Zealand) and due diligence reports of hydroelectric plants. In New Zealand, she has worked for the largest bottler of ready to drink beverages in the Asia Pacific Region – Coca-Cola Amatil and was involved in the transition of Auckland Council to Unitary Plan.

In her variety of roles, Zen discovered she really enjoyed working with people - her people and project management skills certainly stand out when you engage her.

Born and raised in Christchurch, Chelsea made the move to the Central Otago region a year ago. Prior to joining Landpro, Chelsea was working for a local government body in their building team. Chelsea brings over 6 years of administration, events and marketing experience to the role.

In her spare time she enjoys mountain biking with her partner and walking their dog Duke.

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.

With his passion for spatial science, 15 years in sales for Leica and endless enthusiasm for crunching data, Andy is a key member of Landpro's aerial systems team.  He's here to make sure that our aerial clients get technical solutions of a high level and quality deliverables - while enjoying a great relationship with our clients.

Andy gained his Associate Degree in Spatial Science from the University of Southern Queensland.  He's been trained for many years by global manufacturers to use their instrumentation in the best ways possible to deliver solutions for clients.  His big projects have included monitoring the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop, the Brisbane Gateway and major runway works in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Christchurch.  He's a member of the NZ Institute of Surveyors too, to make sure he keeps current.  Andy will tell you himself - he just loves the technology in high level remote sensing!

All this experience is now back in NZ, and Landpro are delighted to have Andy in our team.  He lives in Canterbury with wife Kirsten and daughter Ayla.

An expert with over 30 years experience in integrating science and resource management, and enthusiast for all things outdoors, Mike joined Landpro in January 2017.  He brings with him a passion for planning, a BSc, a PhD, an MBA and an Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management Certificate.  He has worked on a huge range of projects including water quality management in the Waitaki, the use of Overseer in resource management and local authority process audits. 

Mike has specific expertise and interest in effluent discharge permits, water permits, and land use consents for farming activities. He has also undertaken contaminated land investigations.  Mike always aims to ensure that resource management decisions are informed by quality information.  He delivers quality solutions that match or exceed clients' expectations.

Mike can be found tramping, running, paddling, cross-country ski-ing and cycling - even on his commute from Wanaka to Cromwell.

Tim grew up on a walnut orchard in Central Otago. After 15 years away from the district in Dunedin, Auckland and Kolkata, India, he returned to join Landpro in 2018.

Tim’s academic background is in environmental chemistry (with a side of history), and he’s since completed an Intermediate Sustainable Nutrient Management Certificate and become a Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP). His professional interests include the investigation and management of contaminated sites, water quality, landfill gas, nutrient management and environmental due diligence, as well as data science and geospatial analysis/GIS. He is a licensed asbestos assessor and presented a paper on asbestos-in-soil risk assessment at the 2018 ALGA Contaminated Land Conference.

Aside from all that, Tim loves cycling, reading, spending time with his wife and daughters, and watching and performing stand-up comedy.

Hailing from Western Southland, Amy was born and bred on a sheep and beef farm near Riverton. She started at Landpro in December 2017 as our Executive Assistant.  Prior to working at Landpro, Amy was an agribusiness analyst for two senior managers in rural banking in Southland.

She and her young family moved up to Central Otago for a change of farming scene and Amy now also assists in managing a bull beef farm in Tarras with her husband.  She enjoys getting outdoors, running around with the kids and also baking up a storm in the kitchen.

Tanya is originally from a small town on the outskirts of Tauranga and has steadily migrated south after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Physical Geography.  Tanya then worked in both regional and district councils as well as private consulting until by complete accident, she met her husband while visiting a Southland dairy farm.

The happily ever after involves the last five years running two dairy farms and a drystock block together near Tuatapere in Western Southland.  As a result Tanya tends to specialise in consenting dairy farm conversions and renewals and has recently completed the advanced Overseer Nutrient Budgeting course through Massey University. 

With a young family in tow, a lifestyle change to big smoke of Cromwell means we were lucky enough to snap Tanya up!

When not at work, Tanya and family are avid mountain bikers and trail runners.

Chrissy was raised on a lifestyle farm and vineyard in Marlborough, which instilled in her a close connection to the environment. She has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Geography from the University of Otago and is currently studying towards her PhD, focused on understanding water quality issues, primarily sediment, in Otago and Southland.  While finishing her PhD, Chrissy works part time as a Landpro Environmental Scientist, but her main focus is Hydrology.

Chrissy is passionate about water and understanding how we as humans interact with water in all sorts of environments. Her primary interests are in surface water quality and understanding the connection between land and water. She is interested in all sorts of water management related projects with a special interest in catchment management and working with local communities. When dealing with clients she has an open mind and passion to obtain the best results possible for their project and the environment. 

Chrissy is a very bubbly and caring person who is dedicated to her work and research. When she is not busy studying and working, she enjoys being outdoors, going for walks exploring new places and getting out on the water for a fish in the Kenepuru Sound when  back home in Marlborough.

Cees is our part-time ecologist who came across to Landpro, when his former practice Oecologico Ltd. was merged with Landpro in late 2017.  Oecologico served several sectors, including, energy, property development, infrastructure, and conservation.  Cees has developed a broad appreciation of various kinds of clients ecological needs, whether carrying out ecological impact assessments in a variety of habitat types and regions, to providing advice on mitigation work.
 
The University of Otago is Cees’s alumni, where he completed a BSc in Ecology, followed by a Post Graduate Diploma in Wildlife Management.  Cees works on a number of personal endeavours, including property development, forestry, and school governance.
 
Cees has been a volunteer rural fire fighter since 2015, and has been actively involved in the preservation kiwi in the Taranaki area for over a decade.

Spencer originates from Johannesburg, South Africa and travelled to New Zealand January 2019 to join Landpro as our Remote Sensing Specialist.

With over 5 years’ experience in the Aerial Survey industry, and a BSc Hons in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of Johannesburg, we are excited to have Spencer bring his vast knowledge and experience to our team. When dealing with clients, you will find he has a friendly and honest approach and gets satisfaction in knowing every client gets their data delivered on time and to their specifications.

Being his first time to New Zealand, Spencer and his wife Sacha have settled in well, enjoying the surrounds of Central Otago and all that the outdoors have to offer.  Spencer is always keen to give anything a go and when he’s not playing down at the squash courts, he enjoys spending time fishing, cycling and playing golf.

We are excited to have Claire join the Landpro family as a Senior Planner.  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 Batchelor 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.

Raised in rural Canterbury in the days when kids roamed free over the landscape , Louise gained a BSc (BioChem.) and MSc ( Resource Management) from Canterbury University. With ten years experience in resource management in central and local government, and the private sector, Louise then took time out to raise a family and pursue other interests.

Louise is excited be back in  her core career as a Resource Management Planner with Landpro's New Plymouth Office.  Outside work, Louise enjoys skiing, reading  ,tramping and Tai Chi Chuan.

With 6+ years of experience under his belt, Will joins the Landpro team as a planner who has specialised in environmental science and engineering.  Otago University is his alma matter where he graduated with honours in Environmental Management.  Over the past 9 years, Will has gained diverse client experience in a broad range of industries including dairy, manufacturing, civil construction and environmental engineering.

While born in Southland and raised in Queenstown, Will has spent several years working in London and Canada.  Will is an associate member of the international Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment and is also a member of ECO Canada.

Will is big on the environment and conservation, which naturally reflects his talents as an environmental manager and planner.  When not saving the world or spending time with his young family, Will is an avid writer for Marks Daily Apple and is a competitive archer.

Lauren hails from Northern New Mexico, United States and started at Landpro in November 2018. She works with our aerial team as navigator in the plane capturing data and GIS mapping and is currently in New Zealand on a work visa living in Wanaka. 

Growing up in Northern New Mexico, Lauren spent a lot of time outdoors, skiing, hiking, camping and river rafting which has fostered a love for the outdoors and the environment. Spending time on the river and travelling through vast canyon networks sparked an interest in geology which lead her to study at university.  Lauren studied at the University of New Mexico and has a Bachelor of Science in Earth & Planetary Sciences and Geography.  Work experience has exposed her to GIS and she has previously worked as a GIS Analyst and Data Manager with a team of scientists studying the effects of climate change on high latitude environments. 

Back home in the US, Lauren is a member of the American Geophysical Union and was a member of the volunteer ski patrol at her local ski area, Pajarito Mountain. Along with her love for the outdoors, Lauren loves to travel, a good book and going to the movies.

Hannah brings with her 5+ years’ experience in the survey and land development industry and joins Landpro as a Licensed Cadastral Surveyor.  Raised in Tauranga, school work experience sparked her interest in the industry and she went on to complete a Bachelor of Surveying at the University of Otago.

After spending the past few years working in Hamilton, Hannah and her partner, Gareth, have relocated to Central Otago. You will find her approachable, honest and someone who will listen and keep you informed on your project. 

In her spare time Hannah loves to enjoy the outdoors – you name it she does everything from canyoning, mountain biking and caving to wakeboarding, hiking and kayaking.

Nick is a Hydrologist here at Landpro and brings with him extensive knowledge with nearly 20 years’ experience in Hydrology and Environmental Monitoring. He studied Physical Geography at Victoria University of Wellington gaining a MSc (Hons) and has primarily worked in field based roles collecting high quality data and undertaking analysis for scientific projects.  For the last 14 years this has been at Greater Wellington Regional Council, 6 years of which was leading the Hydrology Team, and prior to that at Victoria Uni Earth Science School.

He is an expert with an open mind who is keen to listen and understand client needs properly before proceeding with work.  He also has the ability to think outside of the square and consider innovative approaches to problems.  Collection of good quality data which enables robust analysis that is fit for the intended purpose is one of his key work values.

Nick relocated to Queenstown from Wellington with his family in April 2019.  Outside of work he likes to spend time with his wife Emily and their two young children and soaking up the outdoors, either on his mountain bike, running or hitting the slopes in the winter.

Greg recently relocated to New Zealand in February 2019 and has come on board at Landpro as our Aerial Operations Manager.  His background is in aviation and aerial survey, having over 16 years’ experience within his family aerial survey business in South Africa.  He holds a commercial pilots license and has undertaken aerial and ground surveys for agriculture, mining, transport, energy, and environmental sectors.  Having grown up in the industry, he is very passionate about his job and thrives on providing the absolute best for clients when working on their projects.

In his spare time, Greg loves anything that involves the outdoors, particularly flying, mountaineering and photography.

Matilda joins the Landpro team as a Graduate Planner, after graduating from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Science Majoring in Earth Science she went on to study at the University of Tasmania graduating with a Masters in Marine and Antarctic Science. Her rich academic understanding of the earth and natural environment provides her with a great grounding in the planning profession.

Matilda’s clients will receive an enthusiastic and professional response to their project.

In her spare time she enjoys getting outdoors whether it be snowboarding, surfing or hiking!

Matt joins the Landpro team as a Senior Planner, with a variety of experience in New Zealand and abroad both in the private and public sectors. Matt started off his planning profession at the University of Otago where he graduated with a Masters in Planning and a Bachelor of Science Majoring in Geography. Since finishing his qualifications, he has joined the New Zealand Planning Institute as an intermediate member.

His clients can expect effective communication and a quality product delivered in a timely manner. He has a passion for the natural environment and the development of the land making planning the perfect profession for him.

Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and son, mountain biking and trail running around the beautiful Central Otago.

Originally from a sheep and beef farm in beautiful North Canterbury, it was there that Brodie discovered his interest in the land and sustainable management, making planning a fitting career for him.

Brodie started off his planning profession at the University of Canterbury, where he graduated with a Masters in International Law and Politics focusing on water and land management, followed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Planning from Massey University while working fulltime. He joined the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment specialising in telecommunications and housing policy, working with Ministers of Parliament, district and regional councils, and the wider public.

Brodie then headed overseas to Canada to travel and work, settling in the subarctic city of Yellowknife. Most recently Brodie worked for the Wek'èezhı̀i Land and Water Board, assessing and approving resource consents for land and water use, while engaging with private companies, indigenous organisations and local government.  

Brodie’s clients can expect to be rewarded by his results-driven approach, along with his strategic and practical solutions to any problem that may arise.

Having newly returned to New Zealand, outside of work Brodie enjoys spending time with his partner Kelsey rediscovering Central Otago and the wider South Island, as well as getting involved with cricket, golf and fishing.  

Originally from Gore, Kayla moved to the region one year ago. Prior to joining Landpro, Kayla spent four years based in Fiordland working in Payroll, HR, Accounts and Administration for a large tourism operator. Kayla brings her experience within those areas to the role, along with her National Certificate of Business Administration and Computing.

In her spare time she enjoys getting outdoors and exploring Central Otago with her partner.