Tonkin + Taylor Group is made up of four companies – Tonkin + Taylor New Zealand, Tonkin + Taylor Australia, Chadwick Geotechnics, and Geotechnics.
We’re proudly 100% employee owned and operated, and our people are the driving force behind our success.
Our diverse team bring a wide range of skills, experiences, and backgrounds to the table, making us stronger and more innovative. Their expertise and commitment to creating and sustain a better world are what sets us apart and drives our success.
Before transitioning to governance, she served as Air New Zealand’s head of engineering and HR, and as Carter Holt Harvey Packaging Australia’s chief executive. Vanessa, who holds a BCom/LLB (Hons), a PGDip in Professional Ethics, and is both a GAICD and a CFInstD, is a member of Global Women, mentors emerging leaders through the Kupe Scholarship and Multiethnic Young Leaders programs, and advocates strongly for inclusion. She is also a Companion of Engineering NZ and an Honorary Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand.
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.
With a distinctive focus on leading digital transformation and innovation Pam's journey is defined by a high level of commercial acumen and leadership expertise coupled with her passion for reshaping organisations and guiding them towards a digital future. Her experience across a series of influential roles has contributed to her reputation as a change-maker in the industries where she has worked.
Pam's commitment to digital transformation is evident through roles as the Chief of Strategy, Innovation, and Digital for World Vision Australia. As the largest international NGO in Australia, Pam played a key leadership role in reimagining its strategy and digital transformation agenda.
In the financial services sector, as General Manager Digital for ANZ Bank, one of Australia's leading banks, she navigated the dynamic digital landscape, driving innovation and elevating the customer experience.
Pam currently works with Boards to build their digital literacy, and also brings her expertise to a range of governance roles, serving on the Board of Defence Bank Limited, Emergency Services and State Superannuation Trustees Board and is the Chair of the Board of 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.
Over the past decade, Bruce has been highly committed to the success of major Tonkin + Taylor projects, leading the design/consulting teams, and overall delivery of large complex civil infrastructure projects such as the Aras Tunnel, Haywards Interchange, Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway and Mt Messenger Bypass in Taranaki.
Bruce was a director on the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board from 2010 to 2013 and rejoined the Board in 2022. Bruce contributes his insight through specific strengths, including effective risk management, innovation, strategic problem solving, and responsive client service.
He brings a diversity of experience, relationships, and practical knowledge of Tonkin + Taylor’s key markets and industry partners. Through his senior leadership roles (Including Alliance Director of Mt Messenger Alliance) Bruce maintains close working relationships with senior leaders across the New Zealand consulting and construction industry as well as many government agencies, councils and through the renewable energy sector.
Mark leads large scale projects for Tonkin + Taylor. He is renowned for his design leadership, innovative and nimble thinking, and ability to cultivate a focused team approach and pride to ensuring that his teams deliver.
Since joining Tonkin + Taylor in 2001, Mark has been involved in the delivery of some of New Zealand’s most notable infrastructure, including the Te Ara Tupua Alliance, Downtown Infrastructure Development Programme, WellConnected Alliance (delivering the Waterview tunnel), and the LEAD Alliance (delivering the Auckland Housing Programme).
In addition to being sought after by clients for her technical expertise, she has held a variety of roles at Tonkin + Taylor, including Air Quality Practice Lead and Discipline Director for Natural Resources. She is active in supporting and growing Tonkin + Taylor’s technical and project delivery expertise as a mentor and coach.
Jenny has worked at Tonkin + Taylor for over 20 years and joined the Group Board in 2019. She is the Chair of the People and Culture sub-committee of the Group Board, which provides oversight to ensure Tonkin + Taylor’s culture and its people practices are aligned with Our Pathway 2025.
Jenny is passionate about ensuring Tonkin + Taylor remains renowned for the extraordinary calibre of its people and their deep commitment to delivering excellence and sustainable outcomes for our clients and communities.
Manea's key areas of specialty include emergency communication, stakeholder engagement (particularly with indigenous communities), integrated resource management, regional and city planning and policy development.
She is a Geographer by training, and specialised in Environmental Management, graduating with a BSC, PGD and MSc from the University of Auckland, where she evaluated the impacts of waste management on small island economies.
Manea is fluent in te Reo Māori, and skilled in cultural values. Manea brings this knowledge to all aspects of her work engaging mana whenua and providing technical oversight of cultural and community values.
Rhys has held senior CFO and similar roles in financial services with ASB and Fisher & Paykel Finance, in infrastructure with Crown Fibre Holdings Ltd (now Crown Infrastructure Partners), and City Rail Link Ltd. He has broad governance experience in the Not for Profit and Funds Management sectors, spanning large sporting organisations and employee superannuation funds with assets over $50 million NZD, in addition to experience in government, regulator, and investor relations across various roles.
Rhys brings a robust understanding of the financial sector, the macroeconomy, and an understanding of sustainability and resilience to set businesses up for the future, and an authentic Te Ao Māori perspective to embed into organisational thinking to create success.
Jim is of Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, and English descent and is passionate about utilising his leadership experience and commercial skills to bring a meaningful contribution to the overall success of our communities.
As Chief Executive Officer of three organisations between 2002 to 2018, Jim led highly successful transformation and performance improvement strategies.
With business leadership experience spanning 25 years, he is a qualified accountant by profession and led two of the most high-profile Māori organisations over a 14-year period – Māori Television and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Business Trust from 2002 to 2005.
In addition, he has also held a variety of private sector roles including General Manager of a marine engineering business and Financial Controller for a local subsidiary of a Swiss multinational.
Aligned with his commercial background, he is also a former officer in the New Zealand Army and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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).
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.
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.
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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