My future-focus, seeking solutions for people and planet, is a consequence of my experiences to date and my ancestors.
I grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, a first generation Kiwi from a long line of Celts. After busy years in high school I moved to Waikato to study law.
I became an environmental lawyer in Auckland in 1996. In the early days I was involved in supermarket wars, disputes about state highways and waste facilities, and the privatisation of the electricity sector. I trained as an environmental auditor for fun.
At the turn of the century I was an environmental lawyer in England and then in France, in an international role. For four years I travelled extensively and saw the impact of different regulatory approaches up close. Highlights included UN and Interpol controls on environmental crime and EU policy iterations towards an environmental liability directive, speaking about climate change and contamination internationally, waste programmes in Africa and global removal of mercury from products.
When I returned to Aotearoa New Zealand I spent a few years in a law firm primarily supporting local authorities. In 2007 I became a large law firm partner and over almost 15 years I grew a highly rated team and business. That last role was diverse, including supporting boards, helping renewable energy projects, protecting heritage, evolving sustainability practices, obtaining the consents needed for infrastructure to operate, managing non-compliance situations, helping Māori exercise kaitiakitanga, and advising the government on environmental law reforms.
I left to broaden my focus to areas beyond environment and law, although they both are embedded in what I do, and to more personally lead and contribute to the world we share.
