“I enjoy helping others, especially navigating the seemingly complex programme and project life cycle world. It is very gratifying to have developed and shaped business cases that will influence the lives, future mobility and economic prosperity of New Zealand. There are no limits to what we can do!” 

Since he joined Resolve Group in 2021, one of the aspects of his work Tim has enjoyed most has been the diversity of clients and client needs he has come across. He says, “Resolve Group provides opportunities to broaden and apply my natural ‘assist and advise’ instincts. Our organisational values ring true for me, providing a pathway to give back to our industry, to help less experienced team members, and of course our clients, as they continue to challenge themselves with new and exciting projects.” 

Tim has been working in the New Zealand transport sector for more than 20 years and has experience in local and central government, including with Auckland Transport, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, KiwiRail, and several local government authorities. His broad range of engineering, planning and research skills provide a great foundation and ‘client-side’ perspective.  

Shortly after graduating from the University of Auckland, Tim found himself working for one of New Zealand’s Crown Research Institutes where he honed his skills in data collection, analysis, systems design and research as well as collaborating with industry professionals on a variety of projects in the bio-medical, marine and transport sectors. It was at this time also, that Tim developed his funding, business case and grant writing skills. 

A core focus of Tim’s work is transport business cases and investment proposals. He has developed internal auditing and compliance systems to manage quality assurance to improve business case and funding application quality. He undertakes technical audits and business case peer reviews. This experience, combined with his naturally outgoing nature, makes Tim an engaging and effective facilitator for optioneering and engagement workshops, where he enjoys drawing out creative solutions to transport mobility issues. As part of a dedicated team, Tim assisted Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency with specific reviews and guidance associated with the review and approval of Point of Entry and Strategic Cases.  

Prior to Auckland’s local government amalgamation, Tim developed and implemented regional assessments and prioritised land transport investment proposals for New Zealand’s first multi-year Regional Land Transport Programme. Tim was invited by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to assist in the evaluation, profiling, and prioritisation of national State Highway projects for inclusion in the National Land Transport Programme. He continued to lead a team of engineers and planners when the Auckland region underwent significant restructuring. This ensured the region’s funding and investment proposals for land transport continued to meet the highest standard and supported national transport outcomes. Tim’s auditing skills and quality systems approach meant Auckland Transport qualified for, and retained, delegated funding authority from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (a self-funding approval process for projects under $5 million). Tim continues to work with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and their Local Government Partnerships team, ‘advising and assisting’ with Investment Proposals, providing Investment Quality Assurance (IQA) reviews and guiding local authority and consultant teams through the business case approach. 

With the current global attention on climate change, Tim is also assisting Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency with developing assessment tools and methodology for regional Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT) reduction programmes as they develop the National VKT Reduction Plan. 

Tim offers his clients: 

• Extensive experience in all aspects of business case development. A registered ‘Better Business Case’ practitioner, Tim provides technical business case support and leadership guidance. 
• Peer reviewing of business cases (e.g., peer reviewing proposals for Auckland’s new electric ferry fleet, benefit realisation changes associated with scope changes to a new proposed rapid transit busway, Brownfield development growth proposals in Auckland). 
• Business improvement experience; reviewing organisational processes, optimising and recommending operational and efficiency improvements. 
• Knowledge and experience in land transport funding including the development of investment proposals. 
• Quality assurance skills – Tim is sought after for his business case review, assurance, and compliance expertise. 
• Skilled facilitation expertise; investment logic mapping, multi criteria assessments, and optioneering. 
• Active mode, multimodal and tactical urbanism experience. 
• Outstanding customer and client relationship management skills; a natural and affable people person, with a good sense of governance, political and relationship management. 

Tim enjoys snow skiing, cycling, and tramping. Based in Queenstown and Lake Ōhau, he has many of the country’s best cycle trails within reach, and enjoys getting out and about on the bike, whether it’s a lunchtime ride or a multi-day event. He also gets much satisfaction from his involvement with his local community and several community Trusts. He is helping to establish a community hub and nursery to produce plants to assist landowners with replanting after the devastating wildfire at  Lake Ōhau in 2020. 

“By questioning existing paradigms and pushing the limits of what is considered possible, we get to create positive and transformative change in society. Success happens when we embrace diverse perspectives, foster collaboration, and encourage unconventional ideas.” 

During his time in the industry, Tim has developed strong and constructive working relationships with consultancies, iwi, contractors, central and local government and special interest groups. He has worked in asset management as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Auckland and Northland Network Performance Manager and as Design Manager/Transport Engineer on projects such as the AMETI Panmure Station/Te Horeta Road, Tauranga Eastern Link and Quarantine Road roundabout.

Tim is passionate about making a difference and is not afraid of projects that have the potential for a large impact on how we use the transport system. 

Tim’s move to Resolve Group in 2021 was motivated, in part, by his desire to draw and build on the depth and breadth of more than 20 years’ involvement in the transportation industry and apply it to a more diverse range of projects. Tim says that working on projects that make use of his particular interests, bringing diverse elements and teams together to find solutions that result in success for all, continues to inspire him in the workplace. He believes Resolve Group is the perfect fit for him as the organisation and the people he works with have common values about striving to make New Zealand a better place. 

As Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Owner Interface Manager/Project Manager on the Kaikōura Earthquake North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) Delivery Alliance, Tim was responsible for ensuring that the State Highway was reopened on time, the scope and costs were defined, and new commercial terms were negotiated with all achieved on time and within budget. The project was recognised by winning the Institution of Civil Engineers People’s Choice Award 2018, and the Health and Safety Excellence at the 2019 Safeguard Workplace Health and Safety Awards.  

Tim worked as Acting Project Manager for Auckland Transport’s Speed Management Programme, Katoa Ka Ora and was Highways Lead for the Speed and Infrastructure Programme; both of these programmes aimed to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the transport network – an area of professional interest for Tim. This work involved helping to establish the Standard Safety Intervention Toolkit, a faster business case pathway for safety projects and overseeing delivery of more than 70 level crossing upgrades and the programme of safety improvements over the national state highway network. While seconded to Auckland Transport, Tim assisted the Speed Team respond to new policy direction coming from new elected members of council and local boards to ensure continuation of the programme. 

Tim takes a collaborative approach to projects where his understanding of engineering and his leadership skills combine to ensure great outcomes are achieved for all parties involved. 

Tim offers his clients: 

• Comprehensive knowledge of Transport Safety Design. Tim has been a leader in the delivery of safe system engineering, particular safe speeds and safe infrastructure. Tim can provide guidance and support through the whole safety project life cycle from funding through to design.   
• Experience working in local and central government and reporting to governance groups. Tim is confident being slotted into any team and can authentically and confidently communicate with mana whenua, stakeholders, community, senior management and elected members. 
• Facilitation of workshops and meetings, especially ones without a ‘clear way’ forward. He helps teams navigate the complex factors of projects and come away with a clear direction forward. 
• He is passionate about Zero Harm and sustainability and is a confident champion of both. 

When not at work, Tim spends time with his family who like to travel, bike and watch movies together. They managed to combine two of these activities recently when they cycled over the Golden Gate bridge. As a family, they have ridden the Alps to Ocean, West Coast Wilderness Trail and in October 2022, when it snowed, the Otago Central Rail Trail. Up next is the Hauraki Rail Trail, where it hopefully won’t snow!