Preconference Symposium – Enabling local water to be done well

Chief Executive (Tumu Matua)

gillian.blythe@waternz.org.nz

021 388 469

Water New Zealand is a national not-for-profit organisation which promotes the sustainable management and development of the water environment, with particular focus on drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. Gillian joined Water New Zealand in July 2020, and during this time she and the team have increased membership numbers by more than 50% and are seen as the trusted industry voice on water matters in New Zealand. Gillian is on the Advisory Board for the Building Innovation Partnership, and is an independent director of Electricity Networks Aotearoa. Prior to joining Water New Zealand Gillian held head of strategy and regulatory affairs roles at NZX listed Meridian Energy - New Zealand's largest generator retailer, generating electricity 100% from renewable sources.

Partner

padraig.mcnamara@simpsongrierson.com

021 924 350

Paddy is a partner in Simpson Grierson's planning and environment group, and is one of New Zealand's leading local government and resource management lawyers, and a trusted advisor to some of New Zealand's largest councils and council-controlled organisations (CCOs). As an advisor, Paddy's main areas of expertise include resource management (with a particular focus on water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure), local government powers and decision-making, CCO governance, roading and land transport, regulation of water services, bylaws, legislative drafting and law reform. Paddy has led Simpson Grierson's advice on three waters structural reform to councils in Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay regions.

Partner

mike.wakefield@simpsongrierson.com

Mike is a partner in Simpson Grierson’s planning and environment group, based in Wellington. He specialises in local government and environmental law, with his practice involving all aspects of the regulatory functions of local government (including under the RMA, for consent / planning authorities, and applicants), strategic policy development (under the LGA and other legislation), and the decision-making and governance requirements of local government. He regularly appears at Council hearings and before the courts for a range of clients. Mike has been heavily involved in recent legislative reform programmes, and for water reform specifically, he has and continues to work closely with a number of councils across New Zealand.

Managing Director, Castalia

andreas.heuser@castalia-advisors.com

027 283 0899

Andreas Heuser is Managing Director of Castalia and co-leads its Asia-Pacific business. Since 2019 Andreas has led Castalia's work on NZ water reform for clients including LGNZ, individual councils, and the 30 councils comprising Communities 4 Local Democracy (C4LD). Andreas reviewed and critiqued the previous government’s reform, and developed an alternative reform model, which was later adopted as the basis for the current Government's “Local Water Done Well” policy. Since February 2024, Andreas has chaired the Government’s Technical Advisory Group on Local Water Done Well and guided the Government’s policy development and design of the economic regulation regime to be enacted this year. Andreas advises governments, utilities, regulators, and investors on improving financing, regulation, and organisational performance of water businesses in New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands and South-East Asia. Andreas is also a leading expert on the energy transition and integrating sustainable energy sources in New Zealand and the Pacific. He is qualified in law and economics.

GM Infrastructure Regulation

andy.burgess@comcom.govt.nz

Chief Executive

allan.prangnell@taumataarowai.govt.nz

021 865 809

Allan has a wealth of leadership experience across central and local government. He was recently the Deputy Chief Executive of Te Manatū Waka (Ministry of Transport) providing leadership and advice on transport system performance.

Prior to Te Manatū Waka, Allan was Executive Director Three Waters at the Department of Internal Affairs. Allan led and delivered the establishment of Taumata Arowai as a crown entity with an entirely new regulatory system. This included engaging with iwi nationwide on understanding and giving effect to iwi/hapū/Māori interests in water services and regulation.

Allan has significant experience in regulation, organisational design, transformation, governance and leadership, strategic leadership, and managing stakeholder relationships within complex organisations.