Our People
Our team has been developed over the years to provide an ideal balance of individual expertise and group capability.
Our people are some of New Zealand’s most skilled and experienced planners. They join us from across New Zealand, contributing diverse backgrounds in both public and private sector planning. Their specialist skills and experience are extensive. Our team approach means every resource and skill goes into ensuring the successful outcome of your project.
Jeff Brown - Director
With 30 years in resource management, including extensive experience in presentation to Councils and other groups, frequently acting as a witness in the Environment Court, Jeff delivers astute insight and details-focused action in his everyday work. Jeff was a planner for the Queenstown Lakes District Council in the early 1990s, becoming District Planner from 1994 to 1996. In those roles he administered the processing of a large number of resource consents and various privately requested plan changes, including large scale residential and commercial zone changes, some of which attracted several thousand submissions.
In 1996 he established his own resource management consultancy. In the 24 years since he has worked on many large and small-scale development projects for developers and councils. He also valuable experience working with the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020, having obtained a resource consent for a retirement village in Northlake, Wanaka. This was the second resource consent to be approved pursuant to the new legislation. Jeff now spreads his time between our Auckland and Queenstown offices each week.
Jeff is a Full Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute and a member of the RMLA..
M: 021 529 745
E: jeff@brownandcompany.co.nz
Christine Edgley - Senior Planner
Christine joined BCPG having previously worked in local government in the lower South Island for five years, in both consenting and policy roles.
Her consenting experience includes preparing applications for a range of activities, from smaller standalone residential projects to ongoing commercial proposals. She has appeared in hearings in the role of reporting officer.
Christine’s policy work has covered the full range of the plan-making process, from provision drafting and section 32 evaluations to preparing submissions on notified plans. She has been involved in community consultation and stakeholder engagement, as well as appearing in hearings in the role of reporting officer.
Christine’s legal training has given her both a good understanding of the legislative context that planning operates in, strong report-writing skills and an eye for detail.
Christine is an Associate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute and a member of the RMLA.
M: 027 588 8824
E: christine@brownandcompany.co.nz
Morgan Shepherd - Planner
Morgan began her planning career in the local government sector working at the Queenstown Lakes District Council. She has a wide range of knowledge and experience in the Queenstown Lakes District, having processed a range of resource consents on behalf of the Council. Since joining Brown & Company in 2018, Morgan has gained an extensive range of planning experience including resource consenting commercial, residential and rural proposals and policy planning throughout the country. Morgan has valuable experience working with the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020, having recently obtained a resource consent for a retirement village in Northlake, Wanaka. This was the second resource consent to be approved pursuant to the new legislation. Morgan enjoys working with her clients and consultant teams to achieve a desirable outcome for all parties and the natural environment.
Morgan is currently working towards a Post Graduate Diploma in Planning, is on the RMLA Queenstown committee and is an associate member of NZPI.
M: 021 246 7597
E: morgan@brownandcompany.co.nz
Caleb Tien - Planner
Caleb has been involved in a wide range of resource consent projects across the country, from visitor accommodation, heritage, and rural subdivision consents to multi-unit developments and regional consents. Caleb has six years of planning experience in both the public and private sector and has a strong understanding of the planning process from both sides of the industry.
Caleb is an Intermediate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.
M: 021 206 6626
E: caleb@brownandcompany.co.nz
Maddy Familton - Office Manager & Business Coordinator
Maddy joined the BCPG team from an education and customer service background. Maddy has a wide range of transferrable skills that she applies in her day to day role as Office Manager & Business Coordinator. She understands the importance of strong administrative support, and ensures that the office is running as efficiently as possible. Maddy has a strong interest in planning and assists the team with research and planning tasks as required.
Maddy is currently studying towards a Post Graduate Diploma in Planning.
M: 027 840 9158
E: maddy@brownandcompany.co.nz
Heidi Wood - Planner
Heidi joined the BCPG team after a long career as a high school geography teacher. Heidi hails originally from the United Kingdom, but has spent the past 10+ years living in New Zealand, working in both Auckland and Queenstown.
Heidi is currently studying towards her Masters in Resource and Environmental Planning.
Heidi is an Associate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.
M: 021 082 18229
E: heidi@brownandcompany.co.nz