Board
Alan Smith (Chairman)
Ph: 566 3034 Mob: 027 285 6304
Alan is a fifth-generation Wellingtonian and joined the Board in 2004, after retiring as University Librarian at Victoria. His career in libraries, museums and publishing included the role of project manager for the commissioning and completion of the National Library Building in Molesworth Street, which opened in 1987. Alan’s many interests include the geography of Wellington (favourite place — the Ataturk Memorial behind Seatoun), architecture, public transport and the distinctive urban character which pops up so often in unexpected places all around Wellington.
Chris Watson
Ph: 021 158 7874
Chris has lived most of his life around Wellington harbour, and has also enjoyed many days sailing on it. He graduated from Victoria University School of Architecture and practiced in the Government Architect’s office until establishing his own practice in 1991.
Much of his work has been bringing systematic improvements to the quality of built environment through participation of stakeholders in briefing for design.
Chris is passionate about architects being involved to a greater extent in city planning to improve urban design and minimise damage to the wider environment and ecosystems. He has travelled extensively and sees potential to bring exciting and sustainable innovations to Wellington.
Peter Brooks
Ph: 479 6812
Peter was a Trustee from 1987 to 1999 and rejoined the Board in 2008. His special interest, born out of his experiences as the first Commissioner for the Environment, is in effective public engagement by public sector decision-makers. That interest has resulted in a close involvement with the waterfront project.
Toni Izzard
Originally a geography graduate, then a qualified town planner working in Auckland, Northland and Tauranga. Graduated with an MBA, and moved into the complaints industry, first as a Disputes Tribunal Referee, then as Chief Complaints Investigator at ACC in Wellington. Completed legal qualification at Victoria University. Spent the last three years in France. Passionate about good public spaces, provision for safe biking, and the natural environment – although sympathetic enhancements are acceptable!
Blair Badcock
Blair taught urban and housing studies for 25 years at the University of Adelaide. Since returning to New Zealand a decade ago, he has been with Housing New Zealand Corporation, latterly as Chief Advisor Housing Sector Policy.
David Tai
David is a professional engineer with 15 years in the design, construction and maintenance of power stations, 12 years in charge of strategic planning of Victoria University’s capital works, operation and maintenance of physical assets, and 9 years project managing capital works developments of prisons. He is currently President of the Wellington Xiamen Association (set up by the WCC to help in its relationships with their sister city in China) and has also been President and Secretary of both the local branch and the national body of the NZ Chinese Association.
Bill Robertson NZOM
Bill has been a surveying and land administration consultant for the past 13 years working mainly for the World Bank the UN and FAO. Before that he was Director General/ Surveyor General of the Department of Survey and Land Information. He is currently Chairman of Terralink International Ltd. He is serving currently as a Senior Consultant for the UN on the Cameroon Nigeria Mixed Boundary Commission. A Fellow of the NZ Institute of Surveyors and a Fellow the NZ Planning Institute, he is also a Past President of the NZ Planning Institute and of the Commonwealth Association of Planning.
Craig Palmer
Craig is a fourth-generation Wellingtonian and a former public servant. Whilst on leave of absence he worked in London in the Head Office of Cadbury Schweppes. Later he was posted to Toronto within the Trade Commissioner Service. After retirement he has taken an interet in urban planning and design. A founding committee member of the Friends of the Town Belt, he was also President of the Mount Victoria Resident’s Association throughout the 1990s.
Bruce Stokell
Bruce has been in the recreation and sport sector for most of his working career and was for a time Executive Director of the Governement’s Council for Recreation and Sport. He is very interested in the things that make a city pleasant to live and work in, and the consequent effect that pleasant surroundings have on people’s quality of life. He likes to build small interesting dwellings.
Liz Melish
Liz is the Natural Resource Advisor to Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, Wellington Tenths Trust and Palmerston North Maori Reserve. The collective responsibility of this position means she coordinates the iwi response to central and local government on resource management in Wellington, Lower and Upper Hutt cities and their environs. Liz also coordinates the cultural redress package of the settlement. Liz and her husband Graham have three daughters and eight mokopuna. Liz is a keen whitebaiter and reader.
Mike Mellor
Mike joined the Board in 2011, having been a member of the Trust for over 20 years. Though originally from England he has become a passionate Wellingtonian, and finds it hard to imagine living anywhere else. He has spent over 30 years working in the transport industry, and is a keen advocate for sustainable transport, particularly walking and public transport and their interaction with urban form. He is currently the environmental sustainability representative on the Wellington Regional Transport Committee.
Judi Keith-Brown
Judi is a practicing architect mainly working on residential projects around Wellington. She taught design at the School of Architecture at Victoria University for a number of years, and still runs papers there every now and then. She worked for three years in Glasgow on public housing projects and was the project architect for the restoration of Erskine, a Grade A listed manor house, while there she became a founding member of the Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson Society and is also a member of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society. She lives up against the Green Belt in Mount Victoria. Her favourite quote is from Eva Zeisel: To make something different is not great art. But to give pleasure, that is design.
Gerald Blunt
Gerald set up a new urban design practice – Urban Matters Ltd — in 2010, to facilitate the delivery of good design of places. Currently one of his major clients is Auckland Council where he is working three days a week. Prior to this he was employed for ten years by Wellington City Council, most recently as Chief Urban Designer. Gerald is a registered architect and has completed a Masters degree in urban design, at Oxford Brookes University, UK. This year he was recognised for his work by being made a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Architects.