Board
Sharmian Firth Chairperson
4722705 (wk)
Sharmian is owner and manager of Dunmore Publishing Ltd, and organized the display earlier this year of the 2008 Civic Trust Awards in Shed 13 on the Waterfront.
Alan Smith Deputy Chair and Secretary
Ph:566-3034 Mobile: 027-285-6304
Alan has just retired after 40 years in Libraries, latterly as University Librarian at Victoria. Something of an architect manqué, he has a particular interest in streetscapes (historic and modern) and urban geography - how people live and how they get around.
“I really love this town - while my favourite spot of all is the Ataturk Memorial behind Seatoun, the whole city and urban area fascinates me. I’m a fifth-generation Wellingtonian, so I hope that some of this affinity can be applied through being an active part of The Wellington Civic Trust”.
Simon Brodie Treasurer
Simon is an investment manager with a multinational corporate, and has been Treasurer since he joined the Board in April 2008
David Pucher Publications 
I’m a born and bred Wellingtonian trained as a professional musician but with an interest in local history and cultures.
Belonging to the Civic Trust is an attempt to satisfy these as well as furthering the ideals of an organisation I strongly endorse.
Chris Watson
Ph: +64 21 158 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.
Tony Town
Tony has been a Board member since 2006. He was Director of Town & Country Planning at the Ministry of Works and Development, and subsequently an RMA Commissioner for many councils around New Zealand.
Peter Brooks
Ph: 479-6812
“As the first Commissioner for the Environment I had to develop procedures for public consultation. I had opportunities to develop that interest both later in my Public Service career and since retirement through active participation in organisations like the Wellington Civic Trust and Waterfront Watch.
Such community organisations have a very important role to play in our local democracy. They can enliven and inform public debate and promote the accountability of our elected representatives.
I was on the Board of the Trust from 1987 to 1999 and was its representative on the waterfront project’s Community Consultative Committee in 1997. While that project has a major public consultation component it is deficient in terms of both process and implementation. We need to do better and I hope the Trust will be able to work with other community organisations and the Council to develop procedures and tools that will significantly improve the quality of public involvement.”
Bill Buxton
Bill is a retired public servant. He has been active in several community organisations, especially the Portrait Gallery. His special interest is community development.
Glen Evans
Glen practiced law for 45 years, latterly as a Barrister specializing in resource management cases. He was Mayor of Lower Hutt 1986-95, served 12 years on each of the Hutt City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council, and was awarded QSO in 2006.
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.
Charmaine Smit
Charmaine has a background in property management in South Africa and in the UK; she is now completing a Design programme at Weltec, and is a member of the committee of The Architectural Centre.
Bill Robertson
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 and as an Expert for the Sudan Boundary Tribunal in The Hague. 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.
