Expert Advisory Group members

Janette Campbell (Chair) 

Janette Campbell is a barrister and resource management law specialist at Bankside Chambers in Auckland. Janette has 30 years’ experience representing clients before Councils and the Courts and has extensive practical experience in advancing resource consent applications, designations and policy documents. She has also served as a Hearings Commissioner, advised regional and district councils on their decision-making roles and provided advice to Boards of Inquiry. Before joining Bankside Chambers, Janette was a partner at Meredith Connell where she led the Environment and Resource Management Group for about eight years.

Christine Jones

Christine Jones is the General Manager – Strategy, Growth and Governance at Tauranga City Council. Christine has worked in senior management roles at the Council since 2001 and is experienced in strategic and corporate planning, growth management, infrastructure, land use and urban planning. She has lead responsibility at the Council for the integrated planning of Tauranga’s future and growth, including funding land use and infrastructure. Christine has also contributed to local government sector best-practice work on topics including financial management, planning, accountability and business performance.

Paul Melville

Paul Melville is the General Manager – Policy and Advocacy at Federated Farmers. Paul’s extensive policy experience includes working across water and climate change policy at Fonterra and DairyNZ, working on international agricultural policy at the Ministry for Primary Industries and working in infrastructure planning at Beca. He was also a member of the New Zealand delegation to United Nations climate change negotiations in Doha, Warsaw, Lima and Paris, taking the lead on agricultural issues. Paul brings a lifelong knowledge of farming having grown up on a dairy farm near Te Awamutu, Waikato.

Rukumoana Schaafhausen

Rukumoana Schaafhausen is of Ngāti Haua descent and has a background in law and governance. Rukumoana was recently the Chair of the executive arm of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, the tribal authority that represents the people of Waikato-Tainui. She is currently working in governance roles across a number of Iwi, community, private and public organisations, including Contact Energy, Kiwi Capital Group, Alvarium Investments NZ, The Tindall Foundation, and The King’s Trust. Rukumoana is passionate about initiatives that promote economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social equity for Māori communities.

Kevin Counsell

Kevin Counsell is a director at NERA economic consulting. Kevin has nearly 25 years’ of experience as a professional economist, and has served as an expert witness before the New Zealand Environment Court and independent hearing panels. He specialises in applying economic analysis to decision-making involving urban development, resource management, and environmental policy issues. He holds a Master of Commerce degree in economics (with distinction), a first class Bachelor of Commerce degree with honours in economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.

Gillian Crowcroft

Gillian Crowcroft is the Technical Director – Environment at Harrison Grierson. Gillian is a resource management practitioner with more than 30 years' experience in environmental science, strategy, policy and planning. She has significant expertise in freshwater management and was appointed an independent Freshwater Commissioner by the Minister for the Environment in 2021. Before working at Harrison Grierson, Gillian worked at Auckland Council and Auckland Regional Council in strategy, policy and science roles.

Mark Chrisp

Mark Chrisp is a founding director at environmental and planning consultancy Mitchell Daysh Ltd. Mark has 35 years’ experience as an environmental consultant and project manager. He specialises in policy and plan development, resource consents and project management, with a focus on the energy, dairy, infrastructure and land development sectors. He is also an honorary lecturer in the Department of Geography, Tourism and Environmental Planning at the University of Waikato.