Cathy Bebelman

Chief Scientist, Auckland Transport

Dr Cathy Bebelman is scientist with expertise in the technical areas of environmental sustainability and transport infrastructure. Cathy has an extensive background and knowledge in the environmental impacts of infrastructure and transport networks, working as a researcher and consultant in this space for over 25 years. Cathy is passionate about good science, evidence-based decision making and brings an alternative perspective to the more traditional approaches. In her current role she provides thought leadership to position Auckland for a lower carbon and greener future. As the Chief Scientist, Cathy leads the environment, climate and social equity work for Auckland Transport.

Ashishika Sharma

Manager – Adaptation and Environment, Auckland Transport

Ashishika Sharma is an accomplished scientist and leader in climate adaptation and resilience, currently serving as Manager – Adaptation and Environment at Auckland Transport. With a strong technical background in physical, chemical, and biological oceanography, Ashishika has led and implemented climate adaptation and sustainability initiatives across New Zealand and the Oceania region. Ash’s experience spans technical data acquisition, project management, policy development, disaster response, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on integrating climate science into infrastructure and asset management.

Geoff Cooper

Chief Executive at Te Waihanga

Geoff Cooper is the Chief Executive at Te Waihanga. He has a background in global policy having worked for the United States Federal Reserve, the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, and the United Nations. He is a former Chief Economist for both PwC and Auckland Council, where he worked on infrastructure, housing, regulation, and financial policy, including business case development for Auckland’s City Rail Link.

At Te Waihanga, Geoff was previously the General Manager of Strategy where he had purview over research capabilities, the National Infrastructure Pipeline, and development of the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy. He holds a Master of Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University.

Professor Paul Spoonley

Sociologist and Emeritus Professor at Massey University

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley is one of New Zealand’s foremost social scientists, renowned for his research on social and demographic change. With a career spanning decades, he has made significant contributions to understanding immigration, diversity, and the shifting nature of work and political ideologies in Aotearoa.

Paul’s academic journey includes degrees from Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Otago, the University of Auckland, Bristol University, and Massey University. His long-standing association with Massey University saw him serve as Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences until 2019. Over the years, he has led pioneering research on demographic transformations and societal shifts, shaping national conversations on these critical issues.

A widely published author and editor, Paul has contributed to 29 books, including The New New Zealand: Facing Demographic Disruption (2021), Welcome to Our World: Immigration and the Reshaping of New Zealand (2012), and Histories of Hate: The Radical Right in Aotearoa New Zealand (2023). His work has provided deep insights into the evolving fabric of New Zealand society and the broader global forces influencing it.

His expertise has been recognised with numerous accolades. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2011, appointed a Distinguished Professor by Massey University in 2013, and was a Senior Fulbright Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2010. He has also been a Visiting Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity in Germany since 2013 and was awarded the Royal Society’s Science and Technology Medal for his contribution to cross-cultural understanding.

Steve Mooney

Country Head, IPWEA NZ/Aotearoa

As Country Head of IPWEA for Steve understands the infrastructure challenges faced by Local and Central Government organisations across New Zealand. Steve has diverse background across various industries and has worked across public, private, and not-for-profit sector organisations in New Zealand and international markets.

Ben Clark

Director of Infrastructure & Environmental Services, The Barossa Council

Ben Clark serves as the Director of Infrastructure & Environmental Services at The Barossa Council, near Adelaide and serves as Vice President of IPWEA. With a strong background in strategic asset management, he holds a Master of Business Administration focused on portfolio, program, and project management from RMIT. Ben has been recognized with several awards, including the National Asset Management Award at the IPWEA International Conference and the IPWEA Emerging Leader Australasia 2019. He is also the first international participant in the American Public Works Association Emerging Leaders Program. Beyond his professional achievements, Ben is an avid sportsman and enjoys raising his family on a small hobby farm.

David Jenkins

Chief Executive Officer, IPWEA

David Jenkins is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) and is recognised internationally as a leading authority on infrastructure and asset management. He has delivered keynote addresses at the Sydney Morning Herald Infrastructure Summit and other premier conferences across the globe, and his insights are regularly featured in the region’s most influential industry forums and media outlets. David’s academic credentials include executive education at Stanford University, an Executive MBA from the University of Auckland, postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, and an undergraduate degree from the University of London. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and serves on the boards of the International Federation of Municipal Engineering (IFME) and the Australasian Society of Association Executives. As host of IPWEA’s Infrastructure Matters podcast one of Australia's leading NFP podcasts, David brings together global thought leaders in water, transport, and sustainable asset management - delivering fresh perspectives and unique insights to a global audience. David played professional rugby and is a national age-group triathlon champion.

Erin Moogan

Former Infrastructure Group Manager, Invercargill City Council

Erin is an experienced infrastructure leader with 20 years managing infrastructure projects and operations across three waters, roading, solid waste, property and public transport. She is the current President of IPWEA Aotearoa. Based in the deep south Erin is the former Infrastructure Group Manager for Invercargill City Council and spent 6 years leading Infrastructure Maintenance and Operations at Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). Her earlier career spans both client and contractor roles in Australia and New Zealand including Cubic Corporation, QLD Transport and McInnes Wilson Lawyers. Erin was on the IPWEA NZ Board from 2017 to 2021 is a former Chair of the national Roading Infrastructure Management Support Group and is a member of the International Association of Commercial and Contract Managers. She holds degrees in law and public policy.

Jonathan Cousins

Senior Hydrological Engineer, Vision Consulting Engineers

Jonathan is a hydrological engineer with over 15 years’ experience in river restoration, flood risk management, and catchment-scale planning across the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. He specialises in integrating high-resolution modelling, engineering rigor, and GIS analysis with practical, community-driven solutions. At Vision Consulting Engineers, Jonathan leads on projects such as the Taumārere Catchment Nature-based Solutions Project which is a catchment-wide NbS mapping framework co-designed with Ngāti Hine to embed cultural values alongside technical evidence. His work focuses on demonstrating how natural systems can function as resilient, cost-effective public infrastructure alternatives, providing long-term benefits for councils, communities, and the environment.

Lynnette Terrett

Spatial Technologies Director, RapidMap / 4D Global

Lynnette Terrett is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of RapidMap Global, bringing over 30 years of expertise in advancing spatial technology solutions to capture and provide data to ensure Infrastructure owners have data and information they can trust to support asset management activities and decision-making processes. Renowned for pioneering GPS/GNSS and mobile computing integration since the early 1990s, she has been instrumental in transforming field surveying practices to ensure high accuracy in asset data collection by leveraging advanced geospatial technologies. For 5 years Lyn was the Director of Spatial Technologies for National Geographic, working on Homeland Security, Critical Infrastructure, Emergency Services and the Intelligence sector following 911 in the USA.

Maureen Cuevas

Senior Asset Spatial Advisor, Auckland Council

Maureen Cuevas is a Senior Asset Spatial Advisor at Auckland Council, specialising in applying geospatial intelligence to support strategic asset management. She has strong experience in spatial analysis and data governance. She developed an in-house tool for coastal asset condition assessment. She holds a Master’s degree in Watershed Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in GIS.

Peta Brown

Director, Peopleology

Peta Brown, Director at Peopleology, believes that unlocking collaboration goes beyond contract clauses. It’s about intentionally working together to shape the long-term legacy and resilience of New Zealand’s transport future. With over 25 years of experience, Peta is one of Australasia’s most experienced collaboration coaches. She has helped teams understand how to leverage collaborative work practices to deliver projects successfully. Peta focuses on the practical aspects that make teams effective such as building trust, creating shared purpose, and turning strategy conversations into advancing delivery. What sets Peta apart is her ability to create environments where people feel empowered to do their best work together. She has provided advice and guidance to Chief Executives, Executive Leadership Teams and to some of Australasia’s largest infrastructure collaborative contracts, helping teams navigate the complexities of getting everyone pulling in the same direction. Peta believes that when teams truly collaborate, not just coordinate, they deliver better outcomes, as well as building something that lasts. Her work bridges that gap between what organisations want to achieve and how people work together day-to-day. She's passionate about showing the transport sector that intentional collaboration isn't just nice to have, it’s essential for building New Zealand's resilient infrastructure future.

Richard Parsons

Delivery Excellence Manager for Transport New Zealand, Ventia

Richard Parsons is Ventia’s Delivery Excellence Manager for Transport New Zealand at Ventia, a company that specialises in large-scale, complex infrastructure services, spanning transport, telco, defence, utilities and renewable energy, and health and social infrastructure. Richard is the driving force behind the VenRoads system and VenRoads Academy - Ventia’s hands-on training platform for state highway maintenance. With over 30 years’ experience in road infrastructure and asset management, Richard brings deep expertise in forward works programming, pavement design, quality assurance, and delivery optimisation. At the VenRoads Academy, Richard leads the charge in upskilling crews and subcontractors to achieve consistent, high-quality outcomes across Ventia’s road maintenance business. His focus is practical and results-driven: scenario-based training in pothole repair, edge break treatment, drainage clearing, and heavy patch works, combined with a strong emphasis on quality culture and pride in the network.

Stuart Bailey

Managing Director, Seven Rivers

Stuart Bailey is the Managing Director of Seven Rivers, an independent construction-consultancy firm delivering client representation, project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across New Zealand. With over 30 years of industry experience, Stuart has overseen a broad spectrum of projects, from residential developments to major infrastructure and institutional builds, bringing dependable leadership to complex public works. Under his direction, Seven Rivers has guided delivery for clients including ports, airports, regional councils, and government agencies, always emphasising ethical governance, collaborative partnerships and community-centred outcomes. Stuart is known for his commitment to excellence, integrity and local engagement. Away from project sites, he enjoys playing guitar and values family time, balancing professionalism with a grounded, human touch.

Cathy Bebelman

Chief Scientist, Auckland Transport

Dr Cathy Bebelman is scientist with expertise in the technical areas of environmental sustainability and transport infrastructure. Cathy has an extensive background and knowledge in the environmental impacts of infrastructure and transport networks, working as a researcher and consultant in this space for over 25 years. Cathy is passionate about good science, evidence-based decision making and brings an alternative perspective to the more traditional approaches. In her current role she provides thought leadership to position Auckland for a lower carbon and greener future. As the Chief Scientist, Cathy leads the environment, climate and social equity work for Auckland Transport.

Ashishika Sharma

Manager – Adaptation and Environment, Auckland Transport

Ashishika Sharma is an accomplished scientist and leader in climate adaptation and resilience, currently serving as Manager – Adaptation and Environment at Auckland Transport. With a strong technical background in physical, chemical, and biological oceanography, Ashishika has led and implemented climate adaptation and sustainability initiatives across New Zealand and the Oceania region. Ash’s experience spans technical data acquisition, project management, policy development, disaster response, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on integrating climate science into infrastructure and asset management.

Sarp Egene

Senior Asset Management Planner, Property, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Sarp Egene is part of the Property team at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, where he leads initiatives to improve asset management capability across a diverse portfolio of public venues and infrastructure. Sarp has more than 25 years’ experience working across the public and private sectors, both in New Zealand and internationally. His background includes programme and project delivery, asset management, emergency management, and organisational improvement, with a focus on simplifying systems and strengthening the quality of information used to support decision-making. At TAU, Sarp focuses on practical improvements that strengthen integration across teams, build confidence in asset information, and help the organisation get greater value from existing systems and resources.