Meet the Facilitators
Focused expertise
All our facilitators bring a depth and breadth of experience and expertise. At each of our workshops at least one facilitator has direct knowledge of local government - either from the administrative or political side of the fence. On top of their industry and local government experience, our facilitators are skilled presenters with training expertise.
Mark Vinall
Expertise: Resource Management Act
"My practical knowledge of planning and regulatory processes in a local government environment gives me a deep understanding of the issues around resource management decision making."
Career Highlights
Mark Vinall is a qualified planner with 17 years' experience in local government resource management and planning. He has held key senior management roles in local government with accountability for the development of strategy and policy in environmental and land-use planning, arts, community development, and recreation. This includes district plan reviews and the redevelopment of Auckland's CBD Waterfront.
Additional Expertise
Mark led a multi-disciplinary regulatory team of over 400 staff who handled the largest volume of consents in the country, significant complexity, liability and risk. He successfully implemented a transformational change initiative that delivered more sophisticated, streamlined and customer-oriented regulatory services.
John O'Leary MA
Expertise: How to Present the Right Image to the Media
Media and Presentation Skills
"It's my job to give people the skills to interact successfully with the media. In my workshop, we cover Television, Radio, Print, and Facebook/Internet media."
Career Highlights
John has spent his entire working life in the media. He is a national and international award winning performer, writer, director and producer. Previously Chief Script Editor, and Head of Drama at Radio NZ, and an Executive Producer for TVNZ; for the last 25 years he has run (with Kay McKelvie) Word Pictures Ltd - a media production company.
Additional Expertise
For many years John has voiced innumerable tracks for Radio and TV commercials and is the voice of Sky Movies and MasterChef/MasterClass NZ. He also works training presenters from radio and television, as well as actors, writers, and other, corporate, clients.
Richard Kirby
Expertise: Asset Management
"I am passionate about ensuring that comprehensive and appropriate information is given to help elected representatives make better, more informed decisions."
Career Highlights
Richard Kirby's engineering career in local government spanned over 20 years, mainly working at a senior level in the infrastructure arena. He also chaired the National Asset Management Steering Group, which developed guidelines that enhanced the sustainable management of asset infrastructure around the world. Currently he is the Director of Richard Kirby Consulting Ltd - providing strategic, management and engineering consulting services.
Additional Expertise
Richard was a member of the INGENIUM Board (Association of local government Engineering New Zealand) and held the presidency for two years. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (FIPENZ).
Kay McKelvie QSO
Expertise: How to Present the Right Image to the Media
Media and Presentation Skills
"I am committed to the democratic process and believe people who stand for public office deserve to be trained in skills that will make them more effective elected representatives."
Career Highlights
For the past 20 years, Kay has worked with John O'Leary as a Director of their media production company Word Pictures Ltd. In addition, over the past 15 years, she has held several Chair Directorships, both commercial and public sector, and currently holds Directorships in Health and Ethics. She is also on the Real Estate Agents Complaints Assessment Committee.
Additional Expertise
Kay has used her legal professional qualifications in the public sector, including time as an investigating solicitor for the Ombudsman's office and as Professional Standards Director of the Auckland District Law Society. She has also spent two terms as an elected member on local councils.
Steve McDowell
Expertise: Resource Management Act
Decision Making
The Role of the Elected Member
Effective Team Review
Introduction to Local Government
Elected Members Effectiveness
Understanding Orders
Chairing Meetings
"Developing capability for elected members and staff in local government through training, coaching and mentoring is critical. A key focus for me is developing and delivering programmes through the KnowHow programme."
Career Highlights
Steve is a local government specialist with Meeting and Governance Solutions Ltd who has provided a range of consultancy services to more than 40 Regional and Territorial Authorities, over the last six years. Prior to 2005, Steve held senior management roles with the Auckland City Council, predominantly in the political support and regulatory (hearings) areas. His role included Civil Defence Emergency Management responsibilities.
Additional Expertise
Steve is an accredited Planning Commissioner under the "Making Good Decisions" programme and holds a post graduate degree in Local Government and Administration.
Vern Walsh
Expertise:
Decision Making
The Role of the Elected Member
Effective Team Review
Introduction to Local Government
Elected Members Effectiveness
Understanding Orders
Chairing Meetings
"As a former elected representative I can't emphasise enough how important it is for elected members to further develop their skills and knowledge to better represent their communities."
Career Highlights
Vern is a former elected representative who served three terms as an Auckland City Councillor, two terms as a Portage Licensing Trust trustee and one term as a Community Board Chair. He has spent the last 5 years as Director of Meeting and Governance Solutions Ltd, a company specialising in local government consultancy services.
Additional Expertise
As a Councillor, Vern chaired a variety of committees including; Finance and Corporate Business, Directors Review and Appointments, Investments, Annual Plan Hearings, RMA hearings and District Plan reviews. He also acted as Deputy Mayor and Mayor on a number of occasions. Vern currently chairs the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board.
Andrew Stevenson
Expertise:
A Practical guide to Public Consultation
An introduction to Consultation Skills
"I am passionate about involving the public in projects, to help elected representatives make better, more informed decisions."
Career Highlights
Andrew has 17 years' experience in the market research industry, including eight in public consultation. He has worked for Heylen Research, ACNielsen and Vodafone NZ. Most recently as the research and consultation manager for Auckland City Council, before setting up his consultancy practice - Tasman Research and Consultation.
Additional Expertise
Andrew has a degree in applied mathematics and a diploma in statistics from Auckland University. His diploma in teaching is from the Auckland College of Education and he holds a certificate of public participation.
Philip Jones CA
Expertise:
Financial Governance 101
Financial Governance 102
Financial Governance 201
"My role is to help people understand financial information and appreciate the financial consequences of the decisions they make."
Career Highlights
Philip is a Chartered Accountant who worked for 14 years as Chief Financial Officer at Western Bay of Plenty District Council. Now he uses his financial and asset management expertise to advise a number of Council across New Zealand.
Additional Expertise
While at Western Bay of Plenty District Council he was a member of the Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) Financial Working Party. He was also SOLGM's financial representative on the National Asset Management Steering Group (NAMS). A financial specialist, he regularly speaks at, and facilitates, courses run by Local Government New Zealand, SOLGM and NAMS.
David Ward
Expertise:
Financial Governance 101
Financial Governance 102
Financial Governance 201
"My focus is to ensure elected members understand financial information in a practical way, and recognise its relevance to policy decisions."
Career Highlights
David has been involved in local government since 1991, spending 17 years as Corporate Services Manager for Tasman District Council, before becoming CE at Horowhenua District Council in 2007. A qualified accountant, he worked as a Chief Financial Officer in the commercial sector before entering local government. David is also the chairman of the New Zealand SOLGM Finance Managers working party.
Additional Expertise
As well as presenting to elected representatives and local authority staff on financial governance, rating issues and statutory matters, David has co-authored and presented a course on local government financial issues for staff new to our industry.
Mike Richardson
Expertise: Community Boards Workshop
"I believe it is important to the well-being of individuals and society to build a sense of community. Local government and community boards are at the heart of achieving this."
Career Highlights
Mike has worked in, and with, local government organisations for 35 years. He was the chief executive of Christchurch City Council for ten years from 1993, at a time when the City Council was internationally recognised for its performance and its community-centred management approach. Mike also worked on the 2002 Local Government Act process and as a researcher to the Auckland Royal Commission.
Additional Expertise
A published author, Mike has developed best selling suites of teaching materials in economics and population studies. He has also lectured in Public Management at Canterbury University.
Graeme Nahkies
Expertise: Ethical Resposibilities
"New Zealand Inc. needs and deserve the highest possible level of governance leadership performance. This demands a commitment from all those who would govern to continuing professional development."
Career Highlights
Early in his career Graeme gained extensive experience as a policy analyst, Ministerial adviser, and project manager. His subsequent senior executive roles included Chief Executive of the Waikato Regional Council, and Hutt Valley Health (now the DHB). Since 1997 Graeme has been a Director of BoardWorks International a specialist consulting firm which facilitates effective leadership at the governance level of organisations. BoardWorks International has worked with nearly 50% of all New Zealand's local authorities.
Additional Expertise
Over the last 25 years Graeme has also been a member or chair of a diverse range of governing boards in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. He is a past winner of the Institute of Directors' Study Award. He currently chairs the boards of a Crown entity and a professional services firm.
Kathy Dever-Tod
Expertise: Asset Management
"I really enjoy helping local government deliver the assets that underpin strong communities."
Career Highlights
Kathy works as an asset management advisor within the local and central government sectors. For 13 years she has worked as a local government asset manager, leading the development and implementation of asset management plans and policy, for parks and property assets at Palmerston North City Council.
Additional Expertise
Until recently Kathy was the CEO of the National Asset Management Support (NAMS), where she guided the development of best practice asset management industry guidelines and training. Kathy has been involved in the development of most of the NAMS manuals and has presented on various asset management topics at conferences both in New Zealand and overseas.
For more information
Please feel free to Contact KnowHow with any questions.
Cancellation policy
An appropriate substitute, ie elected or staff member, is welcome 24 hours prior to the workshop commencement. Please advise the replacement's name for printing purposes. A full refund will be given if cancellation is received 3 working days prior to the commencement of the workshop. No refunds will be given for cancellations received less than 3 working days prior to workshop commencement.
LGNZ reserves the right to substitute facilitators or reschedule or cancel workshops in circumstances beyond its control.