vivian+espie staff have over 50 years of combined resource management and landscape planning experience. Key staff include:
Carey Vivian (Resource Management Planner / Director). Carey is qualified with a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning from Massey University. Carey has more than 15 years planning experience, having worked for a number of consultancy firms, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Civic Corporation Limited. Carey has had extensive experience in policy development (district plan review and plan changes), resource consent preparation and assessment and project managing the planning process. Carey’s experience is very wide, including project management of commercial, urban, residential, tourism, forestry and rural development and subdivision. Carey has presented expert evidence in the Environment Court on many occasions, on behalf of applicants, Councils, and submitters in support/opposition to applications. Carey is a Trustee of the Wakatipu Trails Trust.
Ben Espie (Landscape Planner / Director). Ben is qualified with a Bachelor of Arts from Canterbury University and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Lincoln University. On completing his studies, Ben joined Queenstown based regulatory contractor Civic Corporation Limited and was within a few years promoted to the Principal of the Landscape Architecture department. During this time Ben developed significant skills in assessing landscape values and the effects of development on such values. His approach to landscape assessment is considered very balanced by his peers – an important quality in a subjective and often controversial field. Ben has extensive experience as an expert before the Environment Court. Ben is a member of the Queenstown Lakes Urban Design Panel.
Dr Michael Steven (Landscape Planner / Social Scientist). Michael brings a unique blend of social science and critical analysis skills to his landscape planning role, with more than 25 years experience in landscape architecture, tertiary teaching and academic research in NZ and Australia. In addition to a professional qualification in landscape architecture, Michael has two research degrees, including a PhD in Architecture (Environment-Behaviours Studies), for which he researched aspects of environmental perception. His research and teaching background has equipped Michael with a high level of analytical skills, report writing and presentation skills. He has worked as a member of multidisciplinary teams on major environmental impact assessments and land-use studies.
Melanie Meldowney (Resource Management Planner). Melanie is qualified with a Bachelor of Resource Studies from Lincoln University and a Masters in regional and Resource Planning from Otago University. Melanie has previously worked for a Queenstown based planning consultancy and Lakes Environmental Limited (CCO of the Queenstown Lakes District Council). Melanie has extensive experience in the preparation and assessment of resource consent applications.
Julia Talbot-Jones (Resource Management Planner). Julia has a first class honors in Applied Science (BAppScc (Hons) in Natural Resource Magament from Maseey University, a BSc in ecology and zoology. Julia has an excellent understanding of NZ ecolsystems and their resident fauna and flora. |
