Paul A Catchpole MNZIS is a Registered Surveyor living in New Plymouth. He trained as a surveyor in New Plymouth where he was in private practice for several years before being originally appointed to the Planning Tribunal in July 1980 (for 3 years). He was re-appointed in 1983 (3 years), 1986 (5 years) and 1991 (5 years). Since the change in status to the Environment Court, he has been re-appointed in 1995 (5 years), July 2001(3 years) and October 2004 (5 years).

Completed a LEADR mediation workshop July 1996 and an advanced mediation seminar (May 2000).

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Ross M Dunlop BA, Diploma Town and Country Planning, MNZPI is a professionally qualified resource management planner living in Glendowie, Auckland. He was initially appointed as a fulltime Commissioner on 3 March 2003 (5 year term) and re-appointed on 9 June 2008 for a further 5 year term. Commissioner Dunlop has over 30 years experience in planning and resource management, which has included a number of senior management positions, namely District Planner for the Ministry of Works and Development (Auckland), Manager Planning and Environment for the Franklin District Council and Senior Principal (Planning) for URS New Zealand Limited (the successor to Woodward-Clyde NZ Ltd and Murray North and Partners). In addition to his plan preparation and policy work much of Commissioner Dunlop's experience has been with multi-disciplinary teams engaged on a range of major public and private sector projects, particularly transportation and major infrastructure works in Otago/Southland, Taranaki, Auckland and Northland. He completed a LEADR mediation workshop in March 2003.

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Kathryn Edmonds. BA, LLB(Hons), Dip TP, MNZPI was appointed to the Court in January 2005 and lives in central Wellington. Kathryn grew up in South Auckland and completed her BA majoring in geography at Auckland University, before moving to the UK and studying for her post-graduate Diploma in Town Planning. On her return to New Zealand, Kathryn shifted to Wellington where she worked for the Ministry of Works and Development in various roles as a planner and later also a manager in the Town and Country Planning Division. In the mid-1980's she moved to the Water and Soil Division, becoming the Manager of Policy and Planning, at the start of significant change in the management of the country's water and soil resources.

As a Policy Advisor to the Minister for the Environment 1987-1990 Kathryn was closely involved in the development of the Resource Management Act. She also began studying for a law degree, completing this in 1992, with admission to the Bar in 1993. After graduation Kathryn worked for a large consultancy firm, becoming the manager of the national environmental division in 2000 but still involved in some project work.

Kathryn is keen on the outdoors, and tramps, orienteers and cycles.

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Russell Howie was appointed an Environment Commissioner in July 2001. He holds the degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Canterbury University, and is a Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers. He has been an Independent Commissioner under the RMA on many occasions for the Wellington Regional Council and for the Wellington, Porirua, Hutt and Upper Hutt City Councils. He was the Environmental Manager for the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand and before that he was the Deputy Director of Water and Soil Conservation for the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority. He has been involved in the design and construction of highways, dams, irrigation schemes, flood control schemes, drainage schemes and in the allocation of water resources. He is a past president of the New Zealand Society of Large Dams and was recently the Project Manager for the Strengthening of the Matahina Dam. He lives in Wellington.

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Appointed as a Commissioner in July 2001 Charles Manning commenced duties in October 2001. He was born in Leicester, England, and educated at Southampton University, (BA(Hons) 1967, MA 1969).He lectured in the classics department of the University of Canterbury from 1968 to 2001. He was a Christchurch City councillor from 1980 to 1983 and 1986 to 2001. During that time he chaired the City Plan hearings committee and the Resource Management committee.

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Ms Heather McConachy commenced duties as an Environment Commissioner on 6 August 2001. She holds the degrees of BA from Massey University (1989), BLA from Lincoln University (1992), and is completing an MSc at Auckland University. Heather is a Landscape Architect, based in Auckland; formerly self employed and more recently with the Environmental Consultancy firm, Biome. Her experience covers work and consultancy with Local Bodies, including design, assessment and project implementation over an extensive range of sites for revegetation, planning and work with community development projects.

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In 2006 Diane Menzies was elected as President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects, a two year term. Dr Menzies has academic qualifications in horticulture, landscape architecture, mediation, resource management and business management. Her Ph.D. in Resource Studies concerned rural environmental quality issues.

She has over 30 years experience with local and national government in landscape planning, design, environmental policy analysis and resource management. She was appointed to the Environment Court of New Zealand as a Commissioner in 2001. Prior to her appointment Dr Menzies was a landscape planning consultant. She has also been an elected local government representative.

Diane Menzies is a Registered landscape architect, past president and life member of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects as well as past International Federation of Landscape Architects Secretary General and Eastern Region Secretary, chair of the Congresses committee and newsletter editor. She has presented papers at conferences on landscape architecture in Peru, Australia, Japan, Korea, Italy, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Costa Rica, China, Russia and the USA; written articles, and chapters of books. She has judged planning and design competitions and awards in Australia and New Zealand, conducted training seminars for expert witnesses and mediation participants, and undertaken accreditation reviews of university programmes in landscape architecture. She has also recently been invited to join the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

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John Mills graduated from Lincoln University with a B.Agricultural Commerce in 1975. He owned and managed a 3000 stock unit sheep and beef farm in the Te Anau Basin 1981-1999. Local Government Experience: Elected to Southland Regional Council 1989-1998. Deputy Chair of that Council 1992-1998. Chair of Consents Committee 1992-1998. He was first appointed an Environment Commissioner in 1999. Completed LEADR mediation workshop 1999.

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Marlene Oliver BA, MURP, MNZPI, is a professionally qualified resource management planner living in Auckland. Commissioner Oliver has over 30 years experience in planning and resource management, plan preparation and administration. Prior to her appointment as a full-time Commissioner in the Environment Court in April 2004, she practised as a planning consultant and Independent Commissioner under the RMA. She previously worked in both local and regional government, including as the County Planner for the then Rodney County Council. Commissioner Oliver is a LEADR qualified mediator.

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Kevin Prime, lives in Northland and was initially appointed from 1 March 2003 (5 year term) and re-appointed on 9 June 2008 for a further five year term. Kevin Prime has been a farmer and forester in Motatau (Northland), for the last 40 years and in the last two years has taken up bee keeping as a hobby. During the last 20 years or so he has been very much involved in community matters with Marae Committees, Maori Committees, Runanga, Maori development, School Boards of Trustees, Charitable Trusts, Health Trusts, Community Trusts, Forest Trusts, Forest Companies, Health Companies, Health Boards, Conservation Boards at local, regional and national levels. He has also served on Ministerial Advisory groups pertaining to Health, Forestry, Conservation, Maori Affairs, Environment, Crown Research Institutes, Lands, and Sport.

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Helen Beaumont was appointed as a Commissioner in August 2007 and completed the LEADR mediation training in November 2007. Her professional background is in environmental chemistry and her early career was with DSIR Chemistry and ESR, a Crown Research Institute. Her research interests focused on environmental health and the connections between the quality of the environment and human well-being. From 2000 to 2007 Helen was Assistant Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and contributed to a wide range of projects to advance environmental sustainability in New Zealand

Helen was born in the deep south and has made her home in Wellington over the past 25 years. Her leisure time interests include gardening, conservation projects, cycling and reading theology.

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Dr Ian Stewart was appointed in November 2004. He has qualifications in biology and was awarded a PhD in Resource Management. His career has included academic appointments at Lincoln College, the East West Centre (Hawaii), Auckland University and the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. He also worked for the Department of Conservation in the West Coast and Wellington.

Prior to his appointment he practised as an education and resource management consultant, with a particular emphasis as a resource consent commissioner for regional councils.

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Dr Alex Sutherland commenced duties as a Commissioner in January 2005. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (1st Class Honours) and a Master of Engineering from the University of Auckland. In 1966 he obtained his PhD from Caltech in Civil Engineering and Mathematics. In 1967 he joined the University of Canterbury as a lecturer in Civil Engineering carrying out teaching and research in hydraulic and coastal engineering. He became Dean of Engineering in 1987 and held that position until 2005. He served on the University Council for 10 years and as a member of the Senior Management team in 2004-2005. As an auditor for the Academic Audit Unit he chaired academic audits of the Universities of Auckland and Otago. From 1980 until 1989 he was an elected member of the North Canterbury Catchment Board. He has acted many times as an independent commissioner for a number of Regional and Local Councils. Dr Sutherland is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institution of Engineers New Zealand and served on its Council for 12 years and as a member of its Competency Assessment Board during 2001-2005.

In 2005 Dr Sutherland was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

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Sheila Watson was initially appointed an Environment Commissioner for a 5 year term from March 2003 and re-appointed on 9 June 2008 for a further two year term.

Sheila Watson is a professional environmental manager with over 20 years experience in the field. She has a strong understanding of New Zealand resource management law, and of related science, engineering, local government, New Zealand society and business practices. Ms Watson was Environmental Manager for Mighty River Power. Other positions have included Environmental Services Manager with the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand, Environmental Planner at NIWA, Planning Manager with Works Consultancy Services and Department of Conservation Regional Mining Coordinator. Ms Watson was appointed Deputy Chair of the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board (2004-2006). She holds a BA in Geography and Economics from the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Regional and Resource Planning from the University of Otago.

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David Bunting is a civil engineering graduate from Canterbury University. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand. He has been a board member of the Institution of Professional Engineers, the Engineers Registration Board and the Chartered Professional Engineers Council. Prior to his appointment as an Environment Commissioner, he was international manager and then business development manager for Opus International Consultants. He has extensive experience of physical infrastructure development projects in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and many developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.

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Initially appointed as a Deputy Commissioner for a period of 5 years from 3 March 2003 and subsequently re-appointed a Deputy Environment Commissioner for a further three years effective from 9 June 2008. His career background is with the Ministry of Works, Catchment Boards and Regional Water Boards and New Zealand Engineering Consultancies. Resident in Dunedin he has a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (Civil) from Auckland University and a Master of Business Administration from Otago University. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer, an International Professional Engineer and a Member (Civil, Environmental) of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand. He is also an Associate of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators NZ and the recipient of an ANZAC Fellowship Award from the New Zealand and Australian Governments.

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Dr Tom Fookes is an Associate Professor in Planning at the University of Auckland where he was Head of Department from 1994 - 1998. Prior to his appointment to the University of Auckland in 1993 he was a Principal Policy Analyst at the Ministry for the Environment. Before that he undertook environmental impact assessments in Adelaide, South Australia, for the Department of Planning and Environment. He has been a member of the NZ Planning Institute since 1973. Dr Fookes is married with a family of three young adults.

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Dr Gollop hold degrees in chemical engineering and medicine. Originally he was environmental engineer for NZ Forest Products Ltd but has wide technical and management experience in the paper, chemical and petroleum industries. He is a registered specialist in occupational medicine. Since 1990 Dr Gollop has been in senior health management roles having been CEO of a number of Health Boards. Currently he practises occupational medicine and has his own health management consultancy that operates within Australasia.

Dr Gollop was appointed a Deputy Environment Commissioner in March 2003

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Robyn Grigg is based in Christchurch and was first appointed to the Planning Tribunal in 1991 and then re-appointed in 1996. She was then appointed as a Deputy Commissioner in 2001 and 2004. She has a background in farming, rural issues and local government. Completed the Kellogg Rural Leadership course in 1982. Travelled overseas on a Churchill Fellowship and a Lincoln Foundation Award in 1987. Completed a LEADR mediation course in 1998.

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Born and brought up in Kawa Kawa, Northland Ken completed a BA and BCom at Auckland University. On completion he moved to Christchurch and worked for the following twenty years in economics and National Accounts with Statistics New Zealand. For over a decade he was an Advisor in economics for Statistics NZ, with large components of training and mentoring staff, external training in National Accounts, and a working brief that spanned the entire Economic Statistics Group, in undertaking, leading and advising on development projects and on-going statistical outputs. Extensive experience as the leading PSA delegate within Statistics New Zealand led Ken to an interest in dispute resolution and retraining as a mediator, gaining LEADR accreditation and Associate of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand.

A life-long interest in things rural, Ken assisted his horticulturist wife Jenny to establish and run a specialist mail-order herb nursery. Ken and his family moved their nursery to North Canterbury in 1999. When not mediating and acting for the Court, Ken spends his time working on farms in the local Oxford area - when he is not coaching or playing football that is.

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Appointed as a Deputy Commissioner in August 2007, David Kernohan is an architect and former Associate Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Wellington's Victoria University, School ofArchitecture. He has been operating his own research and building heritageconsultancy, Architecture Diagnostics, for the past five years. David was co-author of the Hunn Report on the weather-tightness of buildings that precipitated recent changes to the Building Act 2004

David is a member of the Board of Wellington Waterfront Ltd, and was appointed in January 2004. Previously, he chaired Wellington City Council's Waterfront Development Subcommittee in its first three years of existence during the critical period of translating the Wellington Waterfront Framework from aspiration to intention. David is co-owner, with his wife Christine, of Gladstone Vineyard in the Wairarapa.

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