The New South? Managing Growth in Auckland

The New South? Managing Growth in Auckland

Join us at Auckland Conversations as we discuss how to manage urban growth with world leading expert city-maker, Hila Oren.

Pukekohe Park Events Centre, Pukekohe, Auckland
222 -250 Manukau Rd, Pukekohe 2120
6:30pm: Networking & refreshments
7:00pm: Start
8:30pm: Finish

Auckland’s growth is far from slowing and looking ahead 30 years, our urban area will grow and change. How do we manage this growth? A big part of the future lies within south Auckland.

The south is the largest future urban growth area in Auckland with around 5,300 hectares of land identified for urban development.

Auckland Council are currently working on structure plans for both Drury and Pukekohe and the Supporting Growth Alliance between NZTA, Auckland Transport and Auckland Council are providing expertise in the transport planning for that area.

Urban development expert Hila Oren, CEO of the Tel-Aviv Foundation, will speak on her experiences in infrastructure development around the world. She will be joined by a panel of industry experts to discuss how areas in South Auckland, such as Drury and Pukekohe, can leverage off the changes in Auckland to create a platform for future development.

Andrew Baker, deputy chair of Franklin Local Board, will MC the night with Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore providing closing remarks. Hila will also be joined by a panel of industry experts including: 
John Duguid, General Manager Plans & Places, Auckland Council
Cynthia Gillespie, Executive General Manager, Planning & Investment, Auckland Transport
Quin Henderson, Chief Executive Officer, Southbase Construction Ltd

Please note spaces are limited for this event, watch the livestream online.

Listen to the podcast

Hila Oren

CEO, The Tel Aviv Foundation

Hila Oren is the CEO of The Tel Aviv Foundation. The Foundation serves as a driver of progress, elevating the City’s quality of life through education, the arts, sports, social services, the environment and innovative urban projects. It has established more than 820 projects and raised over $750 million worldwide, thereby touching the lives of more than 500,000 people every year.

Previously Oren founded and served as CEO of Tel Aviv Global. Tel Aviv Global is an initiative started by the Mayor's Office of Tel Aviv-Yafo dedicated to elevating the city’s brand and global positioning. In 2010, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality undertook a municipal-national initiative designed to position Tel Aviv as a global city – a leading international business center that specializes in innovation. 

During her term, the Startup City vision was formed: a municipal strategic plan for investors, entrepreneurs, tourists and students, connecting a city platform with a private initiative. As a result, Tel Aviv-Yafo was awarded the title 'Best Smart City in the World' in 2014.

Hila’s prior experience includes leading the Tel Aviv Centennial Administration and the Society of the Protection of Nature in Israel. 

Hila is also a board member of Haifa Port, a board member of the Vertigo Dance Troupe and a board member on the Neot Kdumim Park. She formerly served as Board member of the Amidor housing company.

Hila is a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at Haifa University, working on a thesis about the global branding of Tel Aviv. She holds a BA and MBA from Tel Aviv University and completed a program at the Harvard Kennedy School. 

Cynthia Gillespie

Executive General Manager, Planning & Investment, Auckland Transport

Cynthia commenced with Auckland Transport in July 2017 after over 25 years’ experience in commercial and government sectors at the Australian Federal and State levels.

This included senior executive roles in State Government where she was responsible for guiding return on investment for the Commonwealth Games in Queensland, leading the NSW rail integration project for the greenfield rail development and developing significant customer service outcome agendas for public transport.  

Three years spent with KPMG included working closely with government agencies on shaping strategic frameworks that delivered government objectives, synthesizing emerging trends and identifying long-term opportunities.

Cynthia cut her transport teeth as a logistics officer in the Australia Army.  She subsequently developed a passion for understanding how integrating transport components into a systems approach delivered improved transport outcomes for all the community.

Championing innovation and fostering effective working relationships to effect real change for communities is a passion for Cynthia.

Quin Henderson

CEO at Southbase Construction Ltd

Quin’s 35 year career has included the executive leadership of many of New Zealand’s most significant and complex construction projects. He has extensive experience governing and directing project teams to deliver outstanding results.

Growing up in Christchurch and going on to lead projects throughout NZ, Sydney and London Quin has an extensive network with experience that allows him to bring to any organisation key governance and leadership competencies with a local and international perspective on business and best practice. Quin brings a collaborative style of leadership that empowers teams to achieve results.  His ability to articulate strategic thought, map outcomes and provide the drive and leadership required to achieve results is a skill both proven and respected.

Quin has the ability to inject new people, ideas and systems into well established teams.  His implementation of rigorous reporting processes and audits are used as tools to enable teams that he works with to strive for success. With an extensive local and international project based network Quin is able to introduce a strategic overview for project delivery with many alternate source options for labour and material supply.

Financial acumen and understanding of the drivers to achieve financial results in conjunction with brand promotion and recognition add further value to any organisation's governance.

Quin is able to provide structured solutions for a range of Clients through his innovative use of contract procurement models.

Quin established Southbase Construction in 2013 with an aim to grow the best commercial and residential construction company in New Zealand.  Having already established an impressive portfolio of projects around Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, Southbase has earned its reputation as one of the most forward thinking construction companies in New Zealand.  With the backing of a strong governance Board they are leading the way with innovative thinking and smart building practices.  

Andy Baker

Franklin Local Board Deputy Chair

Andy Baker is 3rd generation in the Drury area and 4th generation in Franklin, so he and his family have seen plenty of change over a long period of time. Coming from a dairy farming family, Andy has worked in the south his entire life and most of that in the Franklin area including years as a police officer, restaurateur and as a District Council emergency management manager in Franklin and Waikato. 

A member of the Franklin Local Board since 2010, he was chair for two terms and is currently deputy chair, as well as being a chair of the Auckland Licensing Committee and Director of Counties Manukau Rugby. He has been heavily involved in cross boundary work with Waikato District and Regional Council's ensuring communication and collaboration when considering the massive growth in the area. He also chairs a CMDHB Localities Leadership Group focused on delivery of health services in the "old" Franklin area. 

Bill Cashmore

Deputy Mayor

Deputy Mayor Cashmore has been an elected member since 2010, first as local board member for the Franklin ward followed by election as the Franklin ward councillor.

Spatial planning, infrastructure, transport and project financing feature heavily in Deputy Mayor Cashmore’s focus areas, with a particular interest in planned and cohesive infrastructure delivery. As an elected representative, the Deputy Mayor is able to contribute to the strategic planning and delivery of infrastructure, in a way that meets the needs of Auckland’s people, visitors and businesses.

The Deputy Mayor has a forthright and collaborative approach, utilising key relationships with central government and its agencies, private sector organisations and communities. In doing so, planned infrastructure is fit for purpose, helping Auckland to grow in a way that is productive.

John Duguid

General Manager, Plans and Places, Auckland Council

John originally trained as an architect in the early 1990s then moved to his chosen career as an urban planner in the late ‘90s. His first significant role was as an urban designer with the former North Shore City Council working on projects such as the Albany Centre and the Long Bay structure plan. In 2007 he was successful in securing the role of Central Area Planning Manager with the former Auckland City Council. Without doubt, the highlight of John’s time in this role was helping bring the vision for the City Centre Waterfront and Wynyard Quarter to fruition. John and his team made a major contribution to the transformation of the Waterfront by taking the Wynyard Quarter plan change through the process from public notification to operative. At the same time, his team also processed at break-neck speed the resource consents for the Viaduct Events Centre, the North Wharf buildings and the ASB head office building. This ensured that Wynyard Quarter was “ready-to-go” as a show-piece for Rugby World Cup 2011.

In November 2010 John was successful in securing the role of Plan Development Manager with the newly-formed Auckland Council. This Plan Development unit had three key tasks: reviewing over 100 bylaws from the legacy councils; developing and implementing local spatial plans; and preparing the Auckland Unitary Plan. During his time in this position, John played a significant role in taking the Auckland Unitary Plan – now largely regarded as a game-changer for Auckland - through from initial concept to substantially operative. In September 2015, he was appointed as the General Manager of Auckland Council’s Plans and Places Department.

John is a self-confessed urbanist with a strong interest in music and architecture, and as a rugby-mad Scotsman, he is still waiting for the day his team get one over the All Blacks!

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