Suzannah Toulmin
MBIE
Manager, Building Policy (Acting)

Suzannah is an experienced advisor with a demonstrated history of working in both the private energy/resource sector, and public service. Strong expertise in strategic thinking, commercial analytics and client and stakeholder relationship management.

Simpson Strong-Tie New Zealand Limited
Specification Engineer

Daniel is a member of Engineering NZ, holds CPEng status, has had various roles with manufacturers of Engineered Wood Products and structural connectors and fasteners, and joined Simpson Strong-Tie in early 2019.  He is passionate about encouraging and supporting uptake of timber in commercial, industrial and multi-storey construction with involvement in numerous industry bodies, standards committees, past BOINZ board member, and time as President and management committee member of the NZ Timber Design Society.

KEYNOTE: Jehan Casinader
Leading journalist, keynote speaker and mental health advocate

Jehan was named “Broadcast Reporter of the Year” at the Voyager Media Awards in 2020, and “Reporter of the Year” at the New Zealand Television Awards in 2018. In the aftermath of natural disasters, terror attacks, sporting triumphs and everything in between, Jehan has helped hundreds of Kiwis to share their vulnerable, deeply personal stories with the rest of the country. A survivor of depression and suicidality, he is the author of This Is Not How It Ends: How rewriting your story can save your life (HarperCollins).  Jehan is a familiar face in the building and construction sector, having hosted and facilitated a number of high-profile events over the past seven years.

Shay Harrop
Building Cycle Ltd
Director

Shay Harrop is an experienced building control professional and longstanding member of BOINZ. After starting his career as a BCO Cadet at the Whakatāne District Council, he moved to Tauranga City Council as a Building Control Manager. He left Tauranga City in 2019 to start up his own business supporting building consent authorities and supporting building companies establish effective compliance processes, procedures and systems for their products. Whilst living in Korea for two years, this latter work extended to assuring modular buildings constructed overseas comply with the New Zealand Building Code. Shay has subsequently become an industry leader in the field of modular construction compliance and is highly regarded for his contributions to national policy and research in this field as well as for his practical approach to building compliance within the broader sector.

Kirsty Wallace
BOINZ
Professional Development Manager

Kirsty runs The Training Academy. After six years of managing the Information and Education team in BSP at MBIE and time in teaching, education and change, Kirsty is now applying her knowledge of training development to BOINZ and the establishment of short form Advanced training for senior BCOs.

Jayson Ellis
Timaru District Council
Building Control Manager

Jayson is a long term BOINZ member. Jayson’s huge contributions to professional development were recognized in last year’s Excellence Awards, earning the Mitek NZ Training Commitment Award and, with the Technical Advisory Group, the BRANZ Outstanding Commitment to Information, Skills Development and Training Award.

Brian Maney
Tauranga City Council
BCO inspections Commercial

Currently Inspections supervisor for Mount Maunganui with Tauranga City Council. 2021 -current. Principle Building project design manager Community Facilities Auckland Council 2017 – 2021. Previous Team leader inspections for Auckland council 2012 – 2017. Early history in construction management NZ & Australia.

Craig Body
LT McGuinness
Project Director

Craig has 35 years of industry experience, specialising in ECI, preconstruction and design detail development. Craig also has significant experience in Retail mall, Sports facilities, Medical, Civic, Industrial and Hospitality construction projects. Currently involved with NZs largest mass timber office building, 90 Devonport Rd and the mass timber civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa.

Benjy Simmons
STARKE Windows and Doors
Business Development Lead

Benjy is a window technical expert at STARKE windows and doors, sits on the WGANZ Technical committee, and is passionate about better building performance.

Denise Martin
BEO Ltd
Principal Analyst

Denise Martin is the Director of BEO Ltd and a building analyst specializing in energy efficiency and building performance modeling. With extensive experience in Passive House certification and building envelope testing, she has significantly contributed to sustainable building practices in New Zealand and Australia. Her work ensures that every project not only meets but exceeds expectations in comfort, efficiency, and design.

Rod Newbold
NZ Metal Roofing Manufacturers Association
Customer and Market Application Specialist

Rod has 50 years experience in the roofing industry, and is editor of the Metal Roofing and Wall Cladding Code of Practice. The calculator was developed in line with AS/NZS3500 by WSP Opus consultants.

KEYNOTE: Vanessa van Uden
Admin & Business Solutions
Director

Vanessa is a Director of Admin & Business Solutions and has an extensive amount of Governance experience as a Chair, and as an Independent Director.  Vanessa is a member of the Institute of Directors and was elected to the Queenstown Lakes District Council as a Councillor in 2007 before serving as Mayor from 2010-2016. Vanessa arrived in the Queenstown Lakes District in 1998 to take the position of Contracts Manager with the Council.  She was in this role for four years before establishing Admin & Business Solutions to provide contract management, quality and health & safety management advice and advocacy for businesses.

Charlotta Harpur
Rice Speir
Principal

Charlotta is a seasoned specialist civil litigation and dispute resolution solicitor. She has assisted council to resolve disputes over the last 15 years, and is committed to finding solution to a variety of claims and complaints and the best possible outcome for councils.

Veronica Dessein
Engineering New Zealand 
Registrar

Veronica has been the Registrar for Chartered Professional Engineers since November 2022. Veronica's key focus is ensuring a robust assessment process, and a fit-for-purpose register of Chartered Professional Engineers in New Zealand.

Frana Divich
Heaney & Partners
Litigation Lawyer

Frana is a litigation lawyer who has been acting for local government and their insurers since 2005. Prior to that she spent 4 years in London where she worked in house for an insurer and in house for a London Borough. Frana’s work for local government has involved defending all manner of tortious claims including negligence, nuisance, Ryland v Fletcher, breach of statutory duty, defamation, malicious prosecution and misfeasance in a public office. The subject matter of the claims has involved amongst other things, building defects, LIMs, flooding, geotechnical issues, coastal engineering, fires, land slips, fallen trees and breaches of the RMA. Frana has been a partner of Heaney & Partners since 2013. 

Hasan Shueb
Design Manager
Dominion Constructors Ltd

Construction Design Manager with a civil engineering background and a master’s degree in construction management. 10 years of experience in the construction industry specializing in managing complex building projects from concept to completion. An expertise in NZ Building Code and Regulatory Compliance. Previous experience includes consent processing for multiple councils across New Zealand up to Residential (3) and Commercial (1) category. Involved in a wide range of sectors including commercial, residential, and interior construction. 

James has been a fire engineer with Fire and Emergency NZ (formerly the New Zealand Fire Service) for almost a quarter of a century. During this time he has witnessed and participated in a wide spectrum of fire experience in the built environment.