National Governance.

RMLA’s national governance structure provides the leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for the Association. The National Committee is responsible for managing RMLA’s affairs in accordance with the Constitution, with a focus on representing members across the country, supporting the Association’s purposes, and ensuring sound, effective governance.

Annual elections give members the opportunity to nominate for a role on RMLA’s National Committee and help shape the future direction of the Association. In line with the Constitution, nominations are called at least six weeks before the AGM, must be seconded by another member, and must be received no later than three weeks before the AGM. If more nominations are received than there are vacancies, an election will be held. Please contact us for more information.

  • Lauren Wallace (Taranaki)

    PRESIDENT

    Phone: 0274 561 122

    Portfolios:
    Legislative, Strategic Relations, Courts, Roadshows

    Govett Quilliam
    Private Bag 2013
    New Plymouth

  • Kate Stubbing (Bay of Plenty)

    SECRETARY

    Phone: 021 1639 130

    Portfolios:
    Awards & Scholarships, Regional Development & Co-operation, Legislation, Strategic Relations, Courts

    CooneyLeesMorgan
    PO Box 143
    Tauranga 3144

  • Andrew Schulte (Canterbury)

    CO-TREASURER

    Phone: 027 418 1327

    Portfolios:
    Legislation, Membership Services, Regional Development & Cooperation

    Cavell Leitch
    PO Box 799
    Christchurch 8140

  • Julia Wick (Auckland)

    CO-TREASURER

    Phone: 021 0228 1132

    Portfolios:
    Roadshows, Publications & Communications, Conference

    Boffa Miskell
    PO Box 91250
    Auckland 1010

    Julia Wick is a Senior Principal and Landscape Architect at Boffa Miskell, specialising in landscape and natural character assessments across Aotearoa New Zealand. She works on a wide range of projects, from infrastructure and urban development through to regional landscape and seascape studies, and regularly provides expert evidence on resource management matters.

    As a member of the Resource Management Law Association (RMLA) National Executive, Julia helps support professional development, events and conversations that bring together the many disciplines involved in resource management. She is also actively involved with Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA), reflecting her belief that strong resource management outcomes rely on collaboration between planners, lawyers, landscape architects, ecologists, engineers and communities.

    What motivates her most is helping people make informed decisions about the places and landscapes that shape our communities. She is passionate about finding practical solutions that balance environmental, cultural and development outcomes, and values the opportunity to bridge the connection between landscape architecture and the wider resource management profession.

    Before becoming a landscape architect, Julia worked as a criminologist, and she remains fascinated by the relationship between people and place - how the environments we create influence wellbeing, behaviour and a sense of belonging.

  • Douglas Fairgray (Auckland)

    Phone: (09) 915-5514

    Portfolios:
    Strategic Relations, Courts, Legislation

    Market Economics
    PO Box 331297, Takapuna,
    Auckland 0740

  • Barbara Mead (Bay of Plenty)

    Phone: 027 510 0199

    Portfolios:
    Publications & Communications, Legislation

    Barrister & Consultant
    Auckland/Tauranga

    Barbara Mead is a barrister based in Tauranga, practising as Barbara Mead Barrister. She is a National Committee member of the Resource Management Law Association and Editor of the Resource Management Journal. In those roles, she helps shape RMLA’s national programme, commissions and edits the Journal’s quarterly content, and contributes to the Association’s wider work supporting members across publications, events, and professional development.

    Barbara is motivated by the way resource management law sits at the intersection of people, places, and the environment we all share. For her, RMLA provides an important forum where practitioners, decision-makers, iwi, and communities come together to make sense of complex issues. She volunteers because those cross-disciplinary conversations help make the law better, more accessible, and more responsive to the times we are working in.

    Beyond the law, family and the outdoors are central to Barbara’s life. Whether paddle boarding, sailing, biking, or walking, if it is outside, she is probably in.

  • Clare Lenihan (Otago/Southland)

    Phone: 027 577 6823

    Portfolios:
    Regional Development &
    Co-operation, Roadshows & Webinars, Awards & Scholarships, Publications & Communications

    Clare Lenihan
    Barrister
    Invercargill

  • Heike Lutz (Auckland)

    Phone: 021 666 947

    Portfolios:
    Member Services, Scholarships & Awards, Roadshows, Seminars & Events

    BCon Consultants Ltd
    PO Box 65-156
    Mairangi Bay
    Auckland 0754

    Heike Lutz is based in Auckland and is the founder of BCon Consultants Ltd. She works across architecture, heritage conservation, urban design, and resource management as an Independent Hearings Commissioner. She serves on both the Auckland Branch Committee and the National Committee of the RMLA, where she contributes to several subcommittees, including Member Services, Scholarships & Awards, Roadshows, and Seminars & Events.

    Through these roles, she helps develop opportunities for learning, professional connection, recognition of excellence, and knowledge sharing across the resource management community. She values the collaborative nature of the RMLA and the opportunity it provides to bring together diverse perspectives to support better environmental and planning outcomes. Her volunteer involvement is driven by a commitment to fostering professional growth, encouraging thoughtful discussion, and helping build a strong and connected resource management sector.

    Heike brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work and enjoys connecting people, ideas, and places. She is particularly interested in the intersection of heritage, environmental stewardship, and the evolving challenges facing New Zealand's communities.

  • Rebekah Te Rito (Auckland)

    Phone: 09 9168718

    Portfolios:
    Young RMLA, Awards & Scholarships, Member Services

    Bell Gully
    Deloitte Centre
    1 Queen Street,
    Auckland

    Rebekah Te Rito is an Associate in the Environment and Planning team at Bell Gully in Tāmaki Makaurau. They serve as the young RMLA representative on the national RMLA committee, where they advocate for practitioners in their first five years of mahi.

    Rebekah are motivated by both te taiao and the communities they are fortunate to be part of. They believe connection is important, and want to help ensure RMLA remains a space where everyone feels welcome and comfortable.

  • Tara Hauraki (Wellington)

    Phone: 04 495 9983

    Portfolios:
    Pou Kaitiaki - Taiao Kaitiaki Practitioners’ Hui

    Tumuaki | Partner
    Kahui Legal
    Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou