PC 120 Independent Hearings Panel (IHP)

Sarah Shaw is a senior barrister with 25 years’ experience in resource management, local government and public and administrative law.

Sarah was appointed to the Gambling Commission in 2022. She is a Hearings Commissioner and Water Services Commissioner. Sarah has chaired a number of hearings on significant infrastructure projects and served as a Deputy Chair for Auckland’s Plan Change 78.

Sarah is a member of the New Zealand Law Society’s Environmental Law Committee. She has run the Northland branch of the Resource Management Law Association since 2019.

Dr Lee Beattie is an Associate Professor of Urban Design at the University of Auckland. He is regularly appointed to chair and provide independent hearing commissioner services for Auckland Council, Queenstown Lakes and Kaipara District Councils.

Lee is a Fellow of Te Kōkiringa Taumata – New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). As a registered Urban Designer (UDIA) and Urban Planner (FNZPI), Lee has nearly 30 years of experience and qualifications in urban design, planning and environmental science. Lee’s research focuses on delivering compact, high-quality urban form that is sustainable, resilient, and liveable and on the effectiveness of transit-oriented development.

Dr Stuart Donovan is a Senior Fellow at Motu Research with over 20 years of experience as a consultant and researcher in New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands.

With degrees in economics and engineering, Stuart specialises in spatial, urban and transport economics, land use and infrastructure policy, multi-modal transport planning, providing advice to Government departments and agencies.

Stuart is a Hearing Commissioner, working from and living in Wellington.

Jack Turner is Pou Whakarae/Director at Tektus, delivering collaborative engineering, planning, and environmental services. He has over 20 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering and RMA planning, with expertise in natural hazards and resilience, three waters, stormwater and water-sensitive design.

Jack is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and a Hearing Commissioner in Auckland. Jack is committed to integrity, manaakitanga and outcomes for people, place and planet.

Karyn Kurzeja is a planning consultant and Director of Purpose Planning with more than 25 years’ experience in the areas of urban and statutory planning, policy making and plan development. Karyn has worked on large-scale residential and rural subdivision projects, medium-density housing developments, greenfield growth projects and plan change rezoning applications.

Karyn is regularly appointed to chair both resource consent and plan change hearings for the Auckland Council. She also provides independent hearing commissioner services to Tauranga City Council and Hamilton City Council.

Karyn is a full member of Te Kōkiringa Taumata – New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) and a member of the Resource Management Law Association (RMLA). 

Karyn Sinclair is a highly experienced town planner with over 35 years in the industry and has lived in Auckland for more than 30 years. She has led significant consent applications for major infrastructure projects including the NZTA Pūhoi to Warkworth project. She has served as a Commissioner on RMA hearings panels since 2007.

Karyn was appointed to the Rugby World Cup Authority in 2011. Karyn also served as a past Chair of the NZPI Board and is a Fellow of Te Kōkiringa Taumata - New Zealand Planning Institute (FNZPI).

Malcolm McCracken is a transport and urban planner with expertise in transport planning and strategy, policy development and transport and land‑use integration. As a consultant, Malcolm has undertaken significant advisory work across local and central government.

In transport, his work includes public transport network reviews, development of integrated transport strategies to support development and growth, subject-matter expertise on infrastructure upgrades.

In land use and housing, Malcolm has advised on resource management reforms, financial incentives and funding and financing tools to support urban development.

Matt Prasad is an urban design and development professional with over 20 years of experience working on cities, communities and infrastructure.

He has experience working in architecture, urban design, development advisory and spatial and urban strategy. Matt has worked with councils, iwi and private developers across Auckland leading regeneration, intensification and growth programmes.

Matt is known for making complex issues easier to understand, helping in taking clear and open decisions and helping different groups work together. 

Vicki Morrison-Shaw is a senior environmental barrister with extensive experience across major infrastructure projects, including wind farms, rail and roading, marinas, and coastal activities such as sand mining, aquaculture, and discharges.

As a Hearings Commissioner, Vicki has chaired and served on numerous panels across Aotearoa related to plan changes, resource consents, and fast-track consents.

Vicki has advised and represented parties in appeals and judicial reviews on resource management, heritage authorities, wildlife permits, and Māori law issues. Vicki has whakapapa to Ngāpuhi and speaks Te Reo Māori, which sees her regularly appointed to panels where an understanding of tikanga and Te Ao Māori is required. Vicki is the current convenor of the New Zealand Law Society’s Environmental Law Committee (since 2023).