Our People
Jaime Devereux
Urban Design and Landscape Director
Jaime has over 20 years of combined experience in the architectural, urban design and planning fields.
James Beban
Planning and Natural Hazards Director
James has over 20 years experience as a planner in the public and private sectors.
Andrea Reid
URBAN DESIGNER AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Andrea is a multi-award-winning Landscape Architect and Urban Designer with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Degree and a Certificate in Permaculture Design.
Anna Hanson
SENIOR PLANNER
Anna has spent nearly 10 years working in the resource consent teams of Wellington and Hutt City Councils and obtained a Master of Resource and Environmental Planning along the way before joining Urban Edge Planning about 5 years ago as a Senior Planner.
Corinna Tessendorf
PRINCIPAL PLANNER
Corinna has 14 years of experience in New Zealand planning in the public and private sectors. She has worked in Policy and Planning for more than 25 years, in very diverse environments, and under ever changing legislation.
Eve McLachlan
URBAN DESIGNER AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Eve has a Master of Landscape Architecture and is a registered member of the NZILA. She brings over eight years’ experience in the industry to the Urban Edge team and is building experience in landscape assessment.
Julia Price
Office Manager
Julia has a background in HR coordination and various admin & support roles, across a wide range of industries.
Karen Williams
Principal Planner
Karen has over 15 years’ experience and knowledge of planning practice under the Resource Management Act.
Kerry Wynne
SENIOR PLANNER
Kerry is a qualified and accredited Planner, having completed a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning, with First Class Honours.
Laura Gaudin
Planner
Laura has been working as a planner for five years. She has experience in preparing a range of resource consent applications, with a particular focus on multi-unit residential developments.
Sarah Gunnell
SENIOR PLANNER
Sarah is a Senior Planner with over 15 years experience and holds both a Master of Resource and Environmental Planning (First Class Honours) and a Master of Science (Geography).
Sarah Akers
Senior Planner
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Planning with First Class Honours, and has over 10 years experience as a planner.
Laura Brownlie
Senior Planner
Laura holds a Masters in Resource and Environmental Planning and has over ten years’ experience in the public and private sector in New Zealand.
Alice Blackwell
Senior Planner
Alice has over 14 years’ experience and knowledge of planning practice under the Resource Management Act.
Emily McDowall
Intermediate Planner
Emily has 8 years experience in central and local government.
Jaime Devereux
Urban Design and Landscape Director
027 224 7269
Jaime has over 20 years of combined experience in the architectural, urban design and planning fields.
Jaime has a unique background, with a Bachelor of Architecture, a Master of Environmental Resources and Planning and a Certificate in Landscape Design. Her previous work history in planning has primarily been within the private sector; including construction, land development and telecommunication companies. She also has experience utilising her architectural background for a structural engineering firm. This has provided Jaime with practical experience in architectural design, general structural and construction knowledge and working with the New Zealand Building Code and Standards.
Jaimes’ skillset has allowed her to pursue her passion in urban design. Her experience provides her with a strong grounding in key urban design principals while understanding the fine balance sought between architectural design and integrity, structural constraints and the requirements sought by District Plan objectives, policies and rules. Jaime works with a number of public and private clients; providing urban design advice and preparing urban design assessments for a wide variety of projects. She also provides urban design advice to the policy and consenting teams within local Councils and in the Wellington Region.
James Beban
Planning and Natural Hazards Director
022 659 1996
James has over 20 years experience as a planner in the public and private sectors.
James has experience working for local Government, GNS Science and private consultancy firms. He continues to work with many territorial authorities, providing advice and forming district plan policy. He also advises a number of private clients on complex resource consent applications for multi-unit residential developments, subdivisions, commercial developments.
James has represented Council and private clients in a significant number of hearings for plan changes and notified resource consent applications. He has also presented planning evidence in the Environment Court and High Court. James has successfully worked closely with a number of his clients during the mediation process to reach agreements with affected parties, thereby preventing the need for Council hearings and Environment Court proceedings.
James’ particular expertise is in land use planning for natural hazards. He has worked for a number of district and regional councils, central government agencies and Crown Research Institutes to undertake research into land use planning for natural hazards or to prepare plan changes that manage natural hazard risk. This includes the development the risk-based framework that is used by the majority of the councils in the Wellington Region to manage land use planning within a wide variety of overlays. James has also been involved in the development of several national and regional guidance documents on how to manage natural hazard risks through land use planning.
Corinna Tessendorf
PRINCIPAL PLANNER
Corinna has 14 years of experience in New Zealand planning in the public and private sectors.
She has worked in Policy and Planning for more than 25 years, in very diverse environments, and under ever changing legislation.
With an in-depth knowledge of the Resource Management Act, and extensive experience in the development, preparation and processing of planning documents, Corinna has excellent analytical skills and can readily make sense of complex information. She has the ability to easily adjust to changing circumstances and is a real team player, with a very good eye for detail, and while never losing sight of the bigger picture.
Anna Hanson
SENIOR PLANNER
Anna has spent nearly 10 years working in the resource consent teams of Wellington and Hutt City Councils and obtained a Master of Resource and Environmental Planning along the way before joining Urban Edge Planning about 5 years ago as a Senior Planner.
She has worked across a wide range of projects, including multi-unit residential, subdivisions, shopping centres and other commercial and industrial developments. Anna’s experience includes processing of non-notified and notified resource consents, including presenting at hearings, as well as the preparation of resource consent applications.
Kerry Wynne
SENIOR PLANNER
Kerry is a qualified and accredited Planner, having completed a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning, with First Class Honours.
Kerry’s experience working with various Councils provides the benefit of knowing the various District Plans. She also gained exposure to the field of policy planning through previous roles, managing and monitoring progress, and implementation.
Sarah Gunnell
SENIOR PLANNER
Sarah is a Senior Planner with over 15 years experience and holds both a Master of Resource and Environmental Planning (First Class Honours) and a Master of Science (Geography).
She has experience in preparing and processing resource consent applications for local authorities for a wide range of activities, private plan changes and presenting at hearings.
With a passion for natural hazards planning, Sarah continues to be involved in research and the development of guidance and policy to support and improve planning practice in this area.
Andrea Reid
URBAN DESIGNER AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Andrea is a multi-award-winning Landscape Architect and Urban Designer with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Degree and a Certificate in Permaculture Design.
Part of the Urban Design and Landscape Architecture team, Andrea has worked at several large engineering firms, and has gained unique and broad-ranging experience with the consent, design and delivery of residential developments, public parks, urban spaces, and ecological restoration.
Andrea has a sound understanding of the broad range of landscape considerations required on projects within challenging or sensitive environments, working with Councils, Local Boards and Transport Authorities. She has a passion for connecting communities with local ecology, culture, technology, industry and history.
Eve McLachlan
URBAN DESIGNER AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Eve has a Master of Landscape Architecture and is a registered member of the NZILA. She brings over eight years’ experience in the industry to the Urban Edge team and is building experience in landscape assessment.
With a strong interest in the impact design has on communities, Eve demonstrates a passion for ecological design and seeks to find environmentally sensitive outcomes.
Eve is experienced in complex technical projects, working alongside the community and in collaborative design projects.
Laura Gaudin
PLANNER
Laura has been working as a planner for five years. She has experience in preparing a range of resource consent applications, with a particular focus on multi-unit residential developments.
She is passionate about people and the environments they live in, and is drawn to planning due to its problem-solving nature.
Laura Brownlie
SENIOR PLANNER
Laura holds a Masters in Resource and Environmental Planning and has over ten years’ experience in the public and private sector in New Zealand.
She has an extensive background in preparing applications and processing resource consents for multiple councils and private clients across the Wellington region, as well as experience in notified consents and presenting at hearings.
Throughout her career she worked on a wide range of projects of varying scales and complexities, including residential (multi-unit developments and retirement villages), rural subdivisions, commercial developments, historic heritage, and projects with large infrastructure components. This has provided her with a broad skillset and vast knowledge of planning processes and different District Plans across the regions which enable her to deliver the best and most efficient outcomes for her clients.
Laura is a meticulous planner with an eye for detail who enjoys all aspects of planning, particularly the technical facets and large-scale developments.
Sarah Akers
SENIOR PLANNER
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Planning with First Class Honours, and has over 10 years experience as a planner.
Sarah has experience preparing and processing resource consents for local authorities throughout New Zealand, for a wide range of projects. Sarah enjoys working with clients, applicants and experts to work through issues and find solutions.
Sarah is also passionate for the conservation of New Zealand’s natural, historic and cultural heritage. She is currently on parental leave, and we look forward to her return.
Julia Price
OFFICE MANAGER
Julia has a background in HR coordination and various admin & support roles, across a wide range of industries.
Julia’s passion lies in the art of keeping things meticulously organized. Her keen attention to detail and ability to manage multiple systems & processes make her an indispensable asset to our team.
As an expert multitasker, she effortlessly juggles numerous responsibilities, ensuring that our office functions smoothly and that every detail is taken care of.
Karen Williams
PRINCIPAL PLANNER
Karen has over 15 years’ experience and knowledge of planning practice under the Resource Management Act.
Karen has a strong background in both land use development and plan making, having worked in both local government and private planning practice. With this combined background Karen brings advanced skills in interpretation and implementation of District Plan policy and a practical understanding of its on-the-ground application.
Karen has considerable experience providing planning expertise to local authorities and central government clients, as well as individual applicants, providing her with a well-rounded appreciation of client needs and requirements.
Alice Blackwell
SENIOR PLANNER
Alice has over 14 years’ experience and knowledge of planning practice under the Resource Management Act.
Alice has a sound understanding of the resource management system having worked in local and central government and also in private practice. Alice has extensive consenting and policy experience and takes a pragmatic approach to planning.
Alice has worked on resource consents for a range of projects, including comprehensive retail projects, residential developments and subdivisions. Alice has provided expert evidence at planning hearings. She enjoys delivering for clients whilst navigating technical aspects of the RMA in a way that best suits their specific needs.
For central government, Alice has been worked on numerous resource management reforms and policy projects. Alice has helped to implement national direction under the RMA and supported the recovery from natural disasters, including the severe weather events in the Hawke’s Bay and the Canterbury earthquakes.
Emily McDowall
INTERMEDIATE PLANNER
Emily has 8 years experience in central and local government.
Prior to joining Urban Edge Planning, Emily worked in central and local government. During her time there she worked 3 years as a Policy Analyst in Ministry for the Environment’s waste and emissions trading scheme teams, and 5 years as a Resource Advisor at Greater Wellington Regional Council. The role at Greater Wellington included processing non-notified consent applications on a wide range of topics and undertaking compliance monitoring and enforcement.
Emily enjoys the mix of big picture thinking and technical detail that planning offers. She has a conjoint Law and Arts degree.