Meet the Aston Consultants team: the planning and resource management specialists
Fiona Aston - Director
Fiona Aston has over 35 years resource planning experience in both local government and the private sector. Few planners could rival the breadth and depth of her expertise. Fiona acts as an expert witness, and hearings commissioner (qualified with excellence) and has expertise in planning research, development and subdivision feasibility and due diligence assessments, strategic advice, resource consents, plan changes, submissions, mediations, and policy development and analysis. Her clients have spanned large corporates, oil companies, SOEs, property developers, tourist operators, farming and forestry interests, utility operators, quarrying and mining interests, councils, community groups, individuals and businesses of all types. Fiona has provided planning services or acted as Commissioner for South Island local authorities dealing with a wide diversity of environments and planning issues, including Christchurch City, former Banks Peninsula District, Westland and Buller Districts, Nelson City and Queenstown Lakes. As the driving force behind the consultancy, Fiona leads by the core values she has established for the consultancy – honesty, integrity, pragmatism and a “will do” attitude. Her solid reputation has been built on the continually positive results, professional networks and open communication she maintains. Mobile: 0275 332213 Email: fiona@astonconsultants.co.nz |
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) Member Resource Management Law Association Member Property Council of New Zealand CONFERENCES - NZPI
Joint NZPI/Australian PI Conference 2010 - Stepping Up & Treading Water: Progress and Challenges in Achieving Sustainable Residential Development in New Zealand |
Richard Johnson - Senior Planner Richard has even more planning experience than Fiona! (over 45 years), principally in senior planning management roles in both local and central government. He has been Manager EEZ Applications at EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) (2013-2019) and prior to this was Divisional Manager Planning and Consents at Nelson City Council, and District Planning Manager at Waimakariri District Council where he took the lead on the new District Plan. This background has provided Richard with extensive experience in central and local government planning and regulatory processes and context. The regulatory span of this experience goes beyond RMA in to many of the core statutory functions of Councils including its strategic and long term planning. This experience and awareness is increasingly important as more planning processes and decisions are made outside the RMA (Resource Management Act) – including under specific fast tracked legislation and strategic planning documents prepared under the Local Government Act. Those who have worked with Richard know that he combines his rare and highly valuable skill set with a careful, practical and pragmatic approach. He approaches tasks with insightful thinking being prepared to question convention and common practice. His work experience means he is equally comfortable advising on strategic policy matters, as he is on working on ‘everyday’ planning matters such as consents, plan changes and policy implementation. Richard is a fully certified Hearings Commissioner, and a JP. Fiona and Richard worked together early on in their planning careers at Christchurch City Council. They have now joined forces again, with the practice benefitting immensely from their experience and complementary skill sets. Mobile: 027 6699986 Email: richard@astonconsultants.co.nz |
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member Resource Management Law Association |
Ivan Thomson - Senior Planner A Fellow of the New Zealand Planning Institute, Ivan brings to our team a wealth of knowledge in the growth and development of Greater Christchurch, with just on 40 years’ experience in urban and regional planning. Although a Kiwi, Ivan trained in the UK and returned to NZ with a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning. After starting his career in a private consultancy and a regional planning agency, Ivan joined the Christchurch City Council in 1991 as a Senior Planner where he played a lead role in helping shape the City’s form and direction of urban development under the (then) new City Plan. He left the Council in 2020 as a Principal Planning Adviser. During his nearly 30 years at the City Council, Ivan oversaw or directly managed an array of development projects including the preparation of Council initiated plan changes, Outline Development Plans, Area Plans, and plan changes prepared under the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act. All these projects had at their core a multi-disciplinary approach to development planning, good teamwork and meaningful engagement with landowners, local Rūnanga and the wider community. Ivan also led teams involved with post-earthquake planning including the Replacement District Plan prepared under special legislation. Outside of work Ivan is a respected volunteer sports administrator and a Life Member of three cricket organisations. Mobile: 027 4376425 Email: ivan@astonconsultants.co.nz |
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Fellow New Zealand Planning Institute |
Adrianne Tisch - Planner Adrianne has experience in the private and public sectors. She began her planning career at Kaipara District Council in Northland, processing resource consents for a range of residential, commercial, and industrial activities, processing Project Information Memoranda (PIMs), and assisting with Land Information Memoranda (LIMs). Her client focused attitude meant she was often called on to answer client questions and guide them through the District Plan. Since moving to Christchurch in 2018, Adrianne has worked in the private sector, preparing feasibility studies, resource consents, and plan changes for a wide range of clients and activities in Christchurch, Selwyn, Queenstown, Waimakariri, Wellington, and the Chatham Islands; and processing resource consents for Timaru District Council. Adrianne works alongside surveyors, architects, engineers and other environmental professionals to deliver streamlined and effective project management, ensuring the best possible outcome for clients. Mobile: 027 3728062 Email: adrianne@astonconsultants.co.nz |
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Associate Member New Zealand Planning Institute |