Experience

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  Water New Zealand

  • Aotearoa New Zealand

  • Technical Lead - Regulatory

    • Oct 2022 - Present
    • Aotearoa New Zealand

    Responsible for preparing policy recommendations and submissions on consultation papers, legislative drafts and discussion documents of relevance to the three waters sector. Monitoring policy developments likely to impact 3 waters, and preparing proactive guidance to engage with members and officials across central and local government and the subsequent preparation of technical and policy presentations and papers. Working with DIA National Transition Unit to develop stormwater modelling guidance to improve consistency in modelling, design standards and policy - shaping the way urban stormwater flood risk is modelled in Aotearoa. Working collaboratively with subject matter experts via; industry workshops and our advisory group, and communicating with a broader stakeholder network. Providing technical support to Water NZ Modelling, Stormwater and Te Mana o te Wai special interest groups work programmes. Working with the membership to prepare requests for proposals for best practice guides/technical advice reports, and subsequently project manage the preparation of best practice guides or technical advice reports, including the Beneficial Reuse of Biosolids guide and the Water2050 Transformation Plan.

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  Independant Consultant

  • Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand

  • NicciWoodConsults

    • Sep 2020 - Dec 2022
    • Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand

    Get in touch to talk about your next infrastructure planning project! Supporting various organisations (predominantly local government) to develop and deliver strategies, plans, frameworks and tools relating to the management of infrastructure in accordance with legislation current national and international good practice and industry standards.

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  Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)

  • Aotearoa New Zealand

  • Principal - Policy & Advocacy

    • Jan 2022 - Oct 2022
    • Aotearoa New Zealand

    With radical reform in the local government sector and in the face of enormous societal, environmental and technological change, this was an exciting and dynamic role. I was the lead advocating for and advising governance and decision-makers on Three Waters Reforms, and other infrastructure related matters. I worked closely with DIA, Taumata Arowai and the LG sector on developing legislation (the Water Services Entity Bills) and regulation (Drinking Water and Environmental Performance standards). I was proud to be a member of the government's Rural Supplies Technical Working Group.I was part of the team developing a sector climate change programme. Working with councils, finance and insurance sectors we advocated central government for more ambitious National Adaptation and Emissions Reduction plans and worked with the sector on matters such as Managing Forestry under the NZ ETS.I supported and advocated for councils with central government in matters such as Co-investment for Flood Protection Schemes, Waka Kotahi’s CERF VKT reduction Investment, Transport Choices Programme, NZ Forestry Partners work, MBIE’s building consenting review, New Zealand’s Waste Strategy, EQC’s Risk and Resilience and GNS-led National Seismic Hazard Model Work Groups, and NEMA’s Emergency Management Trifecta programme. All whilst joining the dots with the Future for Local Government and Resource Management reforms for the councils and community of Aotearoa New Zealand.

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  AECOM

  • Aotearoa, New Zealand

  • Principal Strategic Asset Management

    • Sep 2021 - Dec 2021
    • Aotearoa, New Zealand

    In the Strategic Asset Management advisory I worked with clients such as KiwiRail, Melbourne Water and local authorities across Aotearoa on risk based, optimised investment programmes to deliver strategic, environmental and social outcomes.

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  Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO)

  • Virtual

  • COVID-19 Activation (Delta)

    • Aug 2021 - Sep 2021
    • Virtual

    Working remotely on the Intelligence Desk ensuring situational awareness of the event, and reporting on impact assessment and future trends. Produced the daily situation reports, which involved receiving and analysing information, status and context, from approximately 15 agencies (NEMA, NCMC, MOH, health boards, NZ Defence Force, Wellington Airport, Lifelines, multiple welfare providers and also the local councils).

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  Greater Wellington Regional Council

  • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

  • Strategic Asset Planning

    • Oct 2017 - Aug 2021
    • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

    Leading and supporting best- practice asset management across the organisation to ensure assets and activities contribute to achieving our strategic priorities and outcomes. Working closely with the asset managers ensure plans are appropriate to the criticality of the assets, and up to date. Led the Infrastructure Strategy and asset related aspects of the LTP and regional growth strategy.Actively involved with three waters reforms- internally, regional and within the industry. Original member of MfE’s Urban Water Working Group, tasked with developing policy and practices to improve urban water. Representative on Wellington REG (Roading Efficiency Group) supporting the NZ transport sector to deliver a modern integrated system to align with the objectives of local, regional and central government.

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  NAMS NZ

  • New Zealand

  • Forum Co Chair

    • Jan 2020 - Nov 2020
    • New Zealand

    As a new decade begins, we are looking ahead at the opportunities and challenges, and their implications for infrastructure. The Advanced Asset Management Forum 2020 intends to demonstrate how, through approaches with connections, enthusiasm and wisdom , strategic asset management can enable and embrace the opportunities and challenges of the new decade. We will illustrate, stimulate, and inspire the bold approaches which are needed to build a thriving and sustainable future, where adaptation is a constant. Join us - www.NAMS2020.NZ

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  Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO)

  • COVID-19 Activation

    • Mar 2020 - Jun 2020

    Billeted to the Emergency Coordination Centre during NZs COVID-19 response. Working on the Intelligence Desk ensuring situational awareness of the event, and reporting on impact assessment and future trends. Produced the daily situation reports, which involved receiving and analysing information, status and context, from approximately 15 agencies (NEMA, NCMC, MOH, health boards, NZ defense, Wellington Airport, Lifelines, multiple welfare providers and also the local councils).

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  Lightning Lab

  • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

  • Lightning Lab cohort

    • Sep 2018 - Nov 2018
    • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

    Member of the GWRC team at the inaugural GovTech/ Lightning Lab. One of 10 public sector agencies co-habiting in a three-month business acceleration programme aimed at creating solutions for ‘better, faster and stronger’ government. We are prototyping- designing, developing, testing and validating- new approaches to improve local and central government in New Zealand and abroad. Our project is around how we can improve engagement management internally, so there is less frustration and more transparency and trust with projects and decisions externally.https://llgovtech.co.nz/

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  Wellington City Council

  • New Zealand
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Senior Advisor (Infrastructure Planning)

    • Oct 2012 - Oct 2017

    Providing a strategic and planning focus to ensure a coordinated approach for assets achieving the city’s vision. Including writing the city’s 2017 30 year Infrastructure Strategy and Strategic Asset Management Plan.My role involved providing infrastructure and environmental technical expertise and advice on local and regional planning issues, strategy and policy development and asset management, this includes the integrated catchment management planning and the regional whaitua project. I have been the lead on planning work such as the closed landfill management provisions, regional waste minimisation and management plan, climate adaptation stream of the 100RC Resilience Strategy, water sensitive urban design and progressing Blue Belt vision. I have also project managed more operational projects; Victoria Street Transformation, the Island Bay Seawall Adaptation and Houghton Valley remediation projects.The Our Living City programme aims to strengthen Wellington's urban-ecology and nature connections to develop and improve our quality of life and build economic opportunities from a healthy environment. Nicci’s focus on the programme was predominantly water management. http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/projects/our-living-city

  • Planning Engineer

    • Oct 2006 - Oct 2012

    Planning and Policy; Input into local, regional and national policy document development.Asset Management Planning: Oversee the development and ongoing refinement of cross council plans, including facilitating opportunities to achieve advanced asset management status.Integrated Catchment Management Planning; Developed objectives and an approach for the Council to ensure innovation and effectiveness of integrated stormwater management. Low Impact Design (LID); Leading the promotion and progression of the uptake of LID across Council primarily to assist with improving urban stormwater quality and its impacts on aquatic receiving environment health. Climate change adaptation; Co-ordination and preparation of climate change and sea level rise asset vunerability and adaption strategies.Relationship Management; Maintain and develop productive and effective relationship with other Council units and external authorities and represent Council on numerous inter-agency groups and committees. Porirua Harbour and Catchment Management Strategy; Original steering group member of an interagency initiative to address stormwater issues within the catchment and their effects on the Porirua Harbour.

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  U.S. Department of State

  • United States, Washington DC and City of Mission KS.

  • Climate Change Professional Fellow

    • Sep 2011 - Oct 2011
    • United States, Washington DC and City of Mission KS.

    The Professional Fellows program promotes local government partnerships, establishes networks and international relationships, and leads to creativity in identifying locally appropriate solutions for creating more sustainable communities within the panorama of a changing climate.

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  Capacity Infrastructure Services Limited

  • Investigations Engineer

    • Apr 2004 - Sep 2006

    Responsible for a range of projects including the development and maintenance of flood prediction models and risk mapping, stormwater quality monitoring, analysis, investigations and reporting, and other monitoring programmes and future management options for protecting the environment. I was also a key contributor to the development of the 2006 Liquid Waste Plan and author of the Assessment of Water and Sanitary Services for Wellington City Council both included consultation with local authorities and community groups. I was also a member of the work group writing Wellington City’s Environmental Strategy.

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  Ewans Associates

  • Graduate Engineer

    • 2003 - 2003

    A range of environmental consultancy experiences- water quality monitoring, modelling, and consent compliance. Seconded to Water Service Northern Ireland to assist with water quality investigations to aid their water network renewals and upgrades.

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  HR Wallingford

  • Work placement

    • Feb 2002 - Apr 2002

    Technical contributions to reports on; ‘The impact of climate change on river morphology’, ‘Upland erosion and downstream bar development on the River Po, Italy including aerial photograph analysis’ and ‘The occurrence embankment failure’.