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Whānau

Our Team

  • A woman with dark, curly hair sitting at a desk in a bright office, smiling.

    Kate

    PRINCIPAL | NZILA REGESTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

    Kate received her postgraduate and degree in landscape architecture from Leeds Beckett University in the UK.  Kate has over 20 years’ experience as a Landscape Architect working on a range of projects from public waterfronts, urban parks, educational institutions and residential projects in the UK, USA, China and, for the past 18 years, New Zealand. With a focus on high quality sensitive public realm design, Kate has been project landscape architect and engineer to the contract on a wide range of high-profile projects, helping to deliver some of New Zealand’s most admired and award-winning landscapes. With a passion for highly functional landscapes which respond to their settings environmentally, historically and culturally, Kate has a high level of organisation skills that ensures timely and thorough delivery of projects for Clients.

  • A man with brown hair and blue eyes smiling while looking to the side, sitting at a desk with a computer monitor in an office with potted plants in the background.

    James

    ASSOCIATE | NZILA REGESTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

    James has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with honours from Lincoln University. In 2017 James became a Registered member of Tuia Pito Ora - New Zealand institute of Landscape Architects. While James’ experience is predominantly in New Zealand he has also worked in Australia and the UK. James has experience in a range of projects including schools, parks and reserves, ecological restoration, urban regeneration, neighbourhoods and communities and residential. Driven by a robust multi-layered approach to all projects, James’ focus on culturally meaningful, ecologically sensitive and inspiring design is key to providing quality spaces, places and outcomes.

  • A man with glasses and a beard, smiling while looking at a computer screen. He is wearing a blue floral shirt and is seated in an office environment with books and large green plants in the background.

    Dan

    PRINCIPAL | NZILA FELLOW

    Dan received his postgraduate and degree in landscape architecture from Leeds Beckett University following studies in the UK and USA. He has over 20 years’ experience as a Landscape Architect working in the UK, USA, China and, for the past 18 years, New Zealand. With a focus on collaboration Dan has been responsible for a collection of local and high-profile projects throughout the UK and New Zealand. He has worked closely with clients and specialist teams to deliver some of New Zealand’s most loved and award-winning landscapes, ranging from the gardens of Government House to the Kumutoto precinct of Wellington Waterfront. With a passion for the environment, and our connection to it, Dan has written articles and been published across the world, while continuing to ensure his work is local, a collaboration with the client, community and its context.   

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    Carolina

    ASSOCIATE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

    Carolina joined us in 2018 following her immigration to New Zealand from her home country Chile, with her family. With 4 years of experience working on high-density residential projects, she provides efficient and high quality design, documentation and contract administration with us on a wide range of private and public realm projects, learning fast about our culture and contributing from hers. Carolina has a strong interest in large-scale projects with special attention to detail and construction.

  • A man with glasses, a beard, and wearing a black shirt sitting at a desk in an office space, with a large plant behind him and a window to his right.

    Michael

    ASSOCIATE | NZILA REGESTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

    Michael graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Masters in Philosophy from the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, and Victoria University in Wellington with a Bachelor of Design specialising in Landscape Architecture. He has spent the last five years working within research and academia in the fields of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism. Michael has a strong interest in the relationship between design and the social roles of public and communal spaces.

  • A woman with dark hair sitting at a desk, looking at a computer screen with a slight smile, in an office environment with shelves and binders in the background.

    Claire

    OFFICE MANAGER

    Claire has a Bachelor's Degree from Victoria University of Wellington and joined the Local team to assist with accounts, office administration and bid writing.  Claire has previous experience working in a landscape architecture practice, and prior to that, in a variety of workplaces in New Zealand and the UK with varying roles. 

  • A man with glasses and short brown hair working at a computer in an office.

    Kris

    NZILA REGESTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

    Kris holds a PhD in landscape architecture from Warsaw University of Life Sciences (2011). He was an assistant professor at WULS (2012-2021), Junior Fulbright Visiting Researcher at Harvard School of Design (2008-2009) and came to New Zealand as a Visiting Scholar at Victoria University of Wellington. His experience is predominantly in academia and research, he also worked as a contracted expert, consultant, member of competition design teams and adviser in policymaking. He led NGO initiatives, revitalizing public spaces together with communities and volunteered for International Federation of Landscape Architects. Kris’s focus is on urban spaces, temporary and tactical use, community participation and well-being. 

  • A woman with long dark hair smiling in an office setting, with a large plant and a desk lamp in the background.

    Danielle

    TECHNICAL SPECIALIST

    Danielle is an architect from the Philippines. She completed her degree from University of San Carlos in 2019. She has spent the last 3 years working in residential & commercial projects. As an architect, she contributes to functional and beautiful design in the built environment. Being an immigrant, she continually expands her knowledge in New Zealand culture as she immerses herself in the field of landscape architecture. 

  • A man with a beard and dark hair sitting in front of a computer monitor in an office, with a window behind him and a potted plant on his desk.

    Sam

    LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

    Sam is a landscape architect with six years' experience and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with honours from Unitec. While finishing his degree in 2016, he began work at an environmental and planning consultancy, using his passion for plants and practical knowledge gained as a landscaper to design developments with an ecological awareness. Sam moved to Wellington two years ago and has put down roots in Tawa where he's revegetating his land with native plants and fruit trees.

  • A smiling woman with long reddish hair sitting in an office environment, with a black desktop monitor, potted plant, and a desk lamp in the background.

    Lauren

    Graduate Landscape Architect

    Lauren joined the Local team at the end of 2023 while finishing her bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. She is now finishing a master of landscape architecture at Victoria University of Wellington. Lauren is interested in exploring the connection between people and the environment through designing multi-layered landscapes that combine ecological sensitivity, cultural significance, and social interaction.

Join The Team