Our Leadership

Vanessa Stoddart is the most recent addition to the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board. She is an independent member and began the Board Chair role in January 2025. Stoddart (BCom/LLB (Hons), PGDip Professional Ethics, GAICD, CFInstD) is a Director for Channel Infrastructure, Waste Management and international forestry company OneFortyOne, and sits on several advisory and not-for-profit boards. She has held governance positions with other listed, private, public sector and cooperative entities in New Zealand and Australia, and chaired many health, safety and people committees. Before moving into governance, Stoddart was Air New Zealand’s head of engineering and human resources and Carter Holt Harvey Packaging Australia’s chief executive. A member of Global Women and a mentor for Kupe Scholarship candidates and Multiethnic Young Leaders, Stoddart is passionate about inclusion. She is a Companion of Engineering NZ and an Honorary Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand.

Tim joined the Board in 2021 and serves as Tonkin + Taylor’s Group Managing Director. He oversees the performance and strategy of all Tonkin + Taylor Group Companies, working closely with the Board to govern the business and plan for the Group’s future. With 20 years of experience at Tonkin + Taylor in a combination of consulting and management roles, Tim has previously served as Executive Leader for Engineering, Clients, and Australia, as well as Water Sector Leader. Tim is also a Technical Director specialising in water engineering, with expertise in stormwater management, water quality, flooding, rivers, and sedimentation. He has worked extensively in these areas as a design lead and expert witness, delivering award-winning projects and outcomes for clients. As a trusted advisor, Tim has been involved in four Boards of Inquiry and numerous planning, Environment Court, and legal proceedings. He is most active in the water, transport, and land development sectors. Tim is a Chartered Professional Engineer and a former President of Engineering New Zealand (2022/23). He served on the Engineering New Zealand Board from 2018 to 2024 and was previously a member of the ENZ Auckland Branch Committee for five years, including three as Chair. In recognition of his leadership in the industry, technical excellence in water engineering, and contributions to the profession, Tim was made a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand.

Pam Rebecca joined the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board in 2022 as an independent member. She is a digital and transformation leader with extensive experience, having been at the forefront of driving digital innovation and evolution across the financial services and non-profit sectors. With a strong focus on leading digital transformation and innovation, Pam’s career is defined by her commercial acumen, leadership expertise, and passion for reshaping organisations and guiding them towards a digital future. Her contributions through a series of influential roles have established her as a change-maker in the industries where she has worked. Pam’s commitment to digital transformation is exemplified by her role as Chief of Strategy, Innovation, and Digital at World Vision Australia. Leading strategy and digital transformation for Australia’s largest international NGO, she played a pivotal role in reimagining the organisation’s future. In the financial services sector, Pam served as General Manager Digital at ANZ Bank, one of Australia’s leading banks. She successfully navigated the dynamic digital landscape, driving innovation and enhancing customer experiences. Pam currently works with Boards to improve their digital literacy and applies her expertise across various governance roles. She serves on the Board of Defence Bank Limited, Emergency Services and State Superannuation Trustees Board, and is Chair of the Board for InfinityStudio.AI Limited. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) from Queensland University of Technology.

Brett has a PhD in Environmental Biology, a BA in Economics, and has over 30 years' experience in environmental consulting and research, people leadership, strategy, and governance. Having worked across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America and the Pacific, Brett brings an international perspective and a connected global network, as well as Te Āo Māori perspectives, to his Board position. This is further supported by his governance experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors in New Zealand and the USA, which includes serving on the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board from 2007 to 2018. Brett was reappointed to the board in 2021. Brett has extensive experience in people leadership and building high performing teams, which reaches back to before he joined Tonkin + Taylor in 2002. Brett built Tonkin + Taylor's Ecology sub-discipline from scratch and led it until he took a role on the Executive Leadership Team in 2016, looking after the Environmental disciplines in New Zealand. Brett has been the Executive Sponsor for the delivery of several of Tonkin + Taylor Group’s strategic programmes, including Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Vision to Vantagepoint, Technical Leadership, Graduate Programme, Sustainability Strategy, and our most recent Digital Strategy.

Bruce has nearly 30 years of consulting experience, including more than 20 years with Tonkin + Taylor. He previously served as a director on the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board from 2010 to 2013 and rejoined the Board in 2022. He brings valuable insights to the Board through his expertise in effective risk management, innovation, strategic problem-solving, and responsive client service. Bruce is a Chartered Professional Engineer, holding a BE (Hons) in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Victoria Business School. Over the past decade, Bruce has played a pivotal role in the success of major Tonkin + Taylor projects. He has led design and consulting teams to deliver large, complex civil infrastructure projects, including the Aras Tunnel, Haywards Interchange, Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway, and the Mt Messenger Bypass in Taranaki. With a wealth of experience, strong industry relationships, and a deep understanding of Tonkin + Taylor’s key markets, Bruce provides practical knowledge and strategic leadership. In his senior leadership roles, including Alliance Director of the Mt Messenger Alliance, he maintains close connections with senior leaders across New Zealand’s consulting and construction industries, government agencies, councils, and the renewable energy sector.

Mark brings over 20 years of experience in delivering large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects and was appointed to the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board in 2023. Renowned for his design leadership, innovative thinking, and ability to foster a focused and collaborative team environment, Mark leads major projects at Tonkin + Taylor. He is highly regarded for his commitment to ensuring teams deliver exceptional results with pride and precision. Since joining Tonkin + Taylor in 2001, Mark has contributed to the delivery of some of New Zealand’s most significant infrastructure projects. His portfolio includes the Te Ara Tupua Alliance, the Downtown Infrastructure Development Programme, the Well-Connected Alliance (responsible for the Waterview Tunnel), and the LEAD Alliance (delivering the Auckland Housing Programme).

Jenny has been with Tonkin + Taylor for over 20 years and joined the Group Board in 2019. She chairs the People and Culture sub-committee, which provides oversight to ensure Tonkin + Taylor’s culture and people practices align with Our Pathway 2025. As one of New Zealand’s leading air quality specialists, Jenny is a trusted expert advisor to clients across the Waste, Industry, Energy, and Transport sectors. She is highly sought after as an expert witness and frequently engaged by Councils as a decision-maker for resource consent and plan change hearings. Jenny is a Life Member of the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand and was awarded the Society’s Clean Air Medal in 2019 in recognition of her contributions to the air quality profession. A former President of the Society’s New Zealand Branch, she currently serves as Secretary on the Society’s Executive. In addition to her technical expertise, Jenny has held several leadership roles at Tonkin + Taylor, including Air Quality Practice Lead and Discipline Director for Natural Resources. She is actively involved in mentoring and coaching, supporting the growth of Tonkin + Taylor’s technical and project delivery capabilities. Jenny is deeply passionate about ensuring Tonkin + Taylor remains renowned for the exceptional calibre of its people and their unwavering commitment to delivering excellence and sustainable outcomes for clients and communities.

Manea joined the Tonkin + Taylor Board in 2021 as its youngest-ever appointee and the first wāhine Māori. Her unique energy and perspective have significantly influenced the company’s sustainability initiatives and strategic direction. Passionate about complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure and public works projects, Manea possesses extensive expertise in disaster recovery, resilience, community engagement, and environmental reporting. As Pou Arahi (Lead) of Planning, Engagement, and Partnerships at Tonkin + Taylor, Manea specialises in emergency communication, stakeholder engagement—particularly with indigenous communities—integrated resource management, regional and city planning, and policy development. A trained Geographer with a focus on Environmental Management, Manea holds a BSc, PGDip, and MSc from the University of Auckland. Her research evaluated the impacts of waste management on small island economies. Fluent in te Reo Māori and adept in cultural values, Manea incorporates this knowledge into all aspects of her work, engaging with mana whenua and providing technical oversight on cultural and community values.

Rhys is the Commercial Director at Tonkin + Taylor, with responsibilities spanning the Group’s operations in New Zealand, Australia, and globally. He joined the Tonkin + Taylor Board in May 2023. A Chartered Accountant by profession, Rhys also serves on the Board of Directors for Infrastructure New Zealand (INZ) and is of Te Ati Awa Iwi descent. Rhys has held senior roles as Chief Financial Officer and in similar capacities within the financial services sector, including positions at ASB and Fisher & Paykel Finance. His experience extends to infrastructure organisations such as Crown Fibre Holdings Ltd (now Crown Infrastructure Partners) and City Rail Link Ltd. He has significant governance experience in the not-for-profit and funds management sectors, having worked with large sporting organisations and employee superannuation funds managing assets exceeding NZD $50 million. In addition, he has expertise in government, regulator, and investor relations gained across various roles. With a strong understanding of the financial sector and macroeconomy, Rhys brings valuable insights into sustainability and resilience, helping to position businesses for future success. He also provides an authentic Te Ao Māori perspective, embedding this worldview into organisational thinking to foster meaningful and sustainable outcomes.

Dr Jim Mather is an independent member of the Tonkin + Taylor Group Board, having joined in 2022. He also champions cultural transformation as Chair of the People + Culture Committee, providing oversight to ensure Tonkin + Taylor’s culture and people practices align with Our Pathway 2025. A seasoned leader with nearly two decades of governance experience, Jim is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors. His expertise and forward-thinking leadership are instrumental in steering Tonkin + Taylor towards a future of growth and innovation. Of Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, and English descent, Jim is passionate about leveraging his leadership experience and commercial acumen to make a meaningful contribution to the success of communities. Between 2002 and 2018, Jim served as Chief Executive Officer for three organisations, leading highly successful transformation and performance improvement strategies. With 25 years of business leadership experience, Jim is a qualified accountant who led two of the most prominent Māori organisations over a 14-year period – Māori Television and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Business Trust from 2002 to 2005. In addition to his governance and leadership roles, Jim has held a variety of private sector positions, including General Manager of a marine engineering business and Financial Controller for a local subsidiary of a Swiss multinational. Complementing his commercial background, Jim is a former officer in the New Zealand Army, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour in recognition of his distinguished achievements in officer training.