Through this work, which includes the most recent role of Group Manager Strategic Projects at Auckland Transport, Theunis has been involved in unlocking urban growth – both through greenfield expansion and the intensification of existing urban areas.
“This helped me develop a holistic understanding of what’s required to develop large scale, integrated urban transport systems that integrate well with existing and planned land-use. The benefits of getting this right include unlocking social and economic opportunities for communities. I also developed an appreciation for the revenue constraints on councils and government, and the need for careful consideration of affordability issues.”
As Technical Director - Transport, Theunis will bring this expertise to help clients solve challenges that require strategic and lateral thinking.
He says that while there are very real issues facing New Zealand’s major cities and the solutions required are complex, this presents an exciting challenge and a good platform to innovate.
“We are living in an age of accelerated change. Understanding how these changes might impact future demand for infrastructure and services is becoming a major challenge for cities and governments and I look forward to the opportunity to help solve this.”
