Michelle brings more than 15 years of experience across resource management planning, local government and central government policy. Her background spans resource consenting, regulatory implementation, enforcement and policy advice, including work within several government agencies.

She has experience delivering and advising on plan changes, designations, infrastructure and development proposals, national direction, growth planning, environmental regulation and planning-system reform. Her work ranges from assessing individual proposals and navigating statutory approval processes through to developing national policy and translating legislative change into practical processes.

Michelle specialises in making complex planning and regulatory requirements easier to navigate. She brings strong skills in statutory interpretation, planning assessments, policy analysis, strategic advice, stakeholder engagement and coordinating legal and technical expertise. She is experienced in working through complex or contested issues, identifying practical pathways forward and producing clear, evidence-based advice for clients and decision-makers.

Her experience includes:

• Statutory planning assessments and approvals

• Plan changes and district and regional planning matters

• Designations and Notices of Requirement

• Infrastructure and development planning

• National direction and planning policy

• Growth and spatial planning

• Environmental and regulatory compliance

• Planning reform and implementation

• Stakeholder, council and government engagement

• Independent planning analysis and strategic advice