We’ve all had those moments. You open a file, ready to work through a consent or compliance issue, and before long, you find yourself sucked into the detail. But sometimes the most effective way to approach the issue is to pause, understand the bigger picture, and get clear on what really matters.

In resource management, the ability to communicate effectively is just as critical as technical expertise. Whether engaging with stakeholders, guiding policy decisions, or presenting expert evidence, the way we convey information shapes perceptions, influences decisions, and ultimately determines the success of our work.

As the newest member of the Brighta Consulting whānau, I have a lot to be excited about and thankful for. Despite the enormous changes taking place in the Resource Management world, there are great people to work with and opportunities for growth, resilience, and progress to embrace. I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about me and how I became a Strategic Environmental Consultant with Brighta.

I spend a lot of time thinking about efficiencies that can be gained in council’s resource consent processes. Probably too much time!

With the spotlight on ‘red tape’, and overhauling the RMA (again), we can be distracted from the day-to-day realities for how resource consents play out on the ground.

I've always been interested in how to share and communicate information effectively. Since joining Brighta, creating infographics has been a surprisingly rewarding experience, revealing a whole new side of myself!

There is a common thread across all the projects that I’m working on at the moment – the role of discretion in resource management decision-making.

Management Plans are an important tool for providing flexibility for consent holders as they provide an opportunity to park some of the more detailed effects management considerations until later.

Ecosystems exist outside of private property rights. Water doesn’t follow property boundaries. Simply put, there will always be a role for regulation when it comes to environmental protection.

The three years I spent at Auckland Council as a resource consent planner brought both challenges and rewards.

Somewhere along the way, planners seem to have been taught that report writing is the value they add to the world.