Hi, my name is Craig Shearer. I have worked in several resource management and planning organisations throughout New Zealand during my career. I have extensive technical and general management experience, covering a range of planning, natural hazard, and environmental disciplines.

I led the development and implementation of major projects in the Auckland region, have lead multi-disciplinary teams, and operated at the detailed technical level. I am equally comfortable utilising the extensive local government relationships I have developed and have frequently worked at the political interface. As Director of Strategic Policy at the Auckland Regional Council and Chair of the Auckland Co-ordinating Executive Group, I played a key role in the planning, resourcing and capability development of the region's emergency management programme for eight years until entering consultancy in 2006.

I hold a Masters degree in Geography.

 Dean Myburgh

My name is Dean Myburgh.  I have consulted to public and private sector organisations after 14 years in leadership roles in local government. I am a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Management, and have held senior leadership roles in public and private sector organisations, both within New Zealand and abroad.

I have provided both internal and external consultancy services to organisations and my consulting focus is the facilitation of strategic and operational decision-making related to risk and emergency management. My academic qualifications include an MBA and a Doctorate in Industrial Relations.

I have the following experience and a current network of memberships and roles, including:

·         Fellow of the NZ Institute of Management

·         Director of 80-20 Options NZ Ltd., a consultancy that specializes in Risk Management, risk assessment and online risk management diagnostic surveys.

·         Senior leadership roles in public- and private sector organisations, both within New Zealand and abroad

·         Approved Consultant with the NZ Business Excellence Foundation

·         Business Mentor with Business Mentors New Zealand.

·         Member of the Committee that prepared the NZ Handbook Risk Management for Local Government (SNZ HB 4360:2000) for the Standards NZ Council

·         Risk Consultant - NZ Society of Risk Management 

·         Member of the Resilient Organisations Steering Group, a six-year research project designed to assist New Zealand organisations to recover economic competitiveness after hazard events by improving their resilience

·         Part of the i-Rec member network

Steve McDowell

Hi, I am Steve McDowell. I started my own consultancy business (Steve McDowell Consulting Ltd) in 2005 specialising in the fields of local government and emergency management. Prior to starting my own business I held a number of senior management roles with the Auckland City Council.

I have an extensive background in emergency management, crisis management and business continuity processes. This has included significant involvement with both the Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Civil Defence and Emergency Management organisations, which included the responsibility of Recovery Manager for the city.

In 2005 I was seconded to the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management and appointed as the Recovery Facilitator, working with the Whakatane District Council and other agencies on the Matata disaster recovery process.

I am the Recovery Manager for the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group and have coordinated a significant programme of professional development for recovery managers in Northland.

• Associate member Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM)
• Member New Zealand Institute of Management (NZIM)

I have a post graduate degree in local government and administration from the University of Auckland.