Soltice Morrison appointed to Maori Advisory Group Taumata Arowai
Aurecon's Soltice Morrison joins Te Puna to advise The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai on Māori interests and knowledge in water services.
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Asia Pacific design, engineering and advisory company, Aurecon has made three new senior appointments to its Aotearoa New Zealand business, boosting the company’s expertise in the government and water sectors while strengthening its innovation capability across Australasia.
Ceinwen McNeil has been appointed as Client Director, Central & Local Government, Dr Deborah Lind joins as the new Water Industry Director, and Jane Henley as Innovation Partner.
Tracey Ryan, Aurecon's Managing Director for New Zealand, is delighted to welcome the new leaders to the business and said:
"This is a significant reform period for Aotearoa New Zealand with the opportunity to continue to focus our efforts on supporting our clients to boost productivity, drive economic growth and improve social outcomes. The challenges Aotearoa New Zealand is facing also represent immense opportunities for our society. Hence, our continued investment in comprehensive partnerships with the public and private sectors, with a continued focus on diversity and innovation to enable solutions fit for the future."
In this newly established role, Ceinwen McNeil will bring her skills in navigating complex regulatory and stakeholder rich environments to connect and support government initiatives at all levels. With a new central government and many changes across the public sector, McNeil will be focused on deepening Aurecon’s relationships with government and providing strategic insights around key policy issues.
Thrilled to be part of an organisation that aligns with her values, McNeil said, “Aurecon has been consistently recognised as the region’s most innovative professional services firm. I can feel its genuine desire to make a difference.”
McNeil is passionate about leveraging the intersection of the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to create value for the community. Recently, McNeil completed an independent review of Kāinga Ora, led by former Prime Minister Sir Bill English on behalf of the Hon Chris Bishop, Minister for Housing.
An advocate for consultants, McNeil is the current President of ACE NZ and a former Chief Executive of a boutique engineering organisation. McNeil possesses an extensive understanding of the natural and built environment eco-system, especially in the construction and professional services sectors. Holding a Master of Public Administration, McNeil is an alumna of Harvard Business School, having completed the Owner/President Management program in 2023.
One month into the role, Deborah Lind is focused on building and strengthening Aurecon’s ties with key water industry bodies and refining long-term strategies for Aurecon’s water practice. An ambassador and advocate for all things water, Lind emphasises the importance of rightsizing when it comes to tackling challenges in asset management, water delivery networks, planning for population growth and water and wastewater treatment.
“It’s a pivotal moment for Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sector as the new government’s water reform plans take shape. While it's valuable to draw on international experience, we must tailor our strategies to an Aotearoa New Zealand context, factoring in the scale and maturity of the industry here,” Lind said.
Deborah Lind believes innovative solutions play a vital role in pursuing continuous improvement in the water industry:
“I have a passion for challenging the status quo, chasing out-of-the-box ideas while being honest, which I believe is the way for us to achieve suitable, affordable and sustainable water outcomes. Combining our international insights, digital capabilities and technical expertise in three waters, we are best placed to support councils and water service providers to navigate the twists and turns on the river ahead.”
Having spent 30 years working across industry bodies, consultancies and large water utilities, including as a Water New Zealand board member and chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, Lind regularly presents at industry conferences, chairing and leading industry discussions.
Heading up Aurecon’s innovation practice in Aotearoa New Zealand, Henley works closely with Aurecon’s innovation team across Australia and Asia. With a focus on cultivating a positive culture for innovation, Jane Henley brings her strategic approach and industry network to optimise both internal workflows and client-focused initiatives through innovation.
“Innovation is more than AI, robotics, AR, VR, etc. It’s a mindset that can lead to process improvement, efficiency, stronger social bonds and much more,” Henley said.
“We know our brains become fixed in our 30s – we have created patterns in our brain that work because it’s safer and uses less energy. I’m here to invite our team to take a pause and unlock the possibilities for the future by allowing new ideas to emerge.”
Henley has spent the past 20 years tackling complex market transformation challenges, at the nexus of innovation and sustainability, in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. Passionate about modern methods of construction, including digitalisation of the sector, Henley recently led the innovation work of the Construction Sector Accord. Henley holds several board roles and is active in the building innovation start-up ecosystem.
Henley has held senior roles in Kāinga Ora, the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group), the World Green Building Council in Toronto, and founded the New Zealand Green Building Council. Henley holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, specialising in system dynamics and strategy.
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