Dr. Natalie Allen is a recognized expert in applied urban research and complex systems strategy, translating rigorous, data-informed insights into innovative solutions for the built environment. She works with our clients to make the seemingly complex simple when it comes to designing and delivering our built environment.

Leveraging her extensive research experience — which spans critical urban topics such as integrated urban planning, community visioning, and housing demand—Natalie leads pioneering projects focused on complex urban systems technology development. She partners with councils and our technology partners to co-design and implement sophisticated, data-informed frameworks that solve critical urban challenges, driving greater accuracy and efficiency in urban development.

With a background in architecture, urban/spatial design, and urban governance, she maintains wide-ranging industry networks in both the public and private sectors and brings a creative, long-term strategic perspective to all our work.

Natalie regularly speaks at conferences, delivers webinars, is a panel moderator and writes about delivering citizen-centric neighbourhoods.

She grew up in Tāmaki Makarau and spent alternating weekends growing up visiting her tīpuna in Paihia, Te Tai Tokerau and Ngāmotu, Taranaki. She also spent formative time living in Costa Rica, Uganda, and Cheng du. Natalie currently lives in Tāmaki Makarau with her husband and two young daughters.

Natalie specialises in:

• Urban Research
• Urban Regeneration
• Housing Strategy
• Housing Needs Assessments
• Community + Stakeholder Engagement

Leveraging her legal, anthropological, and systems change expertise, Greer O'Donnell offers a distinctive, whole-of-system perspective to the industry. Her expertise is concentrated in the early establishment phases of a project, where she acts as the essential bridge between high-level vision and implementable delivery, and she is frequently brought in to review and identify the issues of projects that have stalled. This includes a key role as a change manager on complex technology and urban development initiatives. She draws on significant experience, including her involvement with the strategic planning for the Christchurch (Ōtautahi) rebuild and other major regeneration projects, to facilitate cross-sector collaboration —among market, public sector entities, and key stakeholders — moving projects from strategic origination into successful action.

Her approach is grounded in rigorous, data-informed evaluation of context and assumptions, enabling her to identify key strategic opportunities and resolve structural barriers before they lead to project stall. This work is focused on creating the necessary conditions to attract multiple sources of capital and capability, resulting in robust partnerships and a comprehensive foundation for urban development initiatives.

As a leading voice and expert on innovative housing models and precinct delivery, Greer's core strength is in co-designing implementable pathways and establishing the crucial partnership frameworks and governance structures that translate strategies into tangible outcomes across various sectors. Her commitment to innovation and creative solutions is informed by extensive international research from multiple study tours, with a particular focus on evolving approaches to city-making and upholding the role of mana whenua in guiding the restoration of Aotearoa’s social, ecological and cultural richness.

Greer grew up on a hill country farm in Whanganui and currently lives in Tāmaki Makaurau with her husband and son.

Greer's areas of specialisation include:

• Precinct Delivery
• Urban Regeneration
• Project Feasibility and Origination
• Affordable and Community Housing
• Change management in Urban Development

With over 14 years of experience in real estate, development and strategic consulting, Jack has honed a broad, yet niche skill set that has helped to build his ability to turn complex regeneration and development problems into deliverable solutions. An associate member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (UK) Jack’s foundational skills lie in real estate, financial viability, masterplan development and delivery strategies.

Jack joined TUA in 2025 having spent 8 years working for JLL in both their London and Regional businesses. As part of their Strategic Development Consulting team Jack advised public and private sector clients on a number of the UK’s most high-profile and complex development projects. He is experienced in leading specialist multi-disciplinary teams to iteratively create masterplans and delivery strategies for mixed-use regeneration, housing and development projects.

Jack grew up on the occasionally sunny shores of Bognor Regis, Sussex where he was 1st XV captain. In his spare time Jack is a rugby referee (North Harbour Association) and photographer. 

Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, Jack is applying his invaluable experience to our shores as part of TUA’s in-house team.

Jack specialises in: 

• Valuation, viability, financial modelling and market analysis
• Project and programme creation and management
• Land acquisition and disposal
• Masterplanning
• Governance, risk assessment and due diligence
• Asset and estate management

Amy has diverse work experience as a Graduate Interior and Indigenous Designer, with additional relevant project work spanning across landscape architecture, urban design and cultural design advisory. Her mahi focuses on working with communities, understanding the layers of whakapapa, and expressing these narratives within urban spaces. She is passionate about kaupapa Māori design, aiming to create better outcomes for and with Māori, and has experience maintaining relationships with whānau Māori.

Amy enjoys guiding whānau through the design journey, translating kaupapa into tangible outcomes, and ensuring their voices are central to the process. She champions the authentic reflection of indigenous stories and culture in the built environment, committing to protecting these narratives throughout design and construction in a tika way. She values the unique tikanga of each hapū and appreciates non-linear processes that foster collaboration, resulting in outcomes beyond mere structures.

Amy Joined TUA in 2025 having spent her first years out of university at a large consultancy. As a part of the Property & Buildings team, Amy contributed to the design and documentation of a range of projects including Correctional facilities, Courts, Education, Office Fitouts, a Stadium in Canada, Masterplans and Engagement Plans.

Originally from Te Whanganui-ā-Tara Wellington, Amy has recently shifted to Tāmaki Makaurau. In her spare time, she enjoys getting out in te taiao for a walk, though classic Wellington weather meant a lot of outdoor time was spent at te whare kori tinana.

Amy specialises in: 

• Spatial Planning and Master planning 
• Indigenous Design 
• Enscape & Twin Motion Rendering 
• Visual Storytelling 
• Wayfinding Design 
• Architectural Modelling & Documentation
• Mana Whenua Engagement

With over a decade of experience in PR, marketing and communications, Rachel is deeply committed to storytelling. Her expertise is in copywriting, web design, social media management and digital visual communication, building a sense of community online.

Rachel’s work for the Uptown Business Association involved creating, managing and marketing community street festivals in collaboration with Link Alliance; co-designing and producing the Uptown Futures Festival involving 500+ architecture students; organising community advocacy events; as well as designing and building the website.

Originally from Ōtautahi Christchurch, Rachel has now called Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland home for 10+ years. Passionate about the arts, Rachel is also a professional musician and competitive Irish Dancing teacher.

Rachel specialises in:

• Website design & development
• Online and social media management
• Copywriting
• Digital Visual Communication
• Working with Local Boards, Government Organisations and agencies in advocacy work

With 20+ years of experience in creating tech for urban planning, Federico is passionate about solving real-world problems with state of the art academic research. In 2012 he founded Synthicity, which in just three short years was acquired by Autodesk, Inc. In March 2016, he then founded UrbanSim Inc. growing its revenue from USD 0 to USD 4M. In the quest for bringing land use models to the next level, Federico founded Urbanly LLC in 2022 and is currently working closely with TUA. Federico holds a MSc. CS, and a comprehensive experience in academic research in theoretical CS and its intersection with Planning.

Expertise:

• Development and implementation of agent-based land use simulations.
• Design of Procedural Geometry solutions for urban experimentation.
• Optimization of algorithms for large-scale urban analytics.
  

TUA project collaborations:

• NZ Housing Survey platform
• Large scale Spatial Modelling Programme

Jade Kake (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Whakatōhea) is an architect, writer and housing advocate. She leads the team at Matakohe Architecture and Urbanism, a kaupapa Māori design studio that works with Māori organisations on their marae, papakāinga and civic projects, and with mana whenua groups to express their cultural values and narratives through the design of their physical environments.

Jade and TUA have built a strong and effective relationship having worked together for many years. As Tangata Tiriti we lean on Jade immensely to ensure that we deliver meaningful engagement with iwi and hapū across the motu recognised early on the importance of forming meaningful relationships with Māori and with people who were working to achieve the same mission that we have. Our working and personal relationship has developed as we have navigated complex projects in partnerships to deliver master-plans and spatial plans, research and precinct delivery, taking turns with leading and learning from one another.

Jade is a current Ngā Aho appointed panellist to the Auckland Urban Design Panel, and a part-time Senior Lecturer at Huri Te Ao School of Future Environments within AUT; she is currently a PhD student. Jade is also the author of many journal articles, which you can learn more about here. Jade is also the author of Rebuilding the Kāinga: Lessons from Te Ao Hurihui and Rewi: Āta haere kia tere.

Expertise:

• Kaupapa Māori architecture and urban design
• Complex projects advisory
• Māori housing 

TUA project collaborations:

• Whangarei Knowledge Precinct
• Kainga Ora Large Scale Masterplan
• Strategic Spatial Modelling
• BRANZ Multigenerational Housing Research + Policy Paper
• Ngāti Haua Iwi Trust advice for the Taumarunui | Manunui Spatial Plan

Jack is a qualified urban designer and registered landscape architect with experience in both the public and private sectors. The director of Earl Design Ltd, his work spans strategic spatial planning to detailed site design, supporting projects across a diverse range of typologies and planning contexts.

Some of his previous work includes leading masterplans for Greymouth and Brightwater town centres, focusing on community-led visions and public realm improvements that have earned awards. He also led masterplanning for a new 34-hectare neighbourhood in Putāruru, incorporating diverse housing, open space, and commercial elements.

His expertise extends to strategic spatial planning and analysis, demonstrated by his contribution to Auckland Transport's Connected Communities programme where he led ArcGIS urban design and landscape analysis. Jack has also developed town concept plans for South Waikato, integrating accessibility and demand analysis to inform spatial growth options and interventions for connected and adaptable environments.

Expertise:

• Urban Design
• Master planning
• Landscape Design
• Landscape Planning
• Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
• Spatial Planning
• ArcGIS Urban and Landscape Analysis Tools

TUA project collaborations:

• Marahau Urban Design Review 
• Lincoln Road Urban Design Review
• Landscape Road Urban Design Review 
• Nga Hapū Ōtaki Raukawa Bock Master-Planning 

Ben Petch provides urban planning solutions to create great places, improve lives, and restore the environment. He focuses on vision-led implementation defined through collaboration with clients, elected officials, iwi, and communities to connect long-term outcomes with practical strategies, plans, and policies.

He has been instrumental in over 30 place-based and community planning projects. Recent projects include spatial plans like Ahu Ake - Waipā Community Spatial Plan, Whangārei Future Development Strategy, Our Places – Eastern Bay of Plenty Spatial Plan.

Expertise:

• Strategy, policy, spatial planning
• Placemaking and urban design
• Public and stakeholder engagement
• Team leadership, project delivery

TUA project collaborations:

• Whangārei District Council Future Development Strategy
• Spatial planning projects

Chris is an economist specialising in applied microeconomics and quantitative modelling. Chris has worked on economic analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and policy evaluation projects in sectors including, transport, urban development, housing and land markets, water supply, forestry, financial services, and solid waste. He has a strong interest in supporting a strengthened role for social, environmental, and distributional effects in economic analysis for policy planning and evaluation.

Before starting Crow Advisory in 2024, Chris was an economist and engagement leader for PwC Consulting in Auckland, New Zealand and a consultant for the World Bank on urban development policy in Jakarta, Indonesia. Chris has designed and delivered economic analyses for policy, regulatory, infrastructure, environmental, and governance capacity-building projects, using a wide range of spatial, financial, and statistical techniques.

Chris specialises in:

• Applied microeconomics
• Quantitative and spatial modelling
• Policy evaluation
• Financial modelling
• Analytical software development

TUA project collaborations:

• Whangarei Knowledge Precinct

Paul Silk has extensive experience in infrastructure advisory, building on a background in global financial markets, which provided a strong foundation in macro drivers and risk management. This expertise is particularly valuable for executive and governance roles in complex urban development and infrastructure investment. After the Canterbury earthquakes, his career shifted to urban regeneration and infrastructure development, honing his strategic leadership in uncertain environments. He excels at simplifying complex issues to craft robust investment proposals that meet public needs for sustainable and affordable infrastructure.

TUA has worked with Paul in different capacities since the beginning. Paul has contributed valuable insights into a number of TUA’s projects and has helped guide our thinking on how to attract private capital into projects, a principle that underpins our work. He has also been a key contributor to TUA’s urban development and regeneration delivery framework, as well as TUA’s approach to market engagement. 

Paul has held diverse governance roles, navigating intricate stakeholder dynamics and developing a Group Climate Strategy. He served on the Ngāi Tahu Holdings Limited board and currently holds positions with Development Christchurch Limited, RBL Property Limited, and Christchurch City Holdings Limited (CCHL), where he also acted as CEO. His experience includes leading strategic reviews, climate initiatives, and major infrastructure projects.

Expertise:

• Strategic Leadership 
• Commercial & Investment Advising
• Navigating uncertainty  
• Relationship building  
• Initiative and Future Focused / “Challenge the status quo” thinking 

TUA project collaborations:

• Christchurch Central Momentum Review 
• Eastern Porirua Regeneration (Market Engagement plan) 
• Rotorua Housing & Regeneration planning
• Hutt City Council Infrastructure Funding and precinct delivery 
• New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline Analysis

Michelle is at the forefront of precinct delivery globally. With 15+ years of experience and a rigorous evidence-led process, Michelle empowers urban leaders to consider the long-term impact of the decisions they are making today. She is a champion of the cultural development of cities and is passionate about generational legacy. She has been involved in the development of several leading creative and cultural policies in NSW and in Victoria that relied on strong data and global benchmarking to make actionable and ambitious recommendations for her clients.

Expertise:

• Cultural strategy and policy 
• Cultural infrastructure planning 
• Alternative property models for cultural production 

TUA project collaborations:

• Greer and Michelle first met working on the Christchurch rebuild together. Christchurch City Council had procured Michelle to assist with developing a vision document and precinct guidance document for the Performing Arts Precinct. 
• TUA was part of the City Makers Guild, established by Michelle, to tour the world to learn from exceptional projects that tackled housing diversity and equity, sustainable urban development and the protection of arts and cultural spaces in our cities.