Master of Public Policy - University of Auckland,

Bachelor of Laws - University of Waikato,

Bachelor of Social Science (Geography and Political Science) - University of Waikato,

Enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand,

Certificate in Tikanga (Mātauranga Māori, Level 3) - Te Wānanga o Aotearoa,

PRINCE2 Foundation for Project Management.

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Taituarā Associate Member

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Key Areas of Expertise:

• ​Local Government public policy development, review and implementation

• Bylaw lifecycle management - development, review, and process including drafting

• Strategic planning and reporting - annual plans, long-term plans, annual and quarterly reporting

• Project Management, leadership, and mentoring

• Stakeholder and public consultation and engagement, especially through the Local Government Act 2002

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Emma is a specialist public policy practitioner, with diverse experience across district, regional and unitary local government environments. She has significant experience in both development and public engagement of significant council documents, plans, policies and bylaws. She takes pride in producing easy to understand outputs and is good at translating complex information into clear, accessible language.

Recently, Emma has led the GMD bylaw team in supporting many of our clients with their bylaw development and review over a range of different subject matter. She also has focused on reserve management plan development and review, and annual and long-term planning and reporting. Emma provides more generalised strategic and policy support to her local government clients too, whether it be through mentoring, advice on process, supporting implementation of bylaws, plans or policies, policy research and analysis, auditing bylaw process, project planning, or drafting guidance.

Emma is a pragmatic and solutions-focussed project manager, and enjoys working closely with technical experts, operational staff, and key stakeholders throughout projects. Her diversity of experience ensures she is flexible when unexpected situations arise. She responds to and respects her clients’ unique needs and the needs of iwi, stakeholders and the community, while working to reach a solution which aligns with everyone’s values.

Outside of work, Emma loves spending time in her urban garden with her young family and is an enthusiastic amateur crochet artist. She sings baritone in FreeRange - a women’s barbershop quartet - and in the 2025 NZ champion women’s barbershop group, the Waikato Rivertones Chorus. She is on the Rivertones Management Team as the Fundraising Coordinator.

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Based in Kirikiriroa.​​