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Sarah McLean works in the Environment Group at Transpower as a Technical Lead – Environmental, where she has worked for the past 15 years in a variety of roles. Core components of Sarah’s current role is leading some of Transpower’s sustainability initiatives, including their biodiversity work program and taking a strategic lead on Transpower’s approach to managing contaminated land issues.

Sarah’s work in the contaminated land space includes writing a Contaminated Land Strategy and Action Plan for Transpower and dealing with cases of historical contamination as they arise, particularly on land that is not owned by Transpower. Sarah has a Master of Science with Honours in Plant Ecology. Outside of work Sarah has three kids (14, 12 and 10) and loves triathlons and beach time.

Rod is a contaminated land geologist and Certified Environmental Practitioner – Site Contamination specialty (CEnvP-SC). Rod has extensive experience in contaminated land management investigation and management across several sectors – including land development/housing, energy, transport, mining/quarrying, and solid waste management and landfill investigation.

With a comprehensive knowledge in the waste and resource recovery sectors, Rod is focused on sustainable development and driving local and national opportunities in soil reuse to optimise resources already in use in our development and infrastructure sectors.

Sarah began her career with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in 2006 working for the Royal New Zealand Navy at Devonport Naval Base.  A department restructure resulted in Sarah becoming an Environmental Officer in a regional position across all Northern NZDF sites.  Sarah is now the Principal Environmental Officer (PEO) for the Northern region, within the Assets and Environment team of Defence Estate and Infrastructure (DEI), Environmental Services.  Sarah provides professional and strategic leadership in environmental management and legislative issues related to the Defence Estate and its environmental risks.

Sarah’s technical skills and experience provides valuable input towards infrastructure and maintenance projects at NZDF’s Camps and Bases. As a PEO she is expected to develop and support HQ strategic objectives to mitigate risks, and support Defence outputs.  Her depth of legislative understanding ensures the Defence Estate complies with all resource consents, environmental statutes, and Government policy.  This incorporates a range of key disciplines, including soil and groundwater contamination, heritage, stormwater management, air discharges, and archaeology.  Sarah also fosters good relationships with other Government agencies including Auckland Council and Ministry of Primary Industry’s (MPI) to ensure Defence interests are considered in future planning and policy decisions.