Beacon

General Manager - Nick Collins

Nick oversees direction and business management, identifies strategic opportunities and manages key relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.

Nick started off as a geographer, completing an MA (Hons) at Canterbury University, initially with the intention of an academic / teaching career.  Nick has worked largely in the building products market, in companies such as Pryda Reid, Auckland Brick and Tile, and Monier Bricks, varying in size from US based Fortune 200 company, large New Zealand corporates, and four years with his own company.

Knowledge and Science Manager - Vicki Cowan

Vicki coordinates the research process and ensures the quality of our research projects. Prior to joining Beacon, she progressed through a career in marine resources consulting (UK based) with extensive project management experience in Africa and Asia.

Existing and New Homes - Lois Easton

Lois’ past work with Beacon has included a range of policy and regulatory and new homes initiatives.  She has previously held senior policy and operational roles at Waitakere City Council, including the City Development Projects Manager where she was responsible for a range of Waitakere City Council sustainable building developments.  Lois is leading the HomeSmart Renovation project.

Neighbourhoods - Kay Saville-Smith

As Research Director of CRESA, Kay has fifteen years of expertise in community and social policy research specialising in housing, welfare, employment, and sustainable communities. Before establishing CRESA, Kay was an academic, policy manager and ministerial advisor.

Energy - Verney Ryan 

Verney is an independent environmental consultant specialising in energy, and has recently returned from the UK where he specialised in promoting sustainability with a focus on green building technology, energy efficiency and carbon reduction programmes.

Water - Dorothy Wilson

Dorothy has been working in the field of sustainable development for the last 20 years,primarily in local government ( including 6 years as Deputy Mayor of Waitakere City)then as a consultant to local, regional and  central government and the NGO sector.She has particularly focussed on the four waters, working on ways to engage communities in the importance of wise resource management.

Indoor Environment Quality - Lisa Burrough

Lisa has been a Building Scientist at BRANZ Ltd for six years, with experience in monitoring and analysis of temperature and humidity in both the Household Energy End-use Project (HEEP) and the Papakowhai Renovation Project.  She has also recently completed a study on heat pumps in New Zealand.