Speakers

Award-winning journalist Jehan Casinader returns as the MC for our 2026 Conference.

At last year’s conference in Tauranga, Jehan hosted engaging conversations about the future of civil construction. In 2026 – an election year – Jehan will bring clarity to each session, and ask the questions that need to be asked.

With a 15-year background in journalism, Jehan was named “Reporter of the Year” at the New Zealand Television Awards, and “Best Political Columnist” at the Voyager Media Awards.

 In the aftermath of natural disasters, terror attacks, sporting triumphs and everything in between, he has helped hundreds of Kiwis to share their inspiring stories.

 Now, he’s one of the country’s most popular speakers and event hosts, and a respected voice in the areas of mental health, leadership and communication.

In 2020, Jehan opened up about his journey through depression, in a book called “This Is Not How It Ends: How rewriting your story can save your life”.

Jehan is an official ambassador for Men’s Health Week. He loves conversations about how we can build a better future for all New Zealanders.

With over 25 years on stages across New Zealand and beyond, Greg Ward returns as MC for the CCNZ Contractors Themed Party- an event he’s hosted and entertained at on more than twelve occasions across the years.

Known for his warmth, wit and commitment to the chosen theme of the event, Greg brings his trademark energy, polish and just the right touch of mischief to this much-loved informal industry celebration.

Brendan Attewell FEngNZ CPEng MICE CEng - Fletcher Construction

As the Engineering Services and Innovation Manager at Fletcher Construction, Brian Perry Civil and Higgins, Brendan enables new business and project delivery teams with access to in-house technical services including temporary works & construction engineering, BIM, digital engineering, GIS, construction surveying & spatial capture – as well as the innovation portfolio.

Early career included project engineering roles on wharves, outfall pipelines, seawalls, bridges, and roads across New Zealand and the South Pacific. But it was during a 10-year stint in the UK as a Temporary Works Engineer, that Brendan worked closely with Contractors and their alignment with BS5975, the UK standard for temporary works procedural control.

“I believe strongly in the implementation of robust engineering controls, often through the application of experience and innovation, to drive better project outcomes on cost, quality, programme and most importantly H&S”.

In 2018, Brendan started delivering the Temporary Works: Risk and Awareness course through Engineering New Zealand and Engineering Education Australia. In 2022, Brendan was awarded to a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand and a Luminary Award Finalist for Leadership, Education & Service to the engineering profession.

Brendan will be presenting a Masterclass on "Temporary Works Risk Management", including key considerations and challenges to implementing good procedural control at both project and organisational level.

National Party, Minister for Infrastructure

Chris Bishop is Attorney General, the Minister of Housing, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Minister of Transport, Associate Minister of Finance, and he is the MP for Hutt South.

Chris was born and raised in Lower Hutt where he lives with his wife and two children. He has a first-class Honours degree in Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University of Wellington, and was the 2006 Young Wellingtonian of the Year.

 Before serving as an MP, Chris worked as a researcher for the National Party in Opposition and was later an advisor to Ministers in the John Key-led Government.

 Chris was the National Party Campaign Chair for the 2023 General Election.

Green Party, Spokesperson for Infrastructure

 Julie Anne Genter is the MP for Rongotai and the Chatham Islands. She has been a Member of Parliament for the Green Party since 2011.

She is currently the spokesperson for Transport, Infrastructure, Urban Development, Building and Construction, Economic Development, and State-Owned Enterprises. From 2017-2020, she served as Minister for Women, Associate Minister of Transport and Health.

Julie Anne has spent her career before and in politics working to deliver transportation policy and funding changes that will move more people and goods at lower cost. New Zealand has a huge opportunity to get better economic outcomes while also reducing pollution, reducing serious injuries and deaths on our roads, and improving quality of life for our people by investing in a multi-modal transportation network.

Labour Party, Spokesperson for Infrastructure

Kieran has been a Labour List MP based in Wairarapa, which also includes the Tararua and Central Hawke’s Bay districts since 2017 and served as the electorate MP from 2020 to 2023.

 Under Prime Ministers Arden and Hipkins, Kieran held the portfolios of Minister for Rural Communities, Regional Development, Racing, Local Government and Emergency Management, as well as being Deputy Leader of the House.

 Kieran is currently the Labour Party’s spokesperson on housing, infrastructure and public investment, as well as being shadow Leader of the House and chair of Labour’s 2026 election campaign.

 Kieran did his schooling in Carterton and Masterton and, after studies at Otago University and playing some rugby in Ireland, returned home to Wairarapa to live and work in 2008. He’s worked in social development, economic development, and the racing industry; been a local Work and Income case manager, a bookie at the TAB and economic development manager for the Masterton district. He lives in Masterton and is a life-long mad keen Wairarapa-Bush supporter.

Monika Wakeman is a senior Health, Safety and Wellbeing leader at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, where she supports the development of national standards and capability across New Zealand’s transport and infrastructure sector. She brings extensive experience in safety, risk, and sustainability, and plays an active role in industry collaboration, including involvement with the Temporary Traffic Management Industry Steering Group (TTM ISG).

Prior to joining NZTA, Monika was a Director at Deloitte, specialising in climate, sustainability, and risk advisory, with over 15 years of international experience helping organisations strengthen governance, safety culture, and ESG performance.

Nathan Beaumont is one of New Zealand's leading crisis communications advisers, working with Boards, CEOs and Senior Leaders when the stakes are at their highest. As founder of The Reputation Hub, Nathan advises organisations across a range of sectors including construction, infrastructure, energy and regulated industries on how to protect and manage their reputation, both before a crisis hits and when it does. He specialises in media and crisis preparedness, stakeholder strategy, and advising senior leaders on how to communicate under pressure. Nathan is known for direct, practical advice that works in real situations, not just in theory. He is based in Christchurch and works with clients across New Zealand.

Natasha Jojoa Burling has more than 16 years’ experience as a reporter and editor.

Editorial Manager for Contrafed Publishing

Nick is Manager – Stakeholder Consenting & Acquisition as Chorus, with extensive experience across infrastructure delivery, stakeholder engagement, and approvals processes. He specialises in navigating complex consenting environments and securing access for major transport and infrastructure projects, working closely with councils, landowners, and delivery partners.

Nick is an active contributor to industry collaboration, with involvement in both the New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group (NZUAG) and the Temporary Traffic Management Industry Steering Group (TTM ISG), supporting improved coordination, standards, and outcomes across the sector. He brings a practical, delivery-focused perspective, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, risk management, and achieving timely outcomes in complex regulatory and community environments.

Nicholas Proud is the CEO of Civil Contractors Federation the national Peak Industry Body and Registered Organisation for the Civil Construction Industry in Australia.

With Branches in every State and Territory, the Civil Contractors Federation and its 1,800 Contractor and Associate Members play a critical role in delivering the nation’s infrastructure in every community, town and city in Australia.

Leading the civil infrastructure Peak Body enables new opportunity to tackle national macro housing, community and energy transition goals that can’t be achieved without this critical infrastructure playing a central role.

Peter Nunns is General Manager - Strategy at Te Waihanga, where he oversees the Commission's strategy, research and policy advice functions. He led development of the National Infrastructure Plan and contributed to New Zealand's first Infrastructure Strategy in 2022. An economist with experience in consultancy, local government, and central government, Peter focuses on taking a long-term view on long-lived infrastructure – ensuring decisions today serve New Zealand's future. He holds postgraduate qualifications in economics and political science from the University of Auckland.

Rebecca Fox is the Workforce Development Manager at Civil Contractors New Zealand, she has spent decades supporting businesses and trainees to find success and be recognised for their skills in infrastructure, working across diverse industries including water, public health, local government and transport.

In her role at Civil Contractors New Zealand, she provides essential input to the education sector on the needs of the industry. Rebecca also sets the industry’s strategy to ensure people working in the industry are recognised for their hard work and skills, and most recently has developed an infrastructure careers roadmap to show learners the amazing career pathways available to them.

New Zealand First, Spokesperson for Infrastructure

Hon Shane Jones returned to parliament as a Cabinet Minister in the Coalition Government following the 2023 election and is Minister for Resources, Regional Development, and Oceans & Fisheries. He is also the Associate Minister for Finance and Energy.

His education journey took him from St Stephen's to the universities of Wellington, Western Australia and Harvard. He served his country in business and public sector leadership roles as Chairman of Sealord, our country’s first Pacific Economic Ambassador, and as a Member of Parliament and a Minister in government.

In political life, Shane has always asked the tough questions, identified policy solutions and accelerated implementation. As Minister of Regional Development (NZ First-Labour coalition government 2017-2020), he oversaw the $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund, providing a vital economic boost to our region.

Shane Jones is a proud, born and bred Northlander raised on an Awanui dairy farm. Based in Kerikeri with his wife Dot, Shane has been a strong voice and advocate for Northland for over 40 years.

Shane’s experience and energy have affirmed his reputation for getting things done by taking a robust and balanced approach in policy matters. His deep roots in Northland, from the Dalmatian gum diggers to the iwi of Muriwhenua, his fluency in the Maori language and his extensive contacts throughout the communities of Kaipara, the Bay of Islands, Hokianga and Kaitaia mean his life and service are interwoven with Northland life.

ACT Party, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure and RMA Reform

 Simon Court MP is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform. Simon also serves as the ACT Party spokesperson for Climate Change and Energy & Resources and was first elected to Parliament as an ACT Party MP in 2020. 

Before politics, Simon worked as a Civil and Environmental Engineer with 23 years’ experience in roles for the private sector and local government. This includes 10 years leading engineering, planning, tendering, and construction teams primarily in Auckland, Wellington, and Fiji.

Shamubeel Eaqub is an influential economist who makes the complexities of economics both easy and engaging. Currently, he serves as the Chief Economist at Simplicity, bringing over two decades of experience.

His career has seen him contribute his expertise at leading institutions, including ANZ Bank, Goldman Sachs JBWere, NZIER, Sense Partners, and now Simplicity.

An alumnus of Lincoln University, he graduated with Honours in Economics and is also a CFA Charterholder. Beyond his professional role, Shamubeel is an accomplished author and a frequent voice in media, known for his insightful commentary on economic and social issues in New Zealand. His published works include influential books such as Growing Apart: Regional Prosperity in New Zealand and co-authored titles like Generation Rent and The New Zealand Economy: An Introduction, which highlight critical issues affecting the nation.

He balances a dynamic portfolio that spans consulting, public speaking, governance, and family life. Residing in Auckland with his wife and two sons, Shamubeel remains a thought leader who brings clarity and accessibility to the world of economics.