Gillian is a social impact assessment practitioner with a PhD in international development. She has over 15 years’ experience in development, political analysis, social research, and strategic and policy advisory roles. These have inspired her passion for sustainable community development, entrepreneurship and social change.

“People want to be inspired, and they want to inspire others with their ideas and actions. There’s great power at the intersection of information and knowledge, creativity, and human empowerment. There are incredible opportunities to enable people and agencies to make the difference they seek. This is about innovation by making better use of what already exists, simplifying what is complex, and making our solutions more meaningful, exciting, sustainable and valuable. By cross-pollinating ideas beyond boundaries and thinking more holistically, and essentially demonstrating our experiences and efforts, we can co-create a better, fairer future”.

Gillian moved to New Zealand from the UK in 2002 with her husband. They have two children and also manage their family-run orchard business in Pukekohe East. As a result, Gillian passionately practises sustainable development in her professional and personal life and values story-telling as a way of communicating and inspiring positive change.

Gillian’s Expertise

• Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
• Strategy and policy development, advice and advocacy
• Social research and analysis (quantitative and qualitative)
• Consultation and engagement
• Measurement, monitoring and evaluation
• Community and local economic development, resilience and sustainability
• International development, aid and funding
• Strategic planning, project and programme management

Val first worked as a secondary teacher, then a guidance counsellor. After overseas travel and stints tutoring adults in French and in English as a second language, she worked for the Tertiary Education Commission as a specialist in evaluation of New Zealand tertiary education and training. During this time Val facilitated community workshops with multiple stakeholders, assessed funding proposals, negotiated contracts, trained staff and led teams, and provided strategic analysis and operational policy design. Relationship management was at the heart of this work.

Senior management roles followed, providing strategic policy advice. Recent projects in local government included community initiatives about sustainability and social enterprise in southern Auckland, and designing and implementing an integrated fee framework for hire of community facilities across Auckland region.

“I have a passion for personal creative self-expression, and a deep belief that we can and must harness our unlimited creative potential, to live sustainably together as individuals, groups and communities.  Now with friend and co-founder Gilly, we are combining our complementary skills to work collaboratively with others, contributing to a more just and sustainable society. “

Val’s Expertise

• Creativity and innovation
• Ensuring strategic, effective and efficient solutions remain workable, and flexible enough to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
• Training design, facilitation and train-the-trainer.
• Integrated systems thinking for design, delivery and holistic sustainability.