Emma is a Principal Consultant at GMD Consultants. She is an experienced strategic planner and policy analyst having worked in district and regional council environments. Emma has significant experience in both the development and public consultation engagement of various policy, strategy and regulatory instruments.

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Recently, Emma’s work has been focused on bylaw development and review, corporate planning and long term planning for regional and district council clients, and reserve management plan review. Emma also provides strategic and policy advice to local government clients.

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Emma's special interest in bylaw development has seen her lead the GMD team to support nine different district and unitary councils in the review and/or development of a wide range of bylaws in the last six years. Many of these councils have re-engaged Emma to review subsequent bylaws and/or undertake other policy work, which speaks to the trust Emma's clients have for the quality of her work and the strength of her relationships within the public sector. Most recently, Emma has worked with Matamata-Piako District Council to develop a new Freedom Camping Bylaw, supported Thames-Coromanadel District Council in their review of their Freedom Camping Bylaw and their Dog Control Policy and Bylaw, and Gisborne Council's review of their Navigational Safety Bylaw. Emma is currently supporting South Wairarapa District Council in the development of a new Freedom Camping Bylaw and New Plymouth District Council on a review of their Traffic, Stock, Public Places, Signs, and Trading in Public Places Bylaws.

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Emma supported the Waipā District Council in developing their 2021-2031 Long Term Plan. This involved input into project planning and management, strategy and policy development and review, preparation of documentation for executive team review and Council workshops, submission processing and analysis, and providing guidance and advice on LTP process to Council staff. Emma also assisted Ruapehu District Council with the development of their non-financial assumptions in 2023, and Waitomo District Council in their project planning preparation for their 2024-2034 LTP.

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Emma led the delivery of three omnibus Reserve Management Plans for Thames-Coromandel District Council between 2020 and 2022. This includes drafting and reviewing documentation, managing contractors, following the Reserves Act 1977 procedure for classifying land, providing updates to elected members, and delivering stakeholder, including iwi and Māori, engagement.

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Emma is qualified in PRINCE2 Foundation for Project Management, has undertaken civil defence training with a focus on community welfare, and has a Certificate of Tikanga Māori from Te Wānaga o Aotearoa. She is an associate member of Taituarā and regularly attends the annual Community Plan Forum.

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Emma holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Auckland, a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Social Science (double major with Political Science and Geography) from the University of Waikato, and is an Enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

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