Expert Panel

On 22 September 2025, the panel convener appointed the panel. The panel consists of:

Chris Thomsen (chair)

Chris Thomsen is a Nelson based lawyer with 20 years’ experience. He is a partner at Fletcher Vautier Moore and specialises in environmental and local government law.

Chris’ experience includes acting for local authorities, for whom he has provided local government and resource management advice, including as counsel in numerous Environment Court and superior court proceedings. He also advises Government agencies, sector and recreational interest groups and private developers nationwide on matters such as regional and district policy, subdivisions and infrastructure. Chris has significant hearing and mediation experience and is an experienced advocate.

In recent time a large part of Chris’ practice has been in relation to freshwater management and policy throughout the country. He is particularly interested in the management of pastoral farming to give effect to water quality policy direction.

Included in his local government practice have been acquisitions and decision-making under the Public Works Act, Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act requests, local government decision making and 3 Waters regulation.

Previously, Chris has been a guest lecturer at the University of Otago and has presented to seminars to the Resource Management Law Association and others.

Roger Seyb

Roger is a civil engineer with over 30 years’ experience in civil infrastructure development, water management and environmental management.

Roger provides advice to central, local government and private clients, particularly with respect to civil engineering water infrastructure, stormwater and flood management and environmental effects assessments. He has led the civil infrastructure assessments for several large scale urban development projects and provided specialist water assessments including for; energy generation projects, road transport projects, airports, flood management works and quarries. He provides expert advice and carries out independent peer reviews and has provided evidence at many hearings at Council and the Environment Court.

Roger has had roles in both consultancies and regional council. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Auckland, is a Chartered Professional Engineer and a Chartered Member of Engineering New Zealand.

Ken Gimblett

Ken is a Planner and Managing Partner for the central and southern regional offices of environmental consultancy, Boffa Miskell Ltd. He has over three decades' experience in statutory and environmental planning, effects assessment, policy analysis, plan preparation and administration, and public consultation.

Ken has had significant involvement in preparing numerous resource consent and plan change applications for a wide range of planning and resource management projects, including large-scale and complex energy, land development and utility proposals. He is currently in lead planning roles for various Fast-track projects, including the Dunedin Hospital, Cook Strait HVDC cable replacement, and for the extractive industries sector.

As an accredited RMA decision-maker, he has acted as an appointed commissioner on numerous and diverse proposals for more than 20 years, often in the capacity as chair.

Ken was a recipient of the NZPI National Distinguished Service Award in 2019 and appointed a Fellow of the Institute in 2024.

Register of Interests

The register records all relevant panel members' interests and is updated, when necessary, throughout the consenting process.