Christchurch

Judith Roper-Lindsay

Principal & Ecologist

Education

PhD; Botany Department, University of Durham, England, 1977
Bachelor of Science (Ecology); University of Durham, England, 1972

Professional Affiliations

Member, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (UK)
Member, Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
Member and Past President, New Zealand Ecological Society
Member, International Association of Landscape Ecology

Profile

Judith is a general ecologist who specialises in integrating ecological, biodiversity and conservation values with planning, development and resource management processes. She has over 20 years' experience in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Judith has advised regional and local authorities throughout the country on ecological evaluation for plan preparation, policy development and assessment of consent applications. Working with their operations staff she has prepared ecological guidelines for waterways management and roading proposals. In the preparation of resource consent applications for clients, Judith provides scientific input, briefs and manages expert sub-consultants, and co-ordinates assessments of environmental effects.

In the design field, Judith works with Boffa Miskell's landscape architects to ensure that design work is based on sound ecological principles to produce a better quality environment.

She was a member of the New Zealand Conservation Authority from 1993 to 1996, and from 1999 to 2000 was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group looking at options for conservation of biodiversity on private land for the Minister for the Environment. She is currently President of the New Zealand Chapter of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand.

Expertise

Assessment of effects on the environment (AEE)

Evaluating the ecological effects of projects and advising on avoidance/mitigation for resource consents under the Resource Management Act. Collation of specialist reports for combined AEE reports.

Ecological management

Advising operations staff, supervisors, planners and contractors on environmentally sound ways of carrying out their works, including subdivision, hydro-development, river and wetland management.

Biodiversity planning

Assessing the biodiversity values of sites or areas, and advising local authorities on options for protection and sustainable management.

Integrated project management

Setting up teams and briefing expert investigators to obtain relevant and practical information in a wide range of environmental areas, and incorporating their findings into project planning, design and operation.