We are

a boutique consultancy

Sunny is an all-rounder with understanding the planning process and the inner workings of Council consenting practices and has planning experiences in Auckland and Wellington. He has developed a holistic approach to understanding consenting requirements and finding constructive solutions to achieving what the client needs. Sunny is a qualified urban design specialist and has experience working for Auckland Council as an urban designer and privately providing urban design assessments for development projects.

Mike covers all aspects of planning, ranging from project inception to delivery with a keen eye for detail. Skills he has acquired through a multitude of professional experiences both within New Zealand and the UK. Before Avant Planning and Urban Design, Mike held a senior managerial position in a multi-disciplinary company where his work performance gave confidence and security to his wide range of clients.

Mike’s overall ambition is to address all his client needs through thoughtful execution.

Gyanendra is our principal consultant with extensive knowledge and experience, having worked in both the public and private sectors in New Zealand and the UK. Gyanendra has been involved in all facets of planning, with experience in resource consenting and policy planning. Gyanendra manages our most complex projects as well as our public sector work; he also provides our internal and external staff training programmes.

Rakad is a senior specialising in regulatory planning and has experience in both the private and public sectors in New Zealand. She has a pragmatic approach and is externally recognised for her project management skills. Given her background, Rakad has good working relationships with a range of stakeholders and experts and is able to communicate with a wide audience when it comes to understanding and applying the planning framework.

Shilpa is a senior planner with over 10 years’ experience working in the private sector, managing the resource consenting processes for a variety of residential, rural, commercial and industrial applications. She is an experienced project manager who is able to provide strategic advice for projects of varying complexities. Shilpa is pragmatic with a keen eye for detail which ensures that projects are delivered to a very high standard.

Celina has joined us after working in the Hospitality Industry for over 18 years. Having a wide experience in the Accounts area, she will be overseeing all administrative duties in the office ensuring the smooth management of the company.  She has vast experience in all reporting functions, payroll and other financials for the company. Celina is critical in coordinating the multitude of tasks required to keep Avant Planning running like a well-oiled machine.

Gianna is in her last year of study for a Bachelor of Urban Planning at the University of Auckland. Over the course of a year, Gianna has gained experience in reviewing plans, consultants’ reports, and submitting and obtaining resource consents for mainly residential developments. This includes standalone, subdivision, and rural residential developments. She enjoys building positive relationships to deliver results that benefit both clients and the environment.

Lee-Anne is our planning intern currently in her final year of her Urban Planning (Hons) degree.  Passionate about sustainable urban development, Lee-Anne has a solid foundation in urban design principles and actively contributes to resource consent applications.  Known for her adaptability, proactive approach and strong research background, she excels in project coordination and interpreting planning procedures.

Known as “Theo”, our resident pug is highly adept at cleaning any spills on the kitchen floor, barking at couriers and welcoming visitors alike, and waiting patiently for his bed to be moved into the sun throughout the day. With 7 years of experience, he’s very qualified to help eat your breakfast, lunch or dinner and keep the office crumb-free.