Directors
The Directors of Isthmus are David Irwin, Gavin Lister, Ralph Johns and Brad Coombs. Directors have extensive experience in the profession throughout New Zealand and overseas. The Directors are based in the Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington studios and work nationwide on a range of civic scale design, project management, urban design, and landscape planning projects.
David Irwin | Director
David is a director of the Isthmus Group who works on a wide range of projects throughout New Zealand from large-scale urban development projects such as town centres, coastal edge projects, parks and reserves and large-scale commercial developments such as land subdivision and development.
He specialises in providing "design lead" leadership in large-scale project teams with an emphasis on designed solutions. David has strong design, communication and project management skills. He has won eight NZILA National awards and frequently speaks and lectures on design related topics.
He specialises in providing "design lead" leadership in large-scale project teams with an emphasis on designed solutions. David has strong design, communication and project management skills. He has won eight NZILA National awards and frequently speaks and lectures on design related topics.
Gavin Lister | Director
Gavin is a director of the Isthmus Group who works in a wide range of projects from large scale infrastructure works, highways, coastal development, parks and reserves networks, rural subdivision, and urban centre revitalisation. He is experienced in leading project teams and managing consultative design processes. He regularly provides expert evidence to Council Hearings and the Environment Court and has acted as an Independent Commissioner. He has won eight NZILA National Awards for design and landscape planning.
Brad Coombs | Director
Brad is a Director and manages the Tauranga studio of Isthmus. Brad has worked in private practice and local government in New Zealand and the U.K. for over 13 years. He has extensive experience in resource management processes. Brad has particular experience in the assessment and consenting of large scale infrastructure projects, including electricity generation, transmission, and roading projects. Brad is an experienced expert witness, and regularly appears at Council, Environment Court, and Board of Inquiry hearings.
Brad was a member of the elected National Executive of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) from 2005 to 2009, is a registered NZILA Landscape Architect, and is a member of the Resource Management Law Association. Brad has completed the Ministry for the Environments Making Good Decisions Program and is a certified and experienced RMA decision maker.
Brad was a member of the elected National Executive of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) from 2005 to 2009, is a registered NZILA Landscape Architect, and is a member of the Resource Management Law Association. Brad has completed the Ministry for the Environments Making Good Decisions Program and is a certified and experienced RMA decision maker.
Ralph Johns | Director
Ralph is the Manager of the Isthmus studio in Wellington. He gained his Masters of Landscape Architecture from Sheffield University and subsequently practiced as a Landscape Architect in the UK on major urban public realm projects. In 2001 he moved to New Zealand as a founding member of Victoria University of Wellington Landscape Architecture program where he was a Senior Lecturer until joining Isthmus in 2006. Ralph is a registered member of the NZILA, is chair of the Wellington Branch (2007-2008) and has won a number of awards from NZILA for collaborative design and planning work. Ralph has contributed many articles to NZ and international landscape architecture publications and has presented papers at international conferences.