I’m a Registered NZILA Landscape Architect with over 18 years of professional experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. As Beca’s leading walking and cycling specialist, I’ve spent the past decade focused on active mode strategy, planning, and design—bringing a people-first approach to infrastructure that reflects the unique character and context of the places we live in. My work spans both public and private sectors, from high-level strategy through to detailed design delivery. Benefit realisation for communities—large and small—is a key part of my role. I lead projects that support economic uplift, mode shift, and land use transformation, while navigating the tensions between infrastructure integration and the values of complex urban and rural environments.

John is a former US national road cycling champion who has focused on the planning and design of streets for all transport modes, ages, and abilities since 2005, when he started with Palmerston North City Council as a transportation planner. After completing his Master of Engineering (Transport), he worked for three years on major projects in the USA including the US$100M CV Link pathway and ways to provide for non-motorised users at several highway interchanges in and around Silicon Valley. He works with schools and communities to provide healthy and safe ways to get around our communities. John prepares master plans, business cases, and undertakes a variety of transportation research. He has extensive experience in automatic data collection, demand estimation, and level of traffic stress modelling. He is the former chair of the Engineering NZ Transportation Group.

Victor Devyatov is a CPEng and Senior Transport Engineer at Hamilton City Council. He leads transport planning for urban growth areas, supporting safe, efficient networks aligned with Hamilton’s long-term goals. Victor holds a Graduate Diploma in Highway Engineering and degrees in Civil Engineering from Volgograd State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. His work includes network planning, modelling, and infrastructure delivery under the Access Hamilton Strategy. He also supports structure planning, district plan reviews, and regional modelling. Most recently, he led the Northern Corridor Multimodal Investigation to shape transport outcomes for Hamilton’s growing northern suburbs.

Sophia Zou is a Transport Planner and Engineer in the People, Movement, and Place team at Aurecon. She has contributed to public transport projects and business cases aimed at improving access and efficiency across Auckland’s network, including the City Centre Bus Plan, Auckland Light Rail, and local bus improvements. Sophia holds an Honours degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Auckland. She is passionate about creating more connected, people-centred cities through better public transport. Most recently, she worked with Hamilton City Council on the Northern Corridor Multimodal Investigation, helping shape future transport solutions for the growing Waikato region.

Claire Pascoe is the Central City Upgrades Manager at Wellington City Council, where she leads the delivery of innovative urban design and transport projects, particularly focused on creating safer, more accessible streets and cycling infrastructure. She was named one of 10 Global Street Shapers in 2024 and champions adaptable, pragmatic urban design solutions that transition us to a lower carbon, healthier and happier future.