Session 2: Keynote
Tracks
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
| Monday, March 9, 2026 |
| 10:55 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Rongomātāne Plenary Hall |
Details
Session 2 brings a senior leadership lens to the challenge of delivering a resilient transport system in a constrained and complex environment. Kevin Doherty will open the session by setting out how simplification, asset management and organisational focus are shaping NZ Transport Agency’s approach to maintaining and operating the network for long-term resilience. This is followed by a regional perspective from Robyn Elston, highlighting how national direction is being applied on the ground across Wellington’s programme of works. The session concludes with Geoff Cooper, who will outline the National Infrastructure Plan and its implications for land transport investment, prioritisation and delivery.
Speaker
Dr Kevin Doherty
Group General Manager
NZ Transport Agency
Simplification, resilience, and asset management at NZTA, sponsored by NZTA
10:55 AM - 11:40 AMBiography
Kevin Doherty is the Group General Manager Transport Services at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), with over 30 years’ experience delivering major infrastructure projects across New Zealand and Australia. A civil engineer by background, he has held senior roles including Chief Infrastructure Officer at Auckland Transport and CEO of the Office of Projects Victoria.
Kevin has led key NZTA initiatives such as the Transmission Gully PPP and Pūhoi to Warkworth business case and played a pivotal role in City Rail Link procurement. Prior to his current role, he was Group Director at Beca overseeing a team of 800+ across the Asia-Pacific region. Widely recognised for his expertise in procurement methodologies and contractor relationships, Kevin is also known for his ability to build strong partnerships across government and industry—an essential focus in today’s infrastructure landscape.
Robyn Elston
National Manager – Local Government
NZ Transport Agency
Simplicity by design – delivering resilient roads
11:40 AM - 12:05 PMBiography
Robyn Elston is the National Manager – Local Government at the New Zealand Transport Agency. Prior to this, she was National Manager – System Design. Robyn is the Programme Sponsor for the Roads of National Significance. Most recently, Robyn has led the Transforming Project Development initiative within NZTA, looking at simplifying and streamlining project development processes and applying this approach to the Roads of National Significance investment cases.
Geoff Cooper
Chief Executive
Te Waihanga NZ Infrastructure Commission
National Infrastructure Plan with application for land transport, sponsored by WSP
12:05 PM - 12:30 PMBiography
Geoff Cooper is the Chief Executive at Te Waihanga. He has a background in global policy having worked for the United States Federal Reserve, the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, and the United Nations.
He is a former Chief Economist for both PwC and Auckland Council, where he worked on infrastructure, housing, regulation, and financial policy, including business case development for Auckland’s City Rail Link.
At Te Waihanga, Geoff was previously the General Manager of Strategy where he had purview over research capabilities, the National Infrastructure Pipeline, and development of the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy.
He holds a Master of Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University.
