People
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Garry Venus
Director
Garry has qualifications in Environmental Science and Engineering with expertise in environmental auditing, project management, strategic environmental planning and assessment of environmental issues.
He has extensive experience in a wide range of renewable generation, manufacturing, mining operations and resource management projects throughout New Zealand and overseas, with a particular focus on the Southwest Pacific.
Garry has experience with all aspects of permit acquisition and EIAs ranging from preparing and managing applications on behalf of applicants to acting for regulators in processing applications, appearing at hearings and acting in a commissioner role.
Garry is ARGO's founder, with over 30 years experience as an environmental consultant.
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Luke Gowing
Director
Luke is an ecologist with 15 years research and professional experience who has a substantial track record in water quality investigations and assessment of effects of discharges on freshwater and marine environments.
He was appointed as a director of Argo Environmental in April 2008 after a long working relationship with the company.
Luke has undertaken numerous investigations throughout New Zealand, Fiji and Europe. In addition, Luke has project managed numerous AEEs and resource consent applications, undertaken a wide range of due diligence and environmental audits and Phase I & II contaminated site assessments.
Luke provides specialist input in relation to field investigations and management of specialist sub-consultants.
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Grace Simpson
Environmental Scientist
Grace has a Bachelor of Applied Science and Diploma of Applied Science from FNU, Suva. She joined Argo in 2015.
Grace has undertaken a number of ecological resource assessments in relation to resort developments, hydropower schemes, mining operations and land development projects; and she has experience in areas such as:
- Terrestrial ecology (vegetation, birds) & aquatic ecology (marine & freshwater) in Fiji.
- Flora and fauna assessments.
- Project managing teams of specialists and preparing environmental documentation
- Analysis and interpretation of data on ecological communities to establish potential impacts and environmental implications
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Lepani Kolinisau
Fiji Ecological Specialist
Lepani is one of Fiji’s leading ecologists, with over 30 years’ experience in undertaking ecological assessments across Fiji and the Pacific. Lepani’s previous role was the Head of the School of Applied Sciences at the Fiji National University and he has an in-depth knowledge of the Fiji’s flora and fauna. Lepani heads up Argo’s Fiji office in Suva.
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Tevita Havea
Pacific Relationships Manager
Tevita has legal qualifications (LLM (Hons) from Auckland University; LLB (Hons) from Northumbria University in the UK) and wide experience with government and projects through the Southwest pacific with a particular focus on Tonga. Tevita was Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Crown Counsel in the Tongan Crown Law Office, and a Co-opted Member of the Law Committee of the Tongan Legislative Assembly.
Tevita draws on his qualifications and experience in his role with Argo which is to facilitate consultation with various Pacific stakeholders (including Government, Regulatory and Landowners) involved with Client projects and to assist with interpretation of local and regional environmental legal requirements and aspects.
Argo's Network
ARGO specialises in drawing together and managing experts often in diverse teams involving specialists from New Zealand and overseas.
Over the past three decades we have developed excellent working relationships with specialists from a wide range of organisations, including other consultancies both in New Zealand and overseas. We are able to draw on this extensive network for the benefit of our clients.