Emilia Stocks – Chair – 2026/27

Emilia is a Chartered Principal Geotechnical Engineer and Risk and Claims Adviser with Tonkin + Taylor Ltd, based in the Wellington office. She has over 16 years of experience across a wide range of geotechnical and civil engineering projects. Emilia has led several major geotechnical initiatives, including developments on the Wellington Waterfront, new landfill projects, and the design and construction of retaining walls for roads and stopbanks. She is a Board Member for CEAS, a Director of I&G Insurance, and a Member of the Institute of Directors (IoD). Outside of work, Emilia volunteers with the Wellington Emergency Response Team (NZRT8).

Jesse Beetham – Vice Chair – 2026/27

Jesse is an Engineering Geologist (PEngGeol) at Tonkin & Taylor Ltd, and an expert in geotechnical risk assessment, large-scale liquefaction vulnerability assessments, landslide investigation and modelling, geomorphic and geological mapping, and natural hazard assessment and mitigation. Outside of work, prior to 2021, you will find Jesse fishing, hiking, hunting, or gardening.

Christoph Kraus – Treasurer – 2026/27

Christoph is a chartered Engineering Geologist at Beca in Wellington, and his key interests include analysing complex geology, as well as the assessment and mitigation of natural hazards. Christoph has conducted fieldwork in a range of different geological settings in New Zealand, Patagonia, Samoa, and Antarctica. Outside of work, his interests include travel, exploring the outdoors, football, and photography.

Martin Larisch – Training, Workshops and Webinars Coordinator – 2026/27

Martin Larisch is a Geotechnical Engineer with more than 25 years of international design and construction experience. He is based in Waikanae (Kapiti Coast), where he works as an Independent Consultant and Expert Witness on various geotechnical, piling, ground improvement and retaining wall projects across New Zealand and the Asia Pacific Region. Martin obtained his University Degree in Civil Engineering in Germany, a Master of Advanced Concrete Technology in Leeds (UK) and a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering from The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Since 2020, he is a member of the expert panel to revise the NZGS/ SESOC Piling Specifications and he is also the current Chair of the NZGS Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation Group.

Rhiannon Robinson – Training, Workshops and Webinars Coordinator – 2026/27

Rhiannon is a chartered professional engineer with seven years of experience in geotechnical engineering. She is presently a Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Beca. Originally based in Auckland, she transferred with Beca back to her hometown of Tauranga in 2021. Rhiannon has worked on a diverse range of major infrastructure and land development projects,​ and has overseen geotechnical investigations, design, and construction monitoring under challenging ground conditions including soft, compressible soils and high seismic risk areas. Most recently, she served as Senior Geotechnical Designer and CPS Engineer for the RONS SH29 Omanawa Bridge Replacement project and led the geotechnical design and CPS engineering on the No.4 Bridge Replacement project. 

Heather Lyons – NZGS Branched and Invited Speakers Coordinator – 2026/27

Heather is a Principal Engineering Geologist at ENGEO with nearly 20 years of experience working on infrastructure and land development projects across New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the South Pacific. She specializes in geological and geomorphological mapping, soil and rock characterisation, and geohazard risk assessment, bringing a practical and collaborative approach to complex geological challenges. Outside of work, Heather enjoys rock hopping along the beautiful beaches or walking through the native bush around Tāmaki Makaurau with her young family.

Gabriele Chiaro – Climate Change and Sustainability & NZGS Awards – 2026/27

Professor Gabriele Chiaro is an expert in Geotechnical Engineering for Resilience and Sustainability, specializing in earthquake engineering, geo-disaster risk assessment, and ground improvement techniques. He holds a BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Cassino (Italy), a PhD in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering from the University of Tokyo, and a PG Certificate in Tertiary Teaching from the University of Canterbury. With 18 years of experience across Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, his accolades include the JGS Best Paper Award (2022) and the NZSEE Otto Glogau Award (2020). He has also led international earthquake research missions in Japan and Nepal and is an active member of the ISSMGE, contributing to geotechnical mitigation for climate change-induced disasters.

Philip Robins – Immediate Past Chair

Philip has over 30 years’ international experience in geotechnical engineering, with wide-ranging involvement across the infrastructure, buildings and industrial sectors. He is a Technical Director and Principal Geotechnical Engineer at Beca in Wellington, leading multi-disciplinary teams on large-scale, high profile and complex projects.

Eleni Gkeli – ISRM NZ Representative

Eleni is a Senior Principal Engineering Geologist and Geotechnical, Pavement and Structures lead at Stantec Wellington, with 26 years of experience in the geotechnical profession. She has a BSc in Geology, an MSc in Rock Mechanics and Foundation Design and a further MSc in Tunnel Design and Construction. Eleni has experience in a variety of large infrastructure projects in Greece and in New Zealand. Eleni has been involved in a variety of infrastructure projects in the transport, water and building sectors across New Zealand, including the design of new highway routes and maintenance of existing road networks, seismic upgrade and maintenance of bridge and tunnel structures, slope design and slope stabilisation works, assessment of slope stability related risk, etc. Eleni has been an elected member of the NZGS Management Committee since 2016 and has been the Chair for the 2021 – 2023 term.

Ross Roberts – IAEG NZ Representative

Ross represents NZGS on the governing council of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG). Ross is an engineering geologist in Auckland, involved in projects ranging from geohazard studies to geotechnical design, construction and management. He has twenty years’ experience in the management, planning and supervision of geotechnical and civil engineering projects, including leading teams of up to 20 engineers and managing multi-year consulting projects. He has worked for consultants and contractors in the UK, Indonesia, Australia and NZ on projects including major highway construction, railway asset management, water pipeline scheme assessments, landslide assessment and remediation, microtunneling and bridge foundation design and now works for Auckland Council as their in-house geotechnical specialist and Head of Engineering Resilience.

Rolando Orense – ISSMGE NZ Representative

Rolly is a Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland, and currently the Deputy Head of Department (Academic). He received his BSCE (cum laude) and MSCE degrees from the University of the Philippines and a Doctor of Engineering degree from the University of Tokyo (Japan). Before joining the University of Auckland in 2007, he also served as an Instructor at the University of the Philippines and as an Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo and Yamaguchi University (Japan). Moreover, while working with top-notched geotechnical consulting firms in Tokyo and Manila, he worked on a variety of complex soil engineering projects in Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines. He is a registered professional engineer in the Philippines and in Oregon (United States) and a Chartered Member of Engineering NZ.

TBC – Young Geotechnical Professionals Coordinator

Camilla Gibbons – Geomechanics News Editor (joined role)

Camilla is the current co-editor of NZ Geomechanics News. Camilla is a Principal and engineering geologist with Aurecon. She worked in the UK before moving to New Zealand in 2008 “for a year”. The Canterbury earthquakes inspired what has now become her real interest in geohazards and rockfall in particular. Camilla has since enjoyed working on projects combining this with her other interest of improving efficiencies and improving safety by the effective use of digital technology.

Robert Kamuhangire – Geomechanics News Co-editor (joined role)

Robert is the current co-editor of NZ Geomechanics News. Robert is a principal geotechnical engineer with KGA Geotechnical Group, based in the Christchurch office. He previously worked in the UK predominantly on large infrastructure projects, prior to arriving in New Zealand in 2012 to be part of the Christchurch rebuild.

TBC – Website Coordinator

Liam Wotherspoon – Technical Working Group Liaison (joined role)

Liam is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Auckland. He has held an academic position in the department since 2009 and has been involved in the teaching of a wide variety of geotechnical engineering courses. His research also covers a range of geotechnical engineering areas and extends into structural and infrastructure engineering. He has worked with a number of professional organisations to translate the outputs of his research into practice and support the evolution of best practice

Luke Storie – Technical Working Group Liaison (joined role)

Luke is NZTA Waka Kotahi Lead Advisor – Geotechnical Engineering, providing strategic leadership, technical expertise in geotechnical engineering, guidance for national standards, and geotechnical advice on risk and investment decisions. He has previous experience in consulting as a Principal Geotechnical Engineer and Technical Director in Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering as well as PhD research and experimental testing in Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction (SFSI) and earthquake performance of structures. He has a particular interest in SFSI and collaborating closely with structural engineers for more effective and efficient foundation design. Luke has a keen interest in natural hazards and resilience, including landslides and liquefaction, and how we respond and prepare for these hazards to build resilience now and in the future. 

Teresa Roetman – Secretary

Teresa is our secretary, coordinator of all our efforts and the main reason we get anything finished. Teresa is based in Auckland and lives up in the Waitakere Ranges.

Simon Woodward – Projects Coordinator

Simon is the Project Coordinator for NZGS.