Eric Van Essen Email & Phone Number

Auckland, New Zealand

Provide leadership and direction to the Downtown Infrastructure Development Programme, ensuring that resources are used effectively and efficiently. Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, contractors and consultants to ensure project requirements are met and best outcomes are achieved. Develop a motivated, high performing team with a positive and happy team culture.Manage project budgets and financials. Develop risk mitigation strategies. Ensure projects meet quality, programming, stakeholder, customer and health & safety requirements. The Downtown Infrastructure Development Programme oversees the integrated delivery of a $350 million programme of six high profile strategic Auckland Transport and Auckland Council projects, to bring to life the vision of a generous and welcoming destination along the downtown water’s edge that is recognisably Tāmaki Makaurau. In particular, these six projects are:1. Te Wananga - a new public space which extends as a 'tidal shelf' into the Ferry Basin, between Princes & Queens Wharves2. Quay Street Seismic Strengthening – seismic stabilisation of the historic Quay Street seawall to protect the downtown area in the event of an earthquake;3. Quay Street Enhancement – public realm upgrade creating more space and amenity for people4. Ferry Basin Redevelopment – six new berths along the western side of Queens Wharf to modernize Downtown Auckland’s ferry infrastructure;5. Galway Street Enhancement – a new shared space adjacent to the The Hotel Britomart development;6. Lower Albert Street Bus Interchange – a new, better connected and higher amenity bus interchange.

Auckland, New Zealand

Provide leadership and direction and contribute to the wider leadership of the department.Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, contractors and consultants to ensure project requirements are met and best outcomes are achieved.Develop a motivated, high skilled team with a positive and happy team culture.Support the team by coaching and mentoring, ensure that resources are used effectively and efficiently, promote training and development opportunities.Manage allocated project budgets and financials. Develop risk mitigation strategies. Ensure projects meet quality, programming, stakeholder, customer and health & safety requirements.Projects delivered included:• Quay Street Cycleway ($2.5million) – fast tracked procurement and implementation, including development of bespoke planter boxes and associated separators.• Franklin Road upgrade ($20million) – full upgrade of this iconic city street, lined by 100 year old London Plane trees and home to the annual Christmas Lights display. The upgrade included Copenhagen-style cycle lanes, suspended catenary street lighting and an innovative ‘hinged’ footpath design to accommodate future growth and movement of tree roots.• Downtown Bus Interchange ($25million) – options assessment of Britomart East bus interchange options to unlock other interdependent downtown and midtown streetscape and transport projects.

Auckland, New Zealand

Prepared project briefs, business cases, project initiation documents (PIDs), MSProject programmes, risk registers and NZS 3910 contract documentation.Procured professional services and physical works contracts.Managed design, quality assurance, health & safety, budget, finances, stakeholder engagement, Mana Whenua liaison, political relationships, utility liaison and contract MSQA.Completed monthly project highlights reports, obtained consents and completed project handovers and closure.Projects delivered included:• Quay Street Upgrade ($50million) – managed preparation of a site and context analysis report, concept design report and an EOI and RFP for the project’s preliminary & detailed design, which led to investigations into the Quay St seawall and an extensive risk assessment in regard to its seismic upgrade.• City Rail Link Enabling Works Public Realm ($30million) – managed preparation of a concept/scheme design for the public realm reinstatement and upgrade associated with the City Rail Link cut and cover rail tunnel, between Britomart Station and Albert St/Wyndham St intersection.

Auckland, New Zealand

Prepared project briefs, business cases, project initiation documents (PIDs), MSProject programmes, risk registers and NZS 3910 contract documentation.Procured professional services and physical works contracts.Managed design, quality assurance, health & safety, budget, finances, stakeholder engagement, Mana Whenua liaison, political relationships, utility liaison and contract MSQA.Completed monthly project highlights reports, obtained consents and completed project handovers and closure.Projects delivered included:• Lorne St Upgrade, Stage 1 ($3.5million) – managed first CBD Streetscape Upgrade project to apply new CBD standard street furniture suite and paving palette, in 2005. Involved extensive prototyping and development. The project was recognized with a NZIA Resene Local Award for Architecture.• Vulcan Lane Upgrade ($1.5million) – managed this controversial project, which received much media attention and generated strong public opinion. Working through the project issues was a challenging and ultimately rewarding experience as the project was recognized with an IAP2 Core Values Award for ‘Public Participation Enhanced Decision Making’.• St Patrick’s Square Upgrade ($9.2million) – managed this special project. The design and implementation was highly detailed, ambitious and technically challenging. The project was recognized with an NZILA Gold Award in the Landscape Design category and also received the NZILA George Malcolm Supreme Award.• Elliott/Darby St Upgrade ($9.47million) – managed and delivered Auckland CBD’s first shared space project. Involved substantial research and development of the design concept, technical standards and materials. The shared space concept was thoroughly tested, trialed and peer reviewed to ensure a successful outcome. The project was recognized with a Roading Excellence Award in 2012.

Auckland, New Zealand

Prepared project briefs, business cases, project initiation documents (PIDs), MSProject programmes, risk registers and NZS 3910 contract documentation.Procured professional services and physical works contracts.Managed design, quality assurance, health & safety, budget, finances, stakeholder engagement, Mana Whenua liaison, political relationships, utility liaison and contract MSQA.Completed monthly project highlights reports, obtained consents and completed project handovers and closure.Projects delivered included:• Viaduct Harbour Public Open Space Upgrade ($1.25million) – managed this high profile project, in preparation for the Auckland stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race. The work involved new paving, lighting, handrails, vegetation, street furniture and installation of the “Fire Window” artwork sculpture outside the Sebel Hotel. Successfully completed project within a tight timeframe.

Auckland, New Zealand

Prepared project briefs, business cases, project initiation documents (PIDs), MSProject programmes, risk registers and NZS 3910 contract documentation.Procured professional services and physical works contracts.Managed design, quality assurance, health & safety, budget, finances, stakeholder engagement, Mana Whenua liaison, political relationships, utility liaison and contract MSQA.Completed monthly project highlights reports, obtained consents and completed project handovers and closure.Projects delivered included:• Britomart Train Station/America’s Cup Village Stormwater Diversions ($6.8million) – managed the stormwater drainage diversions associated with the Americas Cup Village and Britomart Train Station. All work was completed under budget, within or ahead of programme and met project objectives.• Orakei Basin Sewer Separation ($14million) – managed this strategic project, which involved data collection, flow monitoring, development of an integrated catchment management plan, infiltration and inflow investigations, design, consents, consultation and implementation.