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our leadership team.

It is through this combination of experienced best-practice techniques and innovation that we have continued to consistently deliver world-leading outcomes to a wide range of clients from a variety of nations and backgrounds.

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PHIL WARBRICK

Chairman

Throughout his career, Phil Warbrick has exemplified an unwavering commitment to the flourishing of humanity.

A visionary leader, he believes in a holistic approach to human development, emphasising not only economic growth but also prioritising environmental, social, and cultural dimensions. Phil's global impact spans over 30 countries, including Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific.

Phil's expertise lies in the comprehensive spectrum of city development— from investigation and planning to design, construction, and management. His influence extends from industry and academia to government and the sporting world. Having represented New Zealand in high-stakes Government-to-Government relations and international collaborations, Phil stands as a respected thought leader in city development.

As a key member of the Taskforce that advises the UN-Habitat Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Global Cities Initiative, which aims at elevating the SDG project volume and performance in cities globally, Phil is committed to driving positive change on a global scale.

 

This multifaceted group involves experts in digital platforms, strategic policy formulation, stakeholder consultation, programme management and master-planning, as well as city design, development and associated societal outcomes. Through Phil, Synergine has been selected by UN-Habitat to define a common working approach among SDG partners, and engaging in several UN-Habitat SDG Thematic Windows that have been identified by the Taskforce for global roll out. 

Phil served as the Manager of the All Whites, New Zealand’s national men’s football team, between 2005 and 2011. Under his leadership, the team achieved an undefeated status in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, earning them New Zealand’s highest sporting honour, the Supreme Halberg Award. His strategic vision and exceptional leadership played a pivotal role in the success and recognition of the team on the world stage.

Gareth Phelps

GARETH PHELPS

General Manager

Gareth is a highly successful leader and practitioner in the planning, management and delivery of complex, large-scale and transformational programmes of work.

Gareth's ability to develop robust and efficient project and programme frameworks has been pivotal in helping our clients successfully realise their vision. He is adept at creating alignment of multi-disciplinary teams and workstreams, enabling value add opportunities to be identified and integrated. Gareth’s innovative and collaborative approach ensures strong and positive engagement with clients, project teams and stakeholders, creating trusted and valued relationships. 

Gareth's 20+ years with Synergine includes key delivery management roles on a number of significant and strategic infrastructure and development projects serving central government, local government and private sector clients

Aaron Wood

AARON WOOD

Technical Director

Aaron Wood is a seasoned infrastructure and development professional, with over 35 years’ experience of working in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and in working collaboratively to bring these sectors together to achieve strategically aligned outcomes.  

Drawing on his engineering degree in a range of development and municipal engineering roles, Aaron has spent the last twenty years in establishing, leading and managing projects and programmes of increasing complexity, enriching his technical skills along the way, including through the University of Oxford's Leading Strategic Projects Programme. This multi-disciplinary technical knowledge base ensures the seamless integration of thought leadership, applied research, and industry best practice.

Excelling in setting and communicating strategic direction and objectives, Aaron consistently delivers tangible results for his clients. His strategic expertise is evident in his ability to define clear objectives, establish program structures, and to build and lead multi-disciplinary teams to deliver aligned outcomes.

With a well-developed contextual awareness, Aaron is a ‘trusted’ set of hands, skilled at engaging sensitively with community entities and other key stakeholders, to identify 'value-add' opportunities, and at supporting clients to achieve their transformational objectives for their communities.

Madeline Sharpe

MADELINE SHARPE (NZRAB)

Sector Lead: Design and Placemaking

Madeline is an accomplished senior architect, with 20 years of experience. Her design philosophy goes beyond structures; creating spaces that resonate with a sense of belonging.

Known for her client-centric approach, Madeline cultivates strong partnerships, guiding projects with a focus on trust and support where clients feel heard and valued. An advocate of an integrated design approach and with a keen eye for context and a deep understanding of the human experience, Madeline creates environments that evoke a profound connection, yet still serve a purpose, enabling the overall vision of a project.

Madeline brings together the complex picture of constraints and opportunities from all disciplines to deliver projects that become spaces imbued with a profound sense of belonging that enhance social connectedness.

Whether it's a mixed-use town centre, a residential community, or a commercial venture, each space is meticulously crafted to foster a sense of place where people feel not only accommodated, but truly at home.

With advisory roles for Auckland Council and Kāinga Ora, Madeline’s dedication to shaping policies for positive community change underscores her commitment to the broader impact of architecture.

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