About Us.
James Bews-Hair
Director
+64 275 577 172
James is one of New Zealand’s most experienced government relations practitioners, with more than 30 years experience in senior roles in Government, Opposition, industry organisations, and the corporate sector.
From 2016–2022, James was GM Strategy and Advocacy at McGredy Winder Ltd – a management consultancy and government relations firm recognised as New Zealand’s leading local government specialists. Prior to that, James was Chief Policy & Political Adviser in the Office of the Mayor at Auckland Council, Community Development Manager at Far North District Council, and Group Manager of Government Affairs (Trans-Tasman) for Sky City Group. He also served as Senior Private Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, research economist in the Labour Research Unit, and economic advisor to Sir Michael Cullen.
James has expert knowledge in government relations, lobbying, political insight, analysis, strategy, and policy. He has a detailed understanding of central and local government policy and decision-making, and an established and successful track record working with clients across the spectrum to navigate challenging issues, advocate for change, and engage meaningfully.
Nicholas Albrecht
Director, Massey Coates Ltd
+64 21 666 778
Nicholas is the owner and director of the government relations company Massey Coates Limited. The business specialises in the centre-right of NZ politics, and Nicholas has strong networks in the National, ACT, and NZ First parties. For 20 years he was a member of the National Party’s List Ranking Committee, and is well known by the key players across New Zealand’s political landscape.
Nicholas previously established and then headed Vector Limited’s government relations function for over 14 years. Before that he worked for former National Minister Hon. Maurice Williamson.
Nicholas has been on the Eden Park Trust board since 2018 and the Auckland Cricket board since 2014. He is also the chair of the Victoria Park Sports and Cultural Trust. He is a member of the Institute of Directors and a Justice of the Peace. He holds a Master of Arts (Hons) in Political Studies from the University of Auckland and a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University.
Sarah Owen
Director, Srowen Holdings
+64 27 259 5555
Sarah’s ability to combine complex policy detail and thinking with astute political acumen, enables her to deliver quality, meaningful, and outcome focused strategic advice.
Sarah has held senior roles in both central and local government. For four years she served as Executive Officer for the Governor- General. She has held the Chief of Staff role in the Mayor’s Offices of both the Mayor of Christchurch (Bob Parker) and the Mayor of Wellington (Andy Foster). Her Christchurch role involved her extensively and centrally in the earthquake recovery efforts, and both roles tested and strengthened her ability to navigate and solve complex and high-profile problems and issues.
In addition, Sarah has held a number of senior roles within the Department of Conservation, including Chief Advisor and Director – Biodiversity Strategic Support and Regulatory Services.
In her work, Sarah is a problem solver and a strategic thinker who focuses on what needs to be done to achieve outcomes. She is an accomplished relationship builder, and that skill, along with the resulting enviable network, is crucial in the approach she takes to developing and implementing solutions and taking opportunities.
Pete Clark
Director, UrbanUmber
+64 21 085 92055
Pete is one of New Zealand’s leading and most experienced transport planners, having held senior roles in the countries transport sector for more than 23 years, after 13 years of transport planning experience in South Africa.
Most recently, Pete was Chief strategy Officer at Auckland Transport from 2010 - 2017. After that, he held various senior roles at NZTA Waka Kotahi, and then as Transport Strategy Lead at Auckland Light Rail.
Over his career, Pete has been central to a number of New Zealand’s most significant transport evolutions. He was responsible for the development of the ARTA Public Transport Network Plan which defined Auckland’s rapid transport network, which gave rise to the Northern and Eastern busways, rail electrification, and integrated fares and ticketing. Pete was also responsible for the demand and benefit forecasting work on which the investment cases for these projects were based. He later developed and implemented the transport strategy on which securing funding for the CRL was based, and was involved in the initial conceptualisation of ATAP.
Pete brings a can-do attitude to his work, taking a much-needed strategic focus to transport planning - an approach that is outcomes focused and gets things done.
Kelvin Norgrove
Director, Strategease
+64 21 630 288
Kelvin has over 30 years’ experience working as an employee or as a consultant for local and central government, private sector and Māori organisations. He is a qualified economist-planner based in Auckland, and is of NZ European and Māori descent (Waikato-Tainui/Ngāti Mahuta; registered member of Waahi Pa marae).
Kelvin specialises in:
o Strategic planning for local government including long-term plans, infrastructure funding, growth planning and economic development strategies
o Planning, policy and advocacy on issues of significance to Māori
o Social and economic impact assessment for RMA plan change processes and major resource consents.