Woods announces the appointment of Emma Howie as General Manager of Planning and Urban Design as of January 2023. This newly created role sees Emma leading and growing the team. 

Emma returns to Woods, having worked there as a Senior Planner from 2013 to 2016. Following a brief stint in the UK, she worked as the Statutory Planning Manager at Auckland Airport, where her primary focus was securing the designation for the second runway and supporting the delivery of their Masterplan. Most recently, Emma was the Planning Manager of the Natural & Built Environments team at the Ministry of Education, providing national support to secure designations for new school sites, outline plan of works and strategic planning advice for the Ministry’s property team. 

“I want to establish a team of highly trusted planners, urban designers and architects,” says Emma.  

Emma will also focus on building Woods’ reputation as planning and urban design experts. 

“Planning has always been a support function to the bigger projects. I want to broaden that and make planning and urban design a key function in its own right,” says Emma.  

Mark Williams, General Manager of Major Projects – Land Development and a Woods’ Director, says, “Having Emma return, with all the experience she has gained in the last seven years, really gives a lift to our Planning and Urban Design Team. Emma’s drive and commitment to building the reputation of our Planning and Urban Design team is a key ingredient to its success. It is great to have her back on board in a role that she can have a real influence on the success of our business.” 

Projects like Milldale, a 300-hectare master-planned project, and Paerata Rise see Woods’ planners and urban designers at the forefront, taking large development projects through the planning and concept phases. Emma aims to expand her team’s capacity and skills to guide new projects across a range of types and sizes, fulfilling their mission of building better communities.