Technical Advisory Board
Technical Advisory Board
New Zealand’s most experienced technical advisory group dedicated to asbestos
The SQN Technical Advisory Board has the largest combined amount of expertise in the country and is uniquely positioned to assist you with complex asbestos and land contamination projects, offering expert guidance from initial assessment through to remediation and regulatory compliance.
With over 100 years of collective experience, our board provides strategic oversight, risk assessment, and tailored solutions to navigate the challenges of contaminated sites, whether in industrial or commercial or public settings.
We work closely with all PCBUs, including project managers, building owners, health & safety reps, public servants, tier-one contractors and remediation contractors to ensure compliance with New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, minimising risks and preventing costly delays.
Whether it's developing asbestos management plans, overseeing hazardous material removals, or advising on contaminated land remediation, our board ensures that every project is managed safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulatory standards.
Key Services
Asbestos Strategy & Oversight – Independent review of AMPs, ARCPs, and project methodologies.
Complex Project Support – Bespoke project planning and managment, staged removal planning, independent advice.
Communication and Public Relations – Assisting with communicating actual and perceived risk with stakeholders.
Risk & Stakeholder Management – Decision papers, regulator engagement, executive briefings and interpretation of findings and results.
Who is this for?
You’re delivering large, multi-site, or live-facility projects (hospitals, campuses, utilities, ports) where operations can’t stop.
The project carries public, regulatory, or ministerial scrutiny, where decisions must be defensible.
You’re managing historical uncertainty, residual asbestos, incomplete records, or legacy removals.
The programme is time-critical, with significant commercial or reputational risk if delays occur.
You need an independent second opinion on methodology, clearance strategy, or lab results.
Meet Our Board Members
At SQN we are fortunate enough to have an extensive range of experience in-house to make up our Technical Advisory Board. With over 100 years of combined experience, our specialists provide strategic insights, regulatory guidance, and technical expertise to ensure best practices and compliance with New Zealand’s asbestos regulations. Whether it’s risk assessments, remediation strategies, or independent reviews, our team is dedicated to delivering innovative, safe, and effective solutions for every project.
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Craig has more than 15 years of asbestos and hazardous materials industry experience across the UK and New Zealand. As a co-owner and Director of SQN, he specialises in technical management, quality systems, and regulatory compliance. His expertise includes implementing and maintaining ISO-aligned quality and health & safety assurance programmes, internal and external technical auditing, and asbestos consultancy. Craig has held senior roles overseeing survey teams, compliance systems, and national technical management, and is recognised for delivering probity-ready advice on large and complex projects.
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Ethan brings extensive experience across asbestos removal, surveying, and project management. He has worked on a wide variety of projects, from small residential removals to large-scale, high-risk environments such as hospitals, hotels, substations, tunnels, and contaminated land sites across New Zealand and the Pacific. As Director of SQN, Ethan oversees strategy, complex project delivery, and client engagement for sensitive asbestos works.
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Alannah has over a decade of asbestos experience across the UK and New Zealand, spanning surveys, clearances, laboratory analysis, and asbestos in soils. She is a WorkSafe NZ Licensed Independent Asbestos Assessor and a specialist in asbestos training, having delivered NZQA-accredited courses nationwide to industry and government clients. Alannah leads SQN’s asbestos training division and is a sought-after expert on asbestos education and workforce safety.
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Ritchie brings over 30 years of international experience in occupational hygiene, asbestos management, and risk compliance across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and the Pacific. He was the founder of AEC NZ (now an SQN company) and has led ISO17025 laboratories, asbestos consultancy, and large-scale technical teams. Ritchie is a Licensed Asbestos Assessor in both New Zealand and Australia, a registered ISO Lead Auditor, and an expert in marine hazardous materials (HazMat). His expertise spans asbestos surveying, four-stage clearances, management plans, technical auditing, and respirator fit testing, making him a recognised authority on complex asbestos and occupational risk projects.
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Chris is an environmental scientist with over 15 years of experience in contaminated land assessment and remediation, including more than eight years in New Zealand. He is recognised as a Suitably Qualified and Experienced Practitioner (SQEP) under the NES regulations, able to certify detailed site investigations and remediation strategies. Chris specialises in remedial design, validation, risk communication, and providing defensible technical advice for regulators and stakeholders.
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With more than 18 years in the asbestos and hazardous materials industry, Shane has worked across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. He specialises in surveying, clearance inspections, remediation management, and regulatory compliance. A former NATA signatory in Australia, Shane brings a strong technical background in asbestos fibre counting, clearance inspections, and asbestos management planning for large-scale and complex projects.
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Graham is a contaminated land specialist with over 30 years’ experience in environmental protection and regulation. He has served as Principal Science Advisor and Principal Contaminated Land Regulator with Auckland Council and Environment Canterbury, as well as senior roles in the UK overseeing contaminated land, noise, and air quality functions. Since moving to New Zealand in 2015, Graham has chaired sector groups including the WasteMINZ Contaminated Land Sector Group and presented at national and international conferences. A Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, his expertise lies in pragmatic, solution-based contaminated land regulation, risk communication, and the protection of human health.
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Andre brings over 15 years of leadership experience in asbestos laboratories, environmental consulting, and technical services across New Zealand and Australia. He has founded and led multiple analytical laboratories, including Precise Consulting and Focus Analytics, delivering asbestos and environmental testing for government and tier-one clients. With a strong background in quality management, technical compliance, and nationwide service delivery, Andre now oversees SQN’s multidisciplinary services as General Manager, bringing proven expertise in scaling high-performing teams and complex service operations.
