Our Team

Qualifications BSc (Geology) Hons, MSc (Engineering Geology)

Memberships NZ Geotechnical Society, NZ Hydrological Society, National Groundwater Association (USA) and International Assoc. of Hydrogeology

Introduction:

How long with Earthtech
Philip founded Earthtech Consulting Limited in 1989.

Brief working history
With over 40 years of experience across New Zealand, Philip brings deep expertise in hydrogeology and engineering geology.

Philip is highly experienced in aquifer testing and analysis, groundwater modelling, and contaminated land investigations and remediation. In addition, Philip has served as a technical reviewer for regional authorities and provides expert testimony and project governance support.

His engineering geology work includes geological mapping for roading projects, landslide remediation, quarries, and deep shaft excavations.

Known for his integrity and strong values, Philip has built lasting relationships with and earned the trust and respect of clients, tangata whenua, local authorities, service providers and community groups. Philip has been integral in obtaining many uncontested resource consents. He is committed to achieving the best possible outcome for clients, bringing a practical, solutions-focused approach to every project.

Personal touch
Outside of work, Philip serves as a facilitator in personal development settings, supporting participants in reflecting, growing, and gaining practical insights in a respectful, guided environment. He lives on a lifestyle block in North Waikato and enjoys family life and caravanning.

Contact
[email protected]

Qualifications
B.E. (Hons), M.E. (Hons), CMEngNZ, CPEng

Memberships
Engineering New Zealand, New Zealand Geotechnical Society

Introduction:

How long with Earthtech
Michelle joined Earthtech in 2007, and became a Director of the company in 2025.

Brief working history
With extensive experience in Geotechnical and Groundwater Engineering, Michelle brings holistic expertise, practical field experience, and a detailed understanding to both. As a CPEng-registered engineer, she is also uniquely positioned to sign off on both geotechnical and groundwater engineering projects.

Michelle partners with a wide range of clients, from residential homeowners to developers, contractors, and government organisations. She combines robust technical analysis with boots-on-the-ground practical construction knowledge to deliver effective geotechnical solutions across projects of varying scale.

Michelle’s experience spans individual house sites, small to large subdivisions, commercial and industrial buildings, and major regionally significant infrastructure and transport developments. Her geotechnical expertise covers stability analysis, seismic and liquefaction assessment, ground improvement design, settlement analysis, bearing capacity, and the design of piles, retaining walls and MSE walls. Michelle also has particular expertise in compressible ground conditions and bridge geotechnical design and review, providing specialist design and peer review services for bridges and roading projects, as well as construction monitoring, quality assurance and review of contractors’ temporary works designs.

Building on this geotechnical foundation, Michelle brings specialist expertise in construction dewatering, supporting the design, consenting and construction-phase management of dewatering systems for excavations, earthworks, trenches, shafts and basements. Her work includes the assessment and mitigation of geotechnical risks such as piping and base heave, alongside input into groundwater take and diversion consenting processes.

Michelle places a strong emphasis on practical, buildable solutions, with contractors’ requirements and project delivery outcomes at the forefront of her approach.

Personal touch
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, and her local church family. She is based in Manukau and has travelled extensively throughout New Zealand, with few places left unexplored.

Contact
[email protected]

Qualifications
B.E. (Civil), M.Sc (Geoscience)

Memberships
International Association of Hydrogeologists, Engineering New Zealand

Introduction:

How long with Earthtech
Samuel originally joined Earthtech as a groundwater engineer in 2019. Soon after, he completed a one-year volunteer assignment as a hydrogeological advisor with VSA in Vanuatu, after which he returned to Earthtech in 2020. In 2022, Samuel moved to Paris, France, where he worked as a hydrogeologist for three years before rejoining Earthtech in 2026 as a Senior Groundwater Engineer.

Brief working history
Samuel is a groundwater engineer with strong desktop analytical and modelling capabilities, as well as in-field borehole design and aquifer testing experience.

His work has covered water resources for municipal and private supply, irrigation for horticulture, quarrying, landfill and wastewater contamination assessment. He also brings extensive experience in construction dewatering, with projects ranging from underground wastewater pump stations to large-scale high-speed rail projects. More recently, he has worked on shallow geothermal energy projects using ground-source heat pumps.

Samuel has carried out the technical assessments for consented surface water takes, both municipal and for irrigation projects.

With the challenges each project presents, Samuel thrives on leveraging his technical expertise and that of his team to develop solutions that exceed client expectations.

Personal touch
Outside of work, Samuel enjoys travelling and the challenges of adapting to new cultures. His professional journey has allowed him to learn to speak Bislama (the national language of Vanuatu) and, more recently, to become fluent in French. Samuel loves playing basketball and getting into the great NZ outdoors as a keen tramper and fisherman.

Contact
[email protected]

Qualifications
B.Tech (Civil), M.Tech (Geotechnical), PhD (Geotechnical, submitted)

Memberships
Engineering New Zealand, New Zealand Geotechnical Society

Introduction:

How long with Earthtech
Shaswat joined Earthtech in November 2023 on a part-time basis before transitioning to a full-time role in April 2026.

Brief working history
Shaswat has broad experience in geotechnical field investigations, construction monitoring, engineering analysis and technical reporting.

He conducts and supervises drilling and field-testing programmes, evaluates ground and groundwater conditions, and interprets investigation data to provide practical recommendations for residential developments, subdivisions and other infrastructure projects. His work includes slope stability assessments, retaining wall and foundation design, ground improvement, dewatering assessments, and earthwork evaluations.

Shaswat has a keen interest in earthquake geotechnical engineering, including site response analysis, liquefaction assessment and soil behaviour under seismic loading. He combines sound engineering judgement with practical, site-specific thinking to deliver reliable solutions that meet project requirements. Before joining Earthtech, Shaswat worked as an Engineer with Indian Railways, where he was involved in the inspection, maintenance and assessment of railway infrastructure.

Personal touch
Outside of work, Shaswat enjoys spending time with his family, playing cricket, and experimenting with different cuisines in the kitchen. He also enjoys visiting new places, experiencing the outdoors, and making the most of the country’s natural beauty.

Contact
[email protected]

Qualifications
BSc in Geology and MSc in Hydrogeology, Geology and Geophysics

Introduction:

How long with Earthtech
Mateo joined Earthtech in May 2026.

Brief working history
Since entering the industry in 2023, Mateo has combined rigorous fieldwork with analytical expertise to deliver practical groundwater solutions. His core capabilities include:

• Field & Quantitative Hydrogeology: Drilling supervision, well development, pumping test analysis, and piezometric monitoring.
• Environmental & Geochemistry: Geochemical baseline assessments, excavated soil management, and regulatory compliance dossiers.
• Client Solutions: Translating technical hydrogeology into practical, on-site pumping and operational solutions for quarries, industrial, and infrastructure clients.

Personal touch
A recent arrival from France, Mateo is fully embracing life in New Zealand. Outside of hydrogeology, you’ll likely find him training for a triathlon or exploring the local trails on a gravel bike. To unwind, Mateo trades the field gear for drumsticks, playing jazz and keeping the rhythm sharp.

Contact
[email protected]

Introduction:

How long with Earthtech
Christine has been with Earthtech since 2002, working alongside the Directors for over two decades.

Brief working history
Christine brings more than 30 years of office management and executive support experience, having worked across engineering, corporate, and hospitality environments, including managing her own business centre at an upmarket 5-star Auckland hotel and coordinating administration for a major regional infrastructure project.

As Earthtech’s Engineering Office Manager and Personal Assistant to the Directors, Christine oversees the day-to-day running of the office, from health and safety management to financials and project management, while also leading direct reports.

Christine’s drafting experience spans over 30 years, having built her skills in desktop publishing and design since running her own business. Today, she applies this expertise to preparing geotechnical and hydrogeological drawings — site plans, cross sections, and conceptual drawings — using CorelDRAW, combining technical precision with a strong eye for presentation.

Her broad experience, steady leadership, and attention to detail mean the Earthtech office runs smoothly, efficiently, and to a high standard.

Personal touch
Outside of work, Christine has volunteered with the Order of St John, holding various leadership roles supporting youth development in the community. She enjoys caravanning, quilting, reading, Pilates, and spending time with her family and friends.

Contact
[email protected]

Introduction:

How long with Earthtech
Helene joined Earthtech in 2022.

Brief working history
Helene brings decades of office administration and accounts experience, having spent over 20 years managing the accounts, property, and administration for a large South Auckland hospice — including full financial reporting, budgeting, and payroll — as well as earlier roles across retail, education, and small business administration.

Since joining Earthtech, Helene has brought her strong financial and administrative background to the team, supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the office as a part-time administrator.

Her meticulous eye for detail, broad experience across accounts and office systems, and steady, reliable approach mean things get done accurately and on time.

Personal touch
Outside of work, Helene has been an active member of the Pukekohe community for many years, contributing her time as treasurer and committee member for several local groups, schools, and organisations, and pursuing her interest in genealogy as a founding member of the Pukekohe Group of the NZ Society of Genealogy.

Contact
[email protected]