At Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), we believe that progress occurs when the right people come together and do things the right way.
This belief is reflected in our people, our culture, and how we nurture our teams from within. As we continue to enhance our capabilities and strengthen leadership across the region, we proudly announce a series of promotions that recognise our Auckland team’s talent, dedication and diverse experience.
Andrew Heaps promoted to Director
Andrew Heaps has been appointed Director of RLB in Auckland, effective April 2025. Andrew began his journey with RLB through the RLB Scholarship Programme in 2011 and has since established a reputation for hands-on leadership and deep regional insight. He has managed the Hamilton office since 2017 and brings over a decade of experience across the industrial, healthcare, commercial, education, retail, hotel, infrastructure, and data centre sectors.
Andrew’s leadership in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions and his practical expertise, estimating skills and interest in emerging technologies such as AI will make him a valuable contributor to the Auckland leadership team. His promotion highlights the strength of our graduate and mentoring pathways and the meaningful progress that can develop within RLB.
James Smith promoted to Technical Director
We are also proud to announce James Smith’s promotion to the position of Technical Director. James joined RLB in 2016 and brings more than 30 years of experience from the UK, Asia and the Middle East.
With a technical specialisation in infrastructure, particularly in commercial, airport and rail projects, James is widely recognised for his contractual expertise, pragmatic leadership and client-focused delivery. His promotion enhances our technical leadership group and demonstrates our commitment to excellence in infrastructure advisory.
New Associate Directors
Four exceptional team members have also been promoted to Associate Director, highlighting the depth and breadth of RLB in Auckland’s leadership pipeline.
Michelle Claassens joined RLB in 2024. With 15 years of international experience leading vertical buildings and horizontal infrastructure projects, she brings expertise in first principles estimating, risk assessment and procurement models for complex projects. As a dedicated and hardworking strategic problem solver, she has immediately impacted RLB’s major project capabilities and delivery in Aotearoa.
Tim Healy, an RLB Scholarship recipient in 2006, has amassed nearly two decades of experience across major projects. Known for his collaborative style and creative problem-solving, Tim continues to deliver value and fairness in complex commercial environments.
Wade Pasfield rejoined RLB in 2024 following an accomplished stint in the UK, where he was a partner at Exigere. With over 18 years of QS experience and sector expertise in MEP services, Wade brings a strong international perspective to our Auckland team.
Senthil Ramanan joined RLB in 2019 and brings extensive international experience in cost planning and complex estimating. Senthil is respected for his technical precision and ability to communicate clearly with clients and stakeholders across all project phases.
RLB: Where People Make Progress.
This round of promotions signifies more than individual achievement; it illustrates how RLB builds for the long term. By nurturing our people, fostering technical excellence and promoting from within, we remain committed to our values of Truth, Trust, Together and Tomorrow. Congratulations to all those recognised – your leadership continues to shape the future of our firm and the communities we serve.
Photo: Andrew Heaps, James Smith, Michelle Claassens, Tim Healy, Wade Pasfield, Senthil Ramanan
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