HKA expands into New Zealand with 45th office worldwide

Global consultancy HKA has entered the New Zealand market with the launch of an office in Wellington, its 5th office in Oceania and 45th office worldwide.

“As a market, New Zealand was a clear stand out for HKA’s expansion as it embarks on the task of tackling the decades-long infrastructure deficit that is holding our country back,” said Amelia East, a partner at HKA in Wellington and Country Lead for the new New Zealand operation.

With around 1,000 consultants and experts worldwide, HKA is one of the leading firms specialised in risk mitigation and dispute resolution within the capital projects and infrastructure sector.

HKA now aims to bring its track record in the sector in Oceania and further afield to its freshest market. “Our on-the-ground team in New Zealand is backed by HKA’s infrastructure advisory team in Oceania, putting 100 plus infrastructure specialists within reach of New Zealand clients.”

HKA has experience with infrastructure projects across segments, such as airports, public transport, highways, bridges, canals and seaports. Notable projects under its belt in Australia include the Sydney Metro (HKA has been involved in program – and its predecessor – since inception in 2005), and the $10 billion Melbourne Airport Rail project (HKA provided project advisory services).

Internationally, the firm’s roster of clients stretches from working on airport upgrades in the United States and supporting the Canal Expansion in Panama, to working on the UK’s High Speed 2 rail network, Istanbul’s Marmaray rail tube tunnel, and Saudi Arabia’s Haramain High Speed Rail.

“Our experience spans North America to Oceania, giving us unrivalled access to leading international practice. As daunting as the challenge is in New Zealand, in our favour is the ability to learn from the experience of other countries on the same path, and that’s where HKA can help,” said East.

“Our local team means we can tailor and adapt this to suit the specific needs of the New Zealand market across the entire infrastructure lifecycle.”

At the helm

Joining East at the helm of the Wellington office is a team of three hires – Kristen Currie, Jason Krupp, and Andy Hagan. Collectively, they bring decades of risk management, commercial, financial, and local government experience, having worked at leadership positions in consultancy, the New Zealand Treasury, and the local government sector, respectively.

Kristen Currie is a risk and assurance specialist with over 26 years of experience in professional services firms, industry, private sector companies, local and central government.

Currie is a Chartered Accountant and has worked in risk and assurance roles at Ngāi Tahu, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Land Information New Zealand, Toitū te Whenua and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. In addition, Currie has held risk management roles at several professional services firms and joins HKA from KPMG, where he was responsible for developing, growing, and delivering risk consulting services nationally.

Jason Krupp is an advocacy, public policy, and media professional with extensive experience in infrastructure, funding, and urban development (housing).

Krupp has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and worked in the media at Fairfax Media and Business Desk before moving into advisory and advocacy roles for Local Government New Zealand, Contact Energy and the New Zealand Government, where he was an advisor to the Finance and Infrastructure Minister.

Prior to joining HKA, Krupp was the interim Head of Strategic Relationships at the Three Waters National Transition Unit within the Department of Internal Affairs.

Andy Hagan has over 15 years of public sector experience in strategic, commercial, financial, and operational leadership. He has a track record of strategic and operational delivery in increasingly complex roles spanning financial markets, risk management, infrastructure, commercial and policy advice.

Hagan spent many years at The Treasury, and was Treasury’s Financial and Commercial Group for two years. Prior to joining HKA, he provided independent advice to government agencies on a range of balance sheet, financial and infrastructure funding and financing issues.

The move sees HKA join a cohort of consulting firms that recently branched out to New Zealand, including strategy giant Boston Consulting Group, strategic boutique Corporate Value Associates, and professional services firm Hall Chadwick.