Strata Unit Titles Conference 2027 (In Person)

Liza is a Unit Title and Body Corporate specialist and is known in the industry for her technical expertise and passion for industry education. She advises Bodies Corporate, Committees, owners, and Body Corporate Managers, and is a regular speaker and trainer in various aspects of the area. She is past SCA (NZ) Vice President and Executive member, and was involved in all aspects of government submissions on the Unit Titles Amendment Act. Liza is a member of TLANZ’s Property Law Committee and drafted the Model Operational Rules on commencement of the current Act.

Anita is the General Manager of Quay Property Management Ltd in Tauranga and President of Strata Community Association (NZ). She has over 25 years’ experience in body corporate management, working with residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use developments. This experience spans governance, financial oversight, complex operational matters and significant remediation projects. Anita brings a practical perspective on the application of the Unit Titles Act and the challenges facing owners, committees and professional managers. She also has experience as a High Court-appointed Body Corporate Administrator. Anita serves as an Executive Board Member of the Body Corporate Communities Group (BCCG) and is a recipient of the SCA (NZ) Strata Community Management Leadership Award. 

Clinton graduated from the University of Auckland in 1990 and is one of New Zealand's leading specialists on unit titles. Clinton advises committees, owners and their managers on a wide range of issues and regularly appears in Tribunals and Courts on behalf of bodies corporate.

As a seasoned Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of body corporate management expertise, Garth provides a sophisticated and uniquely analytical perspective to the industry. His extensive background in the unit titles sector encompasses chairing hundreds of annual general meetings (AGMs), delivering strategic advisory to committees, and facilitating complex communications between stakeholders.

Notably, Garth has a proven track record in overseeing significant, multi-year building remediation projects, where he ensures strict financial rigour around significant sums of owners’ money. He is a dedicated proponent of ongoing professional development and actively supports key industry bodies and sector-wide initiatives.

Thomas is a specialist property and land development lawyer. His work traverses unit titles, expert opinions, technical easement and covenant advice, resource consent and plan change matters, the Public Works Act, infrastructure agreements, and local government issues. He has presented seminars at academic and industry-based conferences in New Zealand and overseas, and wrote a series of articles on the 10th edition of the ADLS/REINZ Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate for LawTalk. He is the author of Unit Titles Law & Practice and A Practical Guide to the Land Transfer Act and co-author of Subdivisions Law and Practice, and has written various journal articles. Thomas has provided expert evidence in the High Court on land development matters, and also serves on a number of boards and committees.

Clare Lyons-Montgomery is a Principal Advisor at MBIE, specialising in unit titles. She provides guidance and support across MBIE’s work in the unit titles system with a focus on opportunities for improvement. Clare draws on previous experience in compliance and investigations across Tenancy Services and Employment Services, bringing a practical regulatory perspective to her work.

Kirstin is the founder of Elite Management, a boutique body corporate and community management company in Queenstown, and Elite Community, an initiative making community living easier to understand and navigate. Working in the sector since 2012, she manages communities across Queenstown, Wānaka and the Southern Lakes. An SCA (NZ) board member, Kirstin champions owners’ interests and the role of community managers as trusted professional leaders responsible for protecting long-term property value, guiding communities and shaping the ownership experience.

Joanna is a property law expert, Past President of ADLS (TLANZ), Convenor of TLANZ’s Property Law Committee and a member (and former Convenor) of its Documents and Precedents Committee. She is also a member of NZLS’ Land Titles Committee. She often makes determinations under the ASPRE when there are disputes, is a past Chair of TLANZ’s Property Disputes Committee and gives expert evidence in Courts and Tribunals on a wide range of property matters. Joanna is a member of SCA (NZ) and BCCG, chaired the Unit Titles Working Group, and provides expert advice in the unit titles area.

Greg Rowe is a Senior Advisor at MBIE working across Unit Title Services and market engagement. His work focuses on understanding the experiences of the sector and using those insights to improve the information and guidance available to people navigating unit title property. 

Ben is a Director of Pidgeon Judd and a specialist property lawyer who has acted for vendors and purchasers in many complex, high-value property transactions, as well as being experienced in all areas of commercial leasing. He has considerable development/subdivision experience and undertakes all aspects of fee simple, unit title, leasehold and cross-lease subdivisions including complex e-dealing registrations. Ben regularly advises bodies corporate, owners and building managers in relation to operational rules, building management agreements, governance repairs and maintenance, boundary changes, redevelopments, ownership and utility interest reassessments, disputes and general compliance with the Unit Titles Act 2010. 

He is frequently instructed in relation to property disputes and undertakes arbitrations and hearings in the Tenancy Tribunal for his clients as well as supporting counsel in complex property litigation in the higher courts.

Kat Watson is Head of Tenancy at MBIE, leading the delivery of services that support New Zealanders across tenancy and unit titles. Her responsibilities span dispute resolution services, tenancy compliance and investigation, and Tenancy Bond Services. Kat is passionate about making it easier for people to navigate their rights and responsibilities and achieve better outcomes across the housing system.

Brett Wilson is an experienced leader with a strong background in dispute resolution and compliance. His MBIE career has included roles across employment and tenancy dispute resolution. Brett is currently National Manager of the Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team, helping ensure compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and Unit Titles Act. Brett and his teams seek to achieve behavioural change through a range of regulatory approaches, including working closely with information and education colleagues.

Sarah joined Grimshaw & Co in 2018 and is now a Partner. She has provided advice to bodies corporate, individuals, and companies in respect of various civil disputes including multi-million dollar building defects claims, insurance disputes, and unit titles disputes. Sarah also assists clients navigate public works acquisitions and dealings with local authorities in respect of property categorisation following significant weather events. She has appeared in the High Court, Weathertight Homes Tribunal, Waitangi Tribunal, Māori Land Court, and Māori Appellate Court and also assists clients in resolving disputes through negotiation and mediation.