2024 Principal Promotions

Urban designer Jos Coolen and landscape planner Julia Wick have been promoted to Principal and Senior Principal levels.

Jos Coolen has a background in architecture, building and planning. His project work comprises delivery of a wide range of master planning projects, the development of design guidance, and urban design advice in local government policy planning. He joined Boffa Miskell in 2017, having graduated with a Master of Science in Urban Design and Planning from the University of Technology Eindhoven (Netherlands).

Based in Wellington, Jos was a key team member in developing the National Medium-Density Design Guidelines, which won the 2023 Best Practice Award for Strategic Guidance from the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). He was the urban design lead for the Planning for Residential Amenity Study, commissioned by Wellington City Council, which won the Nancy Northcroft Supreme Planning Practice Award from the NZPI in 2021.

Jos has a sound understanding of the resource management process and appreciates the value of working closely together with all environmental disciplines. His key strengths are a diverse skillset and analytical approach in clearly and effectively communicating the values that make up the urban and natural environment. Jos is on the Executive Committee of the Urban Design Forum and is an affiliate member of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects |Tuia Pito Ora (NZILA)

Julia Wick specialises as a landscape planner, focusing on landscape and natural character effects assessments. She has undertaken assessments and peer reviews for projects ranging in scale from single sites up to nationwide initiatives. Julia joined Boffa Miskell in 2019, after working as a landscape architect in the Auckland Design Office at Auckland Council; she is a qualified Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) practitioner.

Based in Auckland, Julia serves on the NZILA Tuia Pito Ora Board, is a member of the NZILA RMA Reform working group, sits on the Auckland Urban Design Panel (AUDP) Governance Board, and holds a position on the National and Auckland Executive for the Resource Management Law Association (RMLA).

Working within the framework of the RMA and best practice, Julia has collaborated on an assortment of project types including subdivisions, urban development, community infrastructure, motorways, marine farms, marina extensions, industrial developments and utilities infrastructure. She was a key member of the Waikato Regional Seascape Study (2023) project team. This first-of-its-kind assessment won the 2023 Award for Technical Documentation at the RMLA Awards, and an Award of Excellence in Resource Management and Strategic Planning at the 2024 Resene New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards

Chief executive Kerry Gupwell says, “These promotions acknowledge the depth of expertise and capability demonstrated by Julia and Jos; along with their extensive knowledge, professionalism and fostering of excellent client relationships.”