Finn has been actively involved in permaculture education, community development and facilitating change throughout Aotearoa New Zealand since 2003. His particular interests and skills are in behavioural permaculture, the realm of social ecology, social innovation, co-design and behaviour change. He is co-founder of Auckland Permaculture Workshop, CommonGround Community Gardens, Transition Pt. Chevalier, Grey Lynn 2030, Permaculture Friends Savings and Our Amazing Place (formerly Pt. Chevalier Treasure Hunt). More recently, Finn has co-founded Resilio Studio – a sister organisation to Auckland Permaculture Workshop – a design consultancy that recognises the need to design with and for people and planet. Finn’s work currently focuses on social innovation, placemaking, community development, co-design and collaboration.

Finn brings to APW a thorough understanding of teaching pedagogy and practice, dynamic facilitation and accelerating learning practices, a love of human cultures and a breadth of experience and exposure to indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices from around the globe.

Finn teaches on the Philosophy and Design, Living Communities, Economics For People, Urban Design and Living, Empowerment and Resilience and Living Locally in the Auckland Bioregion modules of the APW PDC.

Bachelor of Anthropology and Bachelor of Psychology (University of British Columbia, Canada); Post Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Victoria University, New Zealand); Permaculture for Third World and Indigenous Peoples (Erda Institute, NSW, Australia); Advanced Permaculture Design training (Earthcare Education Aotearoa and Holmgren Design Services); Diploma of Permaculture (Permaculture in New Zealand).

After completing his Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) in 2003, Gary completed an advanced permaculture course in Golden Bay, which included living and working with David Holmgren and his family on their property in Victoria, Australia. Having spent a year immersed in permaculture, he went on to complete a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture.

Gary is now an award winning landscape architect, permaculture designer and educator with over twelve years experience. During this time, Gary has been design and studio manager at two of New Zealand’s leading practices working on a range of public and private sector projects. More recently, Gary has cofounded Resilio Studio – a sister organisation to Auckland Permaculture Workshop, established to fulfil a critical need we see for Auckland and New Zealand – an issues-driven and solutions-focused design practice that embodies the positive, transformative change needed to thrive in the face of the immense challenges of the 21st century.

Through Resilio, Gary has been working on a wide range of projects including ecological restoration of waterways and wetlands, policy and infrastructure for walking and cycling, urban agriculture, tertiary education in design and sustainability, landscape analysis for cultural landscapes, closed loop organic waste systems, and design thinking and social innovation initiatives for local boards and other public bodies and organisations.

Gary brings to APW an extensive understanding and working knowledge of landscape design, urban design, design history and theory, social innovation, permaculture and design education.

Gary teaches on the Philosophy and Design, Landscape Design, Built Environment, Urban Design and Living and Living Locally in the Auckland Bioregion modules of the APW PDC.

Bachelor of 3-Dimensional Design (UNITEC, New Zealand), Masters Landscape Architecture, (Lincoln, New Zealand); Advanced Permaculture Design training (Golden Bay, New Zealand and Victoria, Australia).

After seeing the impact of consuming the planet through the lens of his work in the tourism industry, Ron found his calling in permaculture in 2007 and has successfully devoted himself to embracing this both as a career and lifestyle. Ron has previously delivered waste minimisation education to many schools in Auckland; is a cofounder and was formerly chair of the Auckland Zero Waste Alliance Trust and through this was a key architect of the Zero Waste Event campaign that reduced event waste by 88%. Alongside this, Ron is retrofitting his home and property into a ¼ acre permaculture paradise in West Auckland.

Ron teaches on the Philosophy and Design, Appropriate Technology, Resources and Redefining Waste and Fertile Gardening modules of the APW PDC.