bernard mcmillan

I was contracted by the New Zealand Government's Department of Internal Affairs as an intern to assist a funded arts- focussed not for profit community organisation with the development of infrastructural and capacity building processes.

Fixed term contract assisting with capacity building, business planning, evaluation, enterprise development, with Christchurch community organisations. Writing numerous articles concerning the economic and social place of community organisations and social entrepreneurship.

Business planning, setting up and managing an income- generating community employment enterprise catering for those experiencing issues with mental health. Developing cause - related marketing proposals.

The work was based at a Christchurch bi - cultural inner city community cottage to re-establish the operations of a community work group to operate as an income generating community enterprise. This was my first venture into community business planning and to the development of a novel business model for community employment. The enterprise moved from a previous significant financial loss to breaking even in the first year and a profit in the second year.

Processing all Crown water right applications in the mid South island of NZ, examining and reporting on catchment control work proposals and other operations of 4 regional catchment authorities for Government funding (budget $5M - $6M), Investigating and preparing statements of evidence and representing the Crown as an expert witness at planning tribunals involving the use of land and water, Investigating and reporting on issues of conflict involving the Crown, Local authorities and private individuals

Technical support to 3 national bodies involved with the management of NZ natural resources, Preparing water quality classification plans and matters involving applications for rights to water resources(including Crown rights). Investigating and preparing statements of evidence and representing the Crown as an expert witness at planning tribunal hearings.

Civil Engineering surveying (road and bridge set- outs), Survey party leader, Hydrological surveying (survey party leader)

Managing a Christchurch suburban community organisation involved in community development Responsibilities: Managing community centre, operational business planning, developing strategic direction plans and annual plans, developing alliances and partnerships, community development research, writing papers relevant to the work, budget setting and funding, reviewing operational systems and processes, reporting to a Trust board, financial management, maintaining statistical and other records, community consultations, preparing accountability reports, ensuring the community's multi - ethnic mix is catered for, preparing submissions that effect the operation of the Centre and relating to community members on a one to one basis.

Following a change in focus from my previous technical position with the New Zealand Government). Assisting and representing individuals and community organisations to local authorities with applications concerning the use of land and water. One of these projects involved researching, preparing statements of evidence, and representing a local community environmental organisation as an expert witness at a planning hearing objecting to a land developer's proposal for a 600 lot residential development of a large urban wet-land in the northeast of Christchurch City. The case was ruled in favour of the environmental arguments and the city now has the Travis Wetland Heritage Park to enjoy.

My technical education required me to be employed in an approved occupation. Most of my studies were undertaken in the high country of the South Island of New Zealand which meant long distance studying by correspondence with the education provider. In these circumstances I did not have ready access to tutors and basically worked through any difficulties on my own for which I attribute my investigative / research and thinking skills.