At Cheal, we take pride in the remarkable people who have shaped our success over the years. We are excited to share a testimonial from one of our past employees, Hannah Lightfoot, reflecting on her time with us. Hannah’s story is one of professional growth and a testament to the supportive, dynamic, and collaborative environment at Cheal.
Whether you’ve been with us for years or are considering joining our team, read on to hear about the unique opportunities and relationships that make Cheal more than just a workplace.
Staff Testimonial – Hannah Lightfoot, Planner
“In 2023, I made the jump from Council Planner to Consultant Planner at Cheal. While both roles are planners, the difference in the roles is significant. The move came with many challenges, the biggest being learning to take my Council Planner hat off and move into a consultant way of thinking.”
“I was privileged to move into a highly experienced planning team which supported my transition into consulting greatly. From the start I was given enough space to grow into the role on my own but always knew there was a safety net waiting when I needed guidance. Nothing builds confidence in a consultancy like trust and having the ability to try things yourself. Cheal has been outstanding at this from the start.”
“I found it hard initially to move away from assessing proposals solely against the number of non-compliances. As a Council Planner, you are focused on assessing the non-compliances and can often become quite bogged down on the number of non-compliances instead of the bigger picture. It took me a while to adjust to this way of thinking. However, once I realized that at the end of the day the role of a planner is to consider what the actual effect is, irrelevant of how many non-compliances a proposal triggers.”
“It has been extremely enjoyable to be part of the start of the proposals. I discovered that as a Council Planner you miss all the work that goes on to prepare the final Application which is put in front of Council. I will be the first to admit, I did not realize how much work is happening behind the scenes to get to the point of writing the application. I have enjoyed getting to be part of pre-concept design, helping guide clients to consentable options and most of all, the privilege of achieving our client outcomes. Building these relationships has been a highlight of my time at Cheal. It is an extremely rewarding feeling knowing you managed to achieve your client’s outcomes, and it often makes up for some of the challenging aspects that come with trying to obtain a decision.”
“The opportunity to work on a variety of jobs, in various districts and alongside colleagues from different disciplines has provided me an unbelievable amount of growth. It has taught me project management skills to take into my next role and overall provided me with a much more well-rounded understanding of the work Cheal does as a company, and as Consultant Planners.”
“As I look to progress into my new role working with the Ministry for the Environment, I reflect on all the growth and opportunities I have had, thanks to my time at Cheal. The confidence that has been fostered during my time at Cheal has prepared me for this next chapter in my career. For anyone looking to make the shift from Council Planner to Consultant, I couldn’t encourage you enough. The skills and growth opportunities it will provide are abundant. If you are lucky enough to get these experiences at Cheal, then that’s even more of a bonus.”
– Hannah has now taken up a new position with Ministry for the Environment. We wish her all the best for her Wellington adventure-
