Farsight is New Zealand’s largest ISO (17020) accredited team of specialist compliance consultants with in-depth knowledge of the New Zealand Building Code and environmental health related legislation. Our team brings positivity and personality to the process – A team of specialists by your side – from start to finish.
Sue Bai
Managing Director
As a member of the Institute of Directors, Sue has been with Farsight for over nine years, bringing a wealth of efficiency and organizational knowledge to our team. Her experience at Wellington City Council prior to joining Farsight provided her with an extensive understanding of local government and the regulatory requirements for building consents and compliance. During her two years as a Personal Assistant at the Council, Sue worked closely with four Building Group Managers, providing high-standard administrative and secretarial services to support the building consent and inspection team. In her most recent role as Manager of Business Performance at Farsight, she was responsible for maintaining an overview of all staff and their projects, upcoming deliverables, and deadlines, thereby ensuring overall team efficiency. As the new Managing Director, Sue is committed to continuing Farsight’s dedication to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
Mikey Tierney
Office Administrator
Mikey is an Office Administrator at Farsight NZ with over four years of experience supporting the company's operations and client service delivery. He is currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in Accounting, Commercial Law, and Taxation. Mikey is recognised for his analytical mindset, attention to detail, and collaborative approach. He has a strong interest in technology, strategy, and data-driven analysis, and applies these perspectives to support operational efficiency and enhance client outcomes. Alongside his professional role, Mikey serves as Secretary of the Victoria University Accounting Students’ Association, where he helps foster student engagement and strengthen connections between accounting students and industry. Through his academic and professional pursuits, he is focused on developing his expertise while contributing meaningful value to clients and colleagues at Farsight NZ.
Claire Lawrence
Quality Lead
Claire is an exceptional Quality Leader bringing over 15 years’ experience in key account management, administration, and compliance. Claire has been with Farsight for over seven years and leads the delivery and maintenance of the Quality Management System that promotes and achieves the quality assurance goals of Farsight. Her attention to detail and systematic approach contribute significantly to successfully maintain Farsight as an Accredited Organisation Body and Inspection Body since 2018. She manages the team’s performance and development in line with the business needs. She also helps with operational and business development strategies and provides efficient administration and document management support to the Farsight team.
Jon Astwood
Principal
Jon is a Principal with over 30 years of extensive experience in the construction and building regulatory sector, combining strategic leadership with deep technical expertise. His career includes nine years in local government and 16 years as a professional builder, providing a strong foundation across both regulatory and delivery environments. Jon contributed to the successful delivery of numerous landmark projects in Wellington between 2003 and 2013, including Chews Lane Apartments, Wellington Regional Hospital, the Wellington International Airport Terminal upgrade, The Supreme Court, Telecom Central, SOHO Apartments, and the ASB Wellington Sports Centre. Since joining Farsight, Jon has played a pivotal role in strengthening partnerships with Building Consent Authorities (BCAs), major commercial property owners, leading construction organisations, and key industry stakeholders. He is widely recognised for his expertise in the National Competency Assessment System, supporting BCAs to enhance capability, uphold regulatory excellence, and deliver consistently high standards of compliance and performance.
Lee Yasar
Senior Technical Building Specialist
Lee brings over 21 years of building industry experience and knowledge to Farsight. His areas of expertise are plumbing and drainage, building inspections, Building consent processing, CCC’s and COA’s. He has a passion for working with clients to streamline their council experience by working through the council process and obtaining the consents and certificates they require for their buildings. Before joining our team in 2018, he spent 14 years gaining experience and knowledge by working in the NZ construction industry as a plumber, drain layer and gasfitter. He also spent three years working for the Local Government carrying out the functions of a building control officer, as well as in the field carrying out inspections on residential and commercial buildings.
Steven Williams
BCA Lead
Steven is the BCA Lead, bringing a passion for problem solving and 25 years of experience across a wide range of technical roles. After a 9-year Army career as an Electronics Technician, Steven chose to make a change and completed a Building Science degree. He worked as a Project Manager for three years delivering fire sprinkler and alarm systems on large commercial projects throughout the lower North Island before moving into a technical role in timber processing for a high-profile exporter. Steven then transitioned into local government, working across all aspects of building control for eight years. During his time with Council, he delivered balanced compliance outcomes while demonstrating strong leadership and a customer-focused approach. Steven is also an MBIE-recognised Technical Expert, working with IANZ to complete BCA Accreditation assessments throughout New Zealand.
Rob Tierney
Principal
With over 33 years of industry experience, Rob's expertise is a perfect balance of trade, Local Government, and professional consulting. His unique perspective continues to provide clients with proven solutions and confidence in building consent approval. His pragmatic approach to his clients' projects consistently saves them time, money, and hassle. Rob is a trusted advisor to Industry, Local Councils and Central Government. He brings a wealth of expertise in regulatory stakeholder management and is repeatedly engaged to act as the vital interface between building projects and regulatory bodies. His career experience ranges from multiple high-level national commercial projects to advising on greater efficiency in national housing demands. He remains highly regarded within the industry, with many specific engagements for expert advice on building regulations and building code interpretation and enhancement. Rob currently serves as an external Director for CIL Masterspec and is a former member of the Board, and Technical Chair, of the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand.
Reach out to one of our team members to book a coffee or a call to discuss your project or click here to submit an inquiry.