Thomas
Nash
Strategy and governance advisory, grounded in elected office and international negotiations.
Policy practitioner.
Governance leader.
International strategist.
As an elected councillor for Greater Wellington Regional Council from 2019 to 2025, Thomas led the region’s public transport and climate governance — as Climate Chair, then Transport Chair, and as Deputy Chair of the regional holdings company overseeing $1bn in port and rail assets.
Before local government, Thomas spent fifteen years working internationally in the humanitarian sector. He set up and led organisations in London and Wellington, and played a leading role in two global treaty processes — including the campaign that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.
Thomas now advises on strategy, governance, organisational development, and international negotiations. He brings a practitioner’s perspective: the credibility of having held elected office, managed public budgets, and delivered results in politically complex environments.
He holds a Chartered Director qualification (Institute of Directors NZ), an Honorary Fellowship of the New Zealand Geographic Society, and is an Adjunct Lecturer and Social Entrepreneur in Residence at Massey University. He speaks fluent French and is based in France.
Areas of advisory work
Thomas works with public authorities, transport agencies, private firms, universities, and organisations navigating complex strategic decisions — particularly where governance, politics, and delivery intersect.
Bus network reform, franchising transitions, contract procurement, depot strategy, and public accountability frameworks. Direct governance experience from Wellington’s successful bus network transition.
Board and sub-committee design, chair and non-executive director advisory, governance frameworks for public assets, and navigating ministerial and regulatory relationships.
Local government climate strategy, low carbon fund design, emissions reduction programmes, and the political economy of climate transitions at regional and national scale.
Multilateral process strategy, coalition-building, and negotiation in high-stakes international settings. Drawing on two successful treaty campaigns and extensive diplomatic engagement.
Policy communications, stakeholder engagement, media strategy, and political campaign design — from local government to global advocacy.
Setting up and scaling organisations, developing business cases, building teams, and securing funding. Experience founding and leading organisations in both the UK and New Zealand.
Delivery record
A record built across elected governance, international diplomacy, and organisational leadership.
As Transport Chair, restored Wellington’s bus network from a 10% cancellation rate to under 1%, achieving record patronage highs in 2024–25 with reliability consistently above 99%.
Oversaw political decision-making for the procurement of new trains for the Lower North Island. Personally signed the $1bn contract with Alstom prior to the end of the 2022–25 council term.
Shepherded Wellington’s multi-billion dollar bus contract tender and procurement framework through council decision-making on a tight timeframe, achieving unanimous agreement.
As Climate Chair, established the fund leveraging the regional council’s forest carbon credits to finance in-house emissions reduction, renewable energy, and ecological restoration.
Leading strategist and negotiator contributing to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its work to achieve this Treaty.
Instigated, designed and delivered political strategy between Ministers and Regional Councils to establish the national employment and nature conservation programme, adopted in the 2020 NZ budget.
As Director and Deputy Chair of the $1bn holdings company (port and passenger rail), delivered increased dividends, improved return on equity, and successful procurement of major new assets.
Founded and led Article 36 (London, 2011–16), an international humanitarian policy organisation, and co-founded and co-directed Te Kuaka New Zealand Alternative (2017–23), a foreign affairs think tank.
Published work
Thomas writes on transport policy, urban development, climate governance, and international affairs. His work has appeared in New Zealand and international publications. He has guest lectured at the London School of Economics and Harvard University, and has been an Adjunct Lecturer at Massey University since 2018.
Cities
Field research across Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge and Stockport — examining what happens when government stops waiting for development to justify public transport investment and starts using public transport to shape development. Four core recommendations for New Zealand policymakers.
Read the report →Get in touch
Thomas works with public authorities, transport agencies, research institutions, and organisations across the UK, New Zealand, and Europe.
For advisory enquiries, speaking engagements, or research collaborations, reach out directly.
Available for advisory work, board roles, speaking, facilitation and research collaborations. Particular interest in UK local government and transport authority engagements and strategy and policy work that bridges the UK, France, Europe and New Zealand.
