Richard Vaughan

Formal Qualifications

• Registered Valuer
• Member of the Property Institute New Zealand
• Bachelor of Property – The University of Auckland

Industry Experience

Richard is a vastly experienced registered valuer whose breadth of experience ranges from established niche markets within Auckland and extending beyond taking in development projects across the Pacific and through the Middle East. Meticulous attention to detail, broad understanding of clients’ needs, and an engaging personality serve to ensure professional and competent advice is offered.

Richard joined Opteon through the merger of Sheldons & Partners Limited a long-established practice based in Auckland New Zealand that had been in operation for some 40 years.

Areas of Expertise

• Insurance Assessments
• Matrimonial Assessments
• Residential Specialist with expertise in Apartments, Lifestyle, Residential Block Land

Kris Vulinovich

Formal Qualifications

• Registered Valuer
• Member of the Property Institute of New Zealand (MPINZ)
• Bachelor of Property - University of Auckland

Industry Experience

Kris is a Registered Valuer and is currently a Regional Director for the New Zealand Residential team. He began his career in the company back in 2004 for Sheldon & Partners Limited after completing a Bachelor of Property at the University of Auckland. Since 2005, Kris has specialised in a broad range of residential valuations within the south Auckland locality and has established strong relationships with local key stakeholders whilst managing his residential team.

Areas of Expertise

Residential Property Valuations for:

• Mortgage requirements
• Selling or pre purchase
• Urban infill redevelopment sites
• Existing and proposed

Alexander Dolejschka-Ang

Formal Qualifications

• Registered Property Valuer
• Bachelor of Property and Bachelor of Commerce (Econ/Fin) Conjoint – University of Auckland
• IB Diploma 

Industry Experience

Alex has been working with Opteon since 2021, following four years’ experience in the field and earning his valuation registration in 2020. In his previous role, Alex worked on broad range of valuations, including commercial/industrial, residential, land development, rent reviews, and insurance valuations.

Since joining Opteon, Alex’s focus has been on residential valuations predominantly in the South Auckland market, and lifestyle valuations in the Rodney district including Coatesville. Alex is heavily engaged with the property valuation industry, serving as the Treasurer of the Property Institute of Auckland branch for the last four years.

Areas of Expertise

• Residential property valuations
• As If Complete, Kiwibuild, Land and development valuations
• Valuations for mortgage security, relationship property purposes
• Valuations for pre-purchase / pre-sale advice
• Insurance valuations, rent reviews, commercial/industrial valuations

Ben Williams

Formal Qualifications

• BProp (UoA)  

Industry Experience

Ben has been with Opteon for eight months after completing his Bachelor of Property with the University of Auckland in 2022. He has assisted in the successful completion of roll maintenance deadlines having gained experience in residential, rural and lifestyle valuations.

Areas of Expertise

Throughout Ben’s time with Opteon, he has been building his expertise in residential and lifestyle valuations.

Gary Brunsdon

Formal Qualifications

• ANZIV, SPINZ

Industry Experience

Gary began his valuation career in 1978 under a valuation cadetship with Valuation New Zealand, while completing a Diploma in Valuation at Auckland University. After qualifying in 1981 Gary obtained registration in 1983. Gary is now a Senior Member of the Property Institute and an Associate of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers.

He joined Sheldons in 1987, and then became a director of Sheldons in 1992. On a day to day basis, he was responsible for the residential side of the Company involved in staff training, the joint directorship of the practice and overseeing the daily administration of Sheldons. Following the recent rebranding to Opteon New Zealand Limited Gary has stepped back from a full-time management role and now fulfills a consultancy role including mentoring of the younger team members.

Areas of Expertise

Gary specialises in residential valuations on the North Shore covering Albany, Hillcrest, Birkenhead, Northcote and Glenfield.

James Clark

Formal Qualifications

• Senior Member of the Property Institute of New Zealand (SPINZ)
• Associate of the Institute of Valuers (ANZIV)
• Registered Valuer – Registration Certificate Number – 2757
• Bachelor of Property Administration (BPA) from the Auckland University

Industry Experience

James began his valuation career in 1986 under a valuation cadetship with Housing New Zealand (formerly Housing Corporation of NZ), where he received practical experience in the building and valuation industry, property management and general administration. He obtained a Bachelor of Property Administration and is a Senior member of the Property Institute of New Zealand and an Associate Member of The New Zealand Institute of Valuers.

James practised in Whangarei for 9 years covering a wide range of valuation work from commercial/industrial through to residential and small blocks, before moving to Auckland in 1992 and continuing to value within the wider Isthmus. He joined Sheldon & Partners in 2001 and specialises in residential valuations within the Eastern suburbs where he resides, with particular interest in higher priced property.  This encompasses the Central Bays area from Parnell to St Heliers, Glendowie, Panmure, Ellerslie, Mt Wellington and Remuera.  James has an extensive client base and is one of the more experienced residential valuers in the Central Bays.

Areas of Expertise

• Residential Valuations
• Mortgage Security purposes
• Pre-purchase
• Pre-sale
• Development
• Trust formation

John Hickey

Formal Qualifications

• Registered Valuer
• Associate of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers
• Senior Member of the New Zealand Property Institute
• Diploma in Urban Valuation from Auckland University

Industry Experience

John is highly regarded as a valuer and is very experienced in the areas he concentrates on being Auckland’s Eastern and far Eastern Suburbs.

Areas of Expertise

• Residential property valuations
• Valuations for mortgage security purposes
• Valuations for property taxation purposes
• Valuations for pre-purchase/pre-sale advice purposes
• Valuations for compensation purposes
• Valuations for insurance purposes
• Rental valuations

Kate Tubberty

Kurt Brunsdon

Leeane Gregory

Formal Qualifications

• Registered Valuer
• Member of the Property Institute New Zealand (PINZ)
• Bachelor of Property (University of Auckland 2003)
• Bachelor of Commerce (BGS) (University of Auckland 2008)

Industry Experience

Leeane joined Opteon NZ in 2016, having previously worked for Sheldon and Partners, CBRE and Aim Valuation from 2003. She has a range of expertise with specific focus in residential property, including valuation of single and multi-dwelling residential properties, apartments, investment property, land and development land, construction, insurance and high value residential property within the Auckland Area. Leeane also provides reports to councils and government departments for specialised purposes, including for acquisition and disposal requirements, rental and development assessments amongst others.

Areas of Expertise

Residential Property Valuations for:

• Residential property valuations
• Development land and construction (including progress payment certificates)
• Valuations for mortgage security purposes (including apartments and high value properties, multiple income units and investment properties)
• Valuations for property taxation, legislation, acquisition including partial acquisition
• Valuations for pre-purchase / pre-sale advice purposes / division of relationship and estate property
• Asset valuations for financial reporting purposes
• Valuation for insurance certificates
• Rental assessment

Michael Baxter

Industry Experience

Michael has over five years experience as an urban valuer with Opteon Solutions (formerly Landmass Technology).

Areas of Expertise

• Urban valuation

Michael Dempsey

Formal Qualifications

• Licensed Valuer in Auckland, New Zealand Registration Certificate No.3879
• Member of the Property Institute New Zealand
• Practising Certificate No. 843
• Bachelor of Business Studies (Valuation and Property Management) - Massey University, New Zealand (2015)

Industry Experience

In 2019 Michael became a Registered Property Valuer in New Zealand with three years prior valuation experience in Auckland and as a member of the New Zealand Property Institute.

Michael’s experience includes the preparation of Valuations and consultancy advice for residential asset classes ranging from prestige residences to urban infill redevelopment sites, existing and proposed residential.

Areas of Expertise

• Residential valuations
• Mortgage requirements
• Strategic investment property advice
• Resumption of freehold land
• Pre-sale and pre-purchase advice

Ming Zhao

Formal Qualifications

• Bachelor of Property & Bachelor of Commerce (Conjoint Degree) from the University of Auckland
• Registered Valuer – 2011 Registration Certificate No. 3605

Industry Experience

Ming is currently working as a senior residential valuer. He joined Sheldon & Partners Limited in 2003 as a valuer while he completed his studies at the University of Auckland. Ming started full time in 2005 after completing his Bachelor of Property and Bachelor of Commerce degrees. He went on to gain registration as a valuer in 2011.

Ming has firmly established himself as a highly regarded apartment specialist with his expertise including a broad range of apartment valuations such as leaky building/leasehold/serviced apartment valuations, etc. in Auckland City and fringe city suburbs. Ming’s expertise also includes residential valuations in the central Auckland area, such as Blockhouse Bay, New Windsor, Lynfield and Mt Roskill. Ming is bilingual in Mandarin and Cantonese and his valuation expertise is predominantly residential.

Areas of Expertise

• Residential property valuations
• Broad range of Apartment valuations including freehold/leasehold/serviced/leaky building/rental valuations
• Valuation for mortgage security purposes
• Valuation for property taxation, legislation and disclosure purposes
• Pre-sale and pre-purchase advice
• Rental Assessments
• Subdivisional/development land valuations
• Development feasibility

Nick Westerkamp

Paul Sherrock

Sasha Peters

Simon-Peter Finlay

Formal Qualifications

• Bachelor of Property – University of Auckland
• Member of the NZ Institute of Valuers and Property Institute NZ

Industry Experience

Simon-Peter graduated from Auckland University in March 2013, where he completed a Bachelor of Property. Upon completion of his degree, he joined Sheldons (now Opteon) and specialised in residential valuations within the South and West Auckland areas. In early 2018 Simon-Peter established the Opteon brand in the Waikato region, and now specialises in residential valuations in Hamilton and its surrounding districts.

Areas of Expertise

• Preparing residential valuations for mortgage purposes (including valuations for the Corelogic and Valocity panels)
• Preparing lifestyle valuations for mortgage purposes (including valuations for Corelogic and Valocity panels)
• Preparing insurance valuations for Body Corporates and residential homes

Steven Flexman

Tim McCabe

Tyson Gedge