Rachael Williams

Rachael has over 15 years’ experience in the local and central government property sector. She began her career at Western Bay of Plenty District Council as a Legal Property Officer before moving into private consultancy, where she supported NZTA disposals and local authority projects. She later joined Tauranga City Council where she progressed to Senior Strategic Property Advisor where she led and supported strategic property and development projects aligned with Council’s long-term priorities. She provided senior strategic and technical property advice informed by legislative requirements and cross-Council collaboration, helping to investigate, assess and identify land required for Council-led and Council-supported initiatives. Her work spanned strategic property options analysis, land acquisition and disposal programmes, and complex multi-disciplinary projects requiring careful navigation of policy and statutory frameworks.

More recently, Rachael worked as Principal Property Advisor for the Department of Conservation, managing its South Island and Lower North Island commercial property portfolio. In that role, she provided specialist advice on Crown land and property matters, ensuring alignment with the Conservation Act, Reserves Act and broader government policy. Rachael has built and maintained strong relationships with iwi, hapū, government agencies, local councils, and private sector stakeholders to support DOC’s conservation outcomes.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the University of Waikato and is well connected across the Bay of Plenty region.  Outside of work, Rachael is a proud mum of two daughters and enjoys the outdoors — and the occasional return to ballet when time allows.