Andrew Couch

Andrew is our Technical Director for transport and business cases. He has a strong understanding of business case development, transport economics and modelling, transport strategy and transport planning. He has led key business case projects for Abley such as the Let’s Get Wellington Moving business cases and developing an original study for cable car use as a Public Transport mass transit option in New Zealand.  

About Andrew

Andrew has a long history of technical leadership and entrepreneurship, an unusual combination. He studied chemistry and completed a Ph. D in Physical Chemistry at Bristol University in the United Kingdom. Alongside this he was elected Social Secretary of the Bristol University Union, organising events and gigs as a creative outlet. 

He has had a successful career in Investment Management, prior to transport. He ran large global share portfolios and infrastructure funds for several London investment firms. He was involved in the growth of early-stage funds management firm that had a high profile – becoming a shareholder and director early in his career. This company was sold after reaching scale in the London financial markets. He then went on to run international portfolios for large institutional funds management firms. 

In 2003, Andrew moved to New Zealand and quickly launched his own funds management firm including listing an investment company on the New Zealand stock exchange. In 2015, he moved into the Transport sector as he saw a need for innovation and high quality business cases to push forward the sector. He worked for NZTA for period and then established his own consultancy, Big Blue Advice.  

Recognising scale and digital capability would be required to deliver the business cases, Andrew joined Abley to push Abley forward in this area. He led the technical side of the Let’s Get Wellington Moving StepChange Consortium, and many other business cases.  

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys Bikram Yoga and is organising an Abley team for the November Auckland Marathon. He has run 4 full Marathons and numerous half marathons. Andrew trained for a private pilots licence and has a black belt in Choi Kwang Do, training with his son for the highest accolade in Martial Arts.  

Andrew also advocates for public transport including contributions to the media. He believes provision of public transport is not just important for the New Zealand (and global) economy, but a necessity for a viable future.