Branch Consulting is a Christchurch-based engineering consultancy founded by a chartered structural engineer and a senior geologist. Between us, we bring decades of hands-on technical experience – and a shared belief that good engineering advice shouldn’t require a big-firm budget.
Agata Bulska – Chartered Structural Engineer
Agata is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and a member of Engineering New Zealand, with a Master of Engineering from the City University in London. She has been based in Christchurch since the aftermath of the 2010-2011 earthquakes.
Her engineering practice covers structural design and earthquake damage assessment – houses, townhouse developments, renovations and extensions, along with structural remediation. She is also a Certified Building Consent Processing Officer and a Homestar Designer (V5).
Alongside her structural work, Agata carries out shallow-soil testing (Scala penetrometer and hand auger) and reporting to NZS 3604, and signs off the geotechnical recommendations for residential projects.
Outside the office, Agata is a multiple-time national Downhill Mountain Bike Series champion and served five years as President of Gravity Canterbury.
James Horan – Senior Geologist
James graduated with a Geology degree in 1998 and is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (M AusIMM). Over more than 25 years he has worked across mineral, coal and CSG exploration and in production geology, underground and open pit, in base metals and gold – rising to Senior Open Pit Geologist at one of the world’s largest gold mines in Papua New Guinea.
He later worked as an Applications Specialist for Leapfrog 3D (Seequent) and continues to take on geological modelling, resource estimation and exploration-support consulting work.
James also brings geotechnical experience – geotechnical and defect logging in drill core, and mine-scale geotechnical hazard management. That is specialist mine-geology experience rather than the civil and residential geotechnics that is Agata’s remit. He is experienced in shallow-soil testing and reporting, working alongside Agata, and contributes to foundation design.
Beyond the specialist mining work, James also brings practical experience in project management, civil works and underground services, and in shallow soil testing – skills that are directly relevant to Canterbury’s residential and small-commercial projects.
Memberships & accreditation
Agata is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and a member of Engineering New Zealand; James is a Member of AusIMM.
Why Branch Consulting?
We started Branch Consulting because we were tired of watching homeowners pay big-firm rates for straightforward residential work. Canterbury ground conditions are genuinely complex – the earthquake legacy, TC zoning, variable soils – but that doesn’t mean every project needs an army of engineers and a stack of overheads.
What you get with us is direct access to the people doing the work. No account managers. No juniors handing off your file. Just clear, practical advice from experienced engineers who know this ground.