Contact The Team - South Island Archaeology

The SIA team have a huge amount of experience and specialist knowledge relating to Archaeology Services

Sheelagh Conran

Sheelagh has wealth of international archaeological and heritage experience spanning over 20 years.

Sheelagh began her career during the Celtic Tiger in Ireland. She directed
archaeological excavations with up to 50 people on-site. She also worked for the National Roads Authority of Ireland (NRA) where she project-managed large-scale archaeological excavations on motorway projects with multiple sites including teams of up to 200 people.

Sheelagh also has experience as a Senior Archaeologist in Australia. In 2013 she joined Kuruma Marthedunera Aboriginal Corporation (KMAC) where she set up and ran KMAC’s Environmental and Heritage Business Unit.
Sheelagh moved to Christchurch in 2015 and took up a position with Opus International Consultants Ltd as Principal Archaeologist, mostly working on the
largescale EQ Christchurch Rebuild project and the Kaikoura NCTIR project. She is a Section 45 approved archaeologist.

In February 2021 Sheelagh established South Island Archaeology Ltd with TJ O’Connell.

Sheelagh has an MA in Archaeology & History from the University of Glasgow and
an MSc in Maritime Archaeology & Coastal Zone Management from the University of Ulster. She also spent 2 years on the New Zealand Archaeological Association committee and is a full member.

TJ O'Connell

TJ is a section 45 approved archaeologist with over 14 years’ experience in professional practice.

TJ has previously worked on public sector, commercial and academic led Archaeology and Heritage projects in Europe, Australia and New Zealand gaining a wide range of experience. He has an honours degree in Archaeology and a master’s degree in Technical Communication & E-learning with a focus on Heritage Communication.

TJ has previously acted as the Lead Archaeologist on several largescale infrastructural projects in New Zealand and has extensive experience in directing large scale excavations. He really enjoys applying his wealth of experience to new projects to ensure cost-effective quality outcomes for clients.

In February 2021 TJ established South Island Archaeology Ltd with Sheelagh Conran. TJ is a full member of the New Zealand Archaeological Association.