Our People

As Head of People & Culture Alaina works closely with leaders at all levels to support the development and implementation of strategic people initiatives. A specific focus for the Panuku People & Culture team is workforce planning, leadership, talent, culture and engagement to drive towards Panuku’s strategic objectives.

Alaina is a seasoned human resources professional - a trusted advisor, coach, partner and leader. She has worked in both private and public sector organisations and has been with Panuku since 2016. Alaina is passionate about delivering on our people promise and vision ensuring a collaborative, capable, diverse and thriving workforce.

Gyles has a background in landscape architecture with extensive experience in strategic planning, project management, master-planning, urban development and all facets of public realm design and development.

The Design and Place directorate is responsible for the delivery of quality urban design with an integrated place-led approach to regeneration. The team works across the organisation and extensively with the wider council family, mana whenua and local communities.

Gyles is highly proficient in local government including legislation, operational requirements and the political landscape.

During his time at Auckland Council he prepared the City Centre Masterplan and was heavily involved in a range of projects that supported the transformation of the city centre to realise its vision. This included being Auckland Council’s lead on Te Ara I Whiti – Light Path, which was a bold and collaborative project between NZTA, Auckland Transport and council.

Gyles believes that Panuku has a great opportunity and privilege as a regeneration agency to work closely with communities to create a better quality of life and to realise Panuku’s vision of creating spaces that Aucklanders love.

Angelika has worked in public relations and senior executive roles in both the private sector and local government in New Zealand and Singapore. This has been in a variety of roles, most recently as General Manager Strategy for Waterfront Auckland. She has broad experience in corporate strategy, strategic communications and stakeholder relations, crisis management, internal communications and project management.

As General Manager Community & Stakeholder Relations, Angelika is focused on how the organisation can work with key partners from Central Government and the private sector, locally and internationally to generate urban regeneration at speed and at scale. Angelika believes the biggest challenge for Panuku is to strike a balance between achieving commercial outcomes for the benefit of its shareholder (Auckland Council), while ensuring that Panuku realises its vision of creating spaces that Aucklanders love.

The Chief Financial Officer ensures that Panuku has effective and efficient internal control mechanisms, processes and systems to support the safe delivery of projects and business functions.

Carl Gosbee has over 20 years’ experience in corporate financial management for property, regeneration and housing companies.

He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and has held executive financial roles in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Carl has extensive experience leading high performance teams within the back office, property investment and customer service arenas.

Carl joined Waterfront Auckland in early 2012. In September 2015 Carl was appointed his current role as Director of Corporate Services.

David has spent most of his career working for the people of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Originally a law graduate, he joined Auckland City Council in 1989 where he worked in various roles including Industrial Relations Manager and Finance Director before being appointed Chief Executive in 2005. Following the Auckland Council amalgamation in 2010 he became Chief Executive of Auckland Council Property Limited before Panuku Development Auckland’s establishment in 2015.

As a life-long Aucklander, he enjoys seeing transformation across the city. He works with significant private and public sector partners to deliver high quality, well designed public spaces, homes, and thriving, well-connected town centres.

David has worked on urban regeneration throughout his local government career. He has been part of the transformation of the city centre since the mid-1990s, including the Britomart precinct and the waterfront.

He has led on strategic change initiatives, driven commercial and financial results, and been responsible for the care of long-term infrastructure and property assets along with continuous exposure to a complex stakeholder environment.

As General Manager Strategy and Planning, Brenna leads a small team focused on setting the strategic direction of the organisation including our corporate responsibility, through business planning and strategy and ensuring that the plans are in place to enable the urban regeneration of town centres.

Brenna has worked in local government for many years and has a wealth of experience in strategic planning, housing and intensification, sustainability, urban design, urban regeneration, stakeholder engagement and communication. As Manager of Strategic Planning at Waterfront Auckland, Brenna led development of the Sustainable Development Framework 2013 and provided significant input to the development of Wynyard Quarter. At the Auckland Regional Council, Brenna led a wide range of projects including reform of the Unit Titles Act and evaluation of the Regional Growth Strategy 1999 (the precursor to the Auckland Plan). In London Brenna was involved in the spatial planning for the South East of England, waste management and airport development.

Brenna believes that Panuku has an opportunity to provide leadership as the council’s urban regeneration agency. Facilitating new housing choices, including affordable housing and responding to the climate crisis are key areas of focus.

Marian is responsible for managing Auckland Council’s non service property portfolio including land, buildings and marinas. Marian has wide-ranging experience in both property management and property development in New Zealand and Ireland, including over 15 years’ experience leading teams in local government.

At Panuku, Marian has been responsible for identifying new business opportunities and providing strategic commercial property advice. She sets the strategic direction of the property portfolio in order to optimise returns while building and maintaining it to deliver long term value. She also facilitates development and investment in our urban regeneration neighbourhoods.

Marian utilises her comprehensive knowledge of Panuku’s property portfolio, strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking to realise Panuku’s vision of creating spaces for Aucklanders to love.

Ian Wheeler oversees the planning and delivery of our work programmes across each of our priority locations. He’s focused on working with Panuku’s team of skilled professionals, stakeholders and partners across the region to establish plans and programmes designed to achieve the vision and goals for Panuku’s neighbourhoods. An important part of this role is to ensure the right blend of commercial strategy, public good investment (such as town squares and green spaces) and placemaking.

Prior to joining Panuku, Ian held senior property management and development roles at Auckland Council and Housing New Zealand Corporation. At Auckland Council, his role as General Manager Property covered the management of a large and diverse multi-billion-dollar property portfolio including office, recreational, community and residential assets. Prior to working in New Zealand, Ian was the Chief Executive of an affordable housing company in South Africa, Durban.

Ian has been involved in various industry bodies including the Construction Clients Group and the New Zealand Green Building Council. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the property industry covering management and governance roles within the private, public and not-for-profit sectors in New Zealand and abroad.

Allan Young’s team is responsible for directing the successful delivery of development projects. The team works right across the organisation and with partners and stakeholders, throughout the lifecycle of a project.

Allan has vast private sector experience within the property investment and development industry, specialising in commercial design/build projects and residential development.

His career in these fields has spanned more than 20 years.

Joining Local Government in 2008, Allan was the Manager of Manukau City Council’s Property Investment and Development unit until the amalgamation in 2010. Allan lead the Development team at Auckland Council Property Limited before the establishment of Panuku.

Jo relates with, and understands, people both one to one and to large audiences. It is the enduring gift she has received from her years of experience working with people and brands within the corporate and public sector.

Jo has developed the art and science of communicating both in person or on any platform with exceptional results.

Jo was Global Digital and Social Media Manager with Air New Zealand for seven years establishing channels and content to engage millions of global followers. Next up was three years at Westpac as Head of Digital and Social Media bringing innovative storytelling to life.

Kate is responsible for leading the urban regeneration of Takapuna, Northcote and Hobsonville Point in Auckland’s north for Panuku Development Auckland. Kate’s passion for the North Shore stems from her growing up in the area. She still lives there with her family today.

Kate has over 10 years’ experience in property and urban regeneration. She previously led the urban regeneration of Takapuna and has held several other development roles within Auckland Council. She is passionate about bringing to life projects that stimulate revitalisation and help neighbourhoods to grow and prosper.

She holds both a Bachelor of Property and Bachelor of Science from the University of Auckland and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Kate joined Auckland Council in 2013.

Richard leads the urban regeneration of south Auckland for Panuku. His team supports the revitalisation of town centres including Manukau, Old Papatoetoe, Pukekohe and Ormiston.

Richard has worked with Panuku Development Auckland for over four years and brings a wealth of expertise in urban planning and design, project management and team leadership.

Before working for Panuku, Richard was Lead Master Planner Urban Planning and Design for Auckland Council.

For Richard, “collaborating with communities to imagine, refine, plan and practically deliver their future-visions for their places is a great feeling. When we have all shared the development journey together and have pride in the outputs and out comes, we are all successful.”

Richard has received the Best Practice in District and Regional Planning award, the Nancy Northcroft Supreme Planning Practice Award and from the New Zealand Planning Institute Awards, 2016.

Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua tōku waka
Ko Panguru tōku maunga
Ko Hokianga tōku awa
Ko Mitimiti tōku awa
Ko Te Rarawa tōku iwi
Ko Waiariki, Ngāti Manawa, rāua ko Kaitutai ōku hapū
Ko Ngāti Manawa rāua ko Waipuna ōku marae
Ko Daniel Rewi Haines tōku ingoa

Daniel's bones are the Hokianga, but his heart is in Tāmaki Makaurau.

On behalf of Panuku, Daniel leads the Māori Outcomes team and holds the Treaty partnership with the 19 iwi and hapū in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Panuku supports the Crown to meet their obligations under the Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This gives us a considerable mandate and opportunity to partner with iwi and hapū to uplift the mana and mauri of Māori living in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Tāmaki Makaurau is the biggest Māori city in the world, and Daniel believes Panuku has significant influence in shaping our spaces to become a reflection of Māori culture and identity.

Previously, Daniel has supported mana whenua to exercise their role as kaitiaki on the infrastructure build for the 2021 America’s Cup. Daniel has also worked across several teams at Auckland Council working on Treaty settlements, advising the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, advisory panels, and the Governance Framework Review (which reviewed the Auckland Council governance arrangements).

Jessica heads up our strategy team who work across all our neighbourhoods. The team is at the forefront of shaping urban regeneration programme strategy and setting up strategic projects for successful delivery.

Jessica brings over ten years of experience in strategic planning, urban regeneration, and project delivery in both the public and private development sectors.

She joined Panuku in 2017 and most recently was the Project Director for Panmure Town Centre and Haumaru Housing regeneration programmes.

For Jessica, “reimagining with communities to achieve new standards of sustainability, affordability, mobility, and economic prosperity in our neighbourhoods is extremely rewarding. Together with love and passion, we are nurturing a successful future for our Tāmaki Makaurau.”

Jessica has a Master of Urban Planning and a Bachelor of Architecture. She’s received New Zealand Planning Institute Nancy Northcroft Planning Practice Awards for Auckland City Liveable Arterials (2009) and Growing Marlborough a district-wide strategy for sustainable growth (2011).

Frith heads up our team of placemakers at Panuku, a role she describes as the job of a lifetime.

Frith began her placemaking journey in 2011 for Waterfront Auckland with the redevelopment of the waterfront, a 20 plus year regeneration project.

Frith and her team now “sprinkle their magic” in many neighbourhoods throughout the city for Panuku

As a placemaker she understands that the people, stories and needs of an area are crucial to create successful places. Panuku has a vital role to play in making places where people feel a strong relationship with their communities and a commitment to make things better.

Frith is one the NZ representatives for the global network Placemaking X and an advocate for the UN ratified New Urban Agenda. She’s an enthusiastic supporter of the difference a healthy public realm can make in terms of creating liveable cities for all.