Our People
Creating spaces for Aucklanders needs a team of dedicated and passionate people, we have a team that encompasses these traits and share a vision for Auckland’s future.
The team at Eke Panuku cover a broad range of backgrounds and skill sets. Our team covers property managers through to urban designers and a bit of everything in between. One thing that unites us is our desire to make Auckland a better place to live and our vision to shape spaces for Aucklanders to love.
Paul Majurey
Chair Read bio
Paul Majurey
Paul Majurey is a senior partner at environmental and public law firm Atkins Holm Majurey, having practised law for over 35 years. He chairs several statutory entities and companies and is a director on many company boards, including chair of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority and chair of Te Pūia Tāpapa (the Māori Investment fund).
He also has extensive experience chairing large iwi collectives in the Hauraki and Auckland regions.
Paul is of Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Tamaterā (Marutūāhu) descent.
David Kennedy
EKE PANUKU DIRECTOR Read bio
David Kennedy
David is an experienced director and chief executive. He has held CEO roles with Ngai Tahu Property, The Eden Park Trust and St Lukes Group/Westfield NZ. David has also held senior roles with SKYCITY Entertainment Group.
He now concentrates on board directorships and some advisory consulting work. David's has significant experience in the property and building sectors, and has also worked in the entertainment sector.
David is on the board of Naylor Love and The New Zealand Housing Foundation.
John Coop
John Coop is the Managing Director of Warren and Mahoney.
John is considered a pivotal player in developing thought leadership in the wider New Zealand architecture industry.
With close to 20 years’ experience working across the built environment, John is a member of the Auckland Civil Defense Built Environment Recovery Task Group and the Auckland branch of the Property Council, a past president of Auckland Architecture Association, a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA), and has been a significant contributor to the NZIA Graduate Development Programme.
Susan Huria
Eke Panuku Director Read bio
Susan Huria
Susan (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Tuahuriri) is the Chair of Leaderbrand and Gisborne Covered Production. She is a director of Ospri, the Royal College of General Practitioners and Connexis. Susan is also a Trustee of Construction Health and Safety New Zealand and a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
She is the Independent Chair of the New Zealand Rugby League Zone board appointment panel, a member of the Rhodes scholarship panel and the National Steering Group for Community Governance.
Susan works as an advisor to a number of entities in the Māori economy on governance, strategy development, board evaluation and performance management.
Kenina Court
Eke Panuku Director Read bio
Kenina Court
Kenina is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. She has had a 25 year career in both the commercial arena working through to CFO level and in public practice where she has built two (and sold one) accounting firms. She has extensive experience in property investment through both residential and commercial property and uses this knowledge to help her clients today build long term sustainable wealth.
Kenina is on the boards of the Oceania Career Academy, which works with Pasifika youth to provide them with learning pathways into careers within the construction industry and the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, the dispute resolution scheme for New Zealand’s banking industry.
Kenina is a New Zealand born Samoan.
Jennifer Kerr
Eke Panuku Director Read bio
Jennifer Kerr
Jennifer Kerr has been a full time non-executive Director for the past four years. She is a board member of New Zealand Rugby and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise as well as Waipa Networks. She is also the deputy Chair of Callaghan Innovation.
Jennifer has previously held senior executive roles in New Zealand, North America and Europe in Human Resources and Health & Safety, as well as Stakeholder management roles. She is a member of Global Women and holds degrees in Arts and Social Sciences form the University of Waikato.
Jennifer is of Ngati Mutunga and Ngati Tama descent.
Steve Evans
Eke Panuku Director Read bio
Steve Evans
Steve has led Fletcher Building’s Residential & Development division for the last six years. This includes Fletcher Living, delivering new housing communities such as the award-winning Waiata Shores and Kowhai Ridge developments. Delivering up to 1000 homes a year across numerous sites across Auckland, including terrace housing and apartment buildings, Steve is a leader in urban renewal.
Steve also has extensive experience with residential housing and mixed use developments across multiple geographies including Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the UK. He was one of the founding directors of First Base, a London residential developer focused exclusively on providing mixed-tenure housing solutions in inner and greater London, including developments that won UK planning and architectural awards. He is also a founding board member of the Urban Development Institute of NZ (UDINZ), a member of MBIE’s Building Advisory Panel, and a steering group member of the Construction Industry Accord. He has five children and lives in East Auckland.
Alaina Cockerton
Head of People & Culture Read bio
Alaina Cockerton
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 Bendall
General Manager Design and Place Read bio
Gyles Bendall
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 Cutler
General Manager Community & Stakeholder Relations Read bio
Angelika Cutler
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.
Carl Gosbee
Chief Financial Officer Read bio
Carl Gosbee
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 Rankin
Chief Executive Read bio
David Rankin
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.
Brenna Waghorn
General Manager Strategy and Planning Read bio
Brenna Waghorn
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 Webb
General Manager Assets and Delivery Read bio
Marian Webb
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
Chief Operating Officer Read bio
Ian Wheeler
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
General Manager Development Read bio
Allan Young
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 Brothers
Head of Channels & Content Read bio
Jo Brothers
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 Cumberpatch
Priority Location Director - North Read bio
Kate Cumberpatch
Kate is responsible for leading the urban regeneration of Takapuna, Northcote and Hobsonville Point in Auckland’s north for Eke 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 Davison
Priority Location Director - South Read bio
Richard Davison
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.
Daniel Haines
Head of Māori Outcomes Read bio
Daniel Haines
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 Laing
Head of Strategic Planning and Projects Read bio
Jessica Laing
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 Walker
Head of Placemaking Read bio
Frith Walker
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.