Meet the Heart of the City Executive Committee
The Heart of the City Executive Committee consists of up to 11 voting members who either work or own a business located within our boundaries, along with a representative from the Waitemata Local Board. The role of the Executive Committee is to govern the strategic direction of Heart of the City as outlined in our Constitution. The Executive Committee is elected at our Annual General Meeting (AGM), which members are invited to attend.
The Executive Committee meets every six weeks. Contact info@hotcity.co.nz to communicate with the Executive Commmittee.
Heart of the City Executive Committee
Martin Snedden, CNZM
Independent Chair
Martin is one of New Zealand’s most respected sporting administrators, with significant experience in the successful leadership of a number of high-profile sporting and business entities. Between 2001 and 2007, Martin was the CEO of New Zealand Cricket. He was then CEO of Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd between 2007 and 2011, the company responsible for staging the extremely successful Rugby World Cup 2011. He is currently a director of the International Cricket Council and Chair of the Board of New Zealand Cricket. Recent CEO roles include the Tourism Industry Association Aotearoa and DUCO Events. In 2012, Martin was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition of his services to sporting administration.
Independent Chair
Martin is one of New Zealand’s most respected sporting administrators, with significant experience in the successful leadership of a number of high-profile sporting and business entities. Between 2001 and 2007, Martin was the CEO of New Zealand Cricket. He was then CEO of Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd between 2007 and 2011, the company responsible for staging the extremely successful Rugby World Cup 2011. He is currently a director of the International Cricket Council and Chair of the Board of New Zealand Cricket. Recent CEO roles include the Tourism Industry Association Aotearoa and DUCO Events. In 2012, Martin was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition of his services to sporting administration.
Edward Caughey
Edward is the Managing Director of Smith and Caughey's. He has extensive, international experience in luxury retail and sales and is a member of the Institute of Directors (NZ). Edward's governance experience covers property, investment and retail.
Edward is the Managing Director of Smith and Caughey's. He has extensive, international experience in luxury retail and sales and is a member of the Institute of Directors (NZ). Edward's governance experience covers property, investment and retail.
Matthew Cockram
Matthew is a Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Cooper and Company NZ. In this role, which he has held since 2005, he has day to day responsibility for Britomart and The Landing in the areas of leadership, legal design, structuring, compliance, strategy and reporting. Matthew is a graduate of the Law School of the University of Canterbury. He practised as a lawyer at Bell Gully in Auckland from 1984 to 2005, including 13 years as a partner and four years as Chairman of Partners. Matthew’s legal expertise is in commercial property, construction and large scale infrastructure projects. During his time at Bell Gully he was involved in a number of major private and public projects in the Auckland region. In his time to date with Britomart the area has been developed into a successful mixed-use precinct, comprising commercial office, retail, food and beverage with its most recent new development being the highly awarded, The Hotel Britomart. Matthew is a board member of the New Zealand Initiative and is a director and chair of Waterfront Theatre Limited.
Matthew is a Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Cooper and Company NZ. In this role, which he has held since 2005, he has day to day responsibility for Britomart and The Landing in the areas of leadership, legal design, structuring, compliance, strategy and reporting. Matthew is a graduate of the Law School of the University of Canterbury. He practised as a lawyer at Bell Gully in Auckland from 1984 to 2005, including 13 years as a partner and four years as Chairman of Partners. Matthew’s legal expertise is in commercial property, construction and large scale infrastructure projects. During his time at Bell Gully he was involved in a number of major private and public projects in the Auckland region. In his time to date with Britomart the area has been developed into a successful mixed-use precinct, comprising commercial office, retail, food and beverage with its most recent new development being the highly awarded, The Hotel Britomart. Matthew is a board member of the New Zealand Initiative and is a director and chair of Waterfront Theatre Limited.
Nirupa George
Nirupa is the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at SkyCity Entertainment Group. Nirupa joined SkyCity from the Office of the Mayor of Auckland, where she was Chief of Staff. Prior to this, she worked in Parliament as a Political and Media Advisor. Early in her career, she was a Senior Solicitor specialising in refugee and humanitarian law.
Nirupa is the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at SkyCity Entertainment Group. Nirupa joined SkyCity from the Office of the Mayor of Auckland, where she was Chief of Staff. Prior to this, she worked in Parliament as a Political and Media Advisor. Early in her career, she was a Senior Solicitor specialising in refugee and humanitarian law.
Richard Hanson
Richard is the Managing Director of Aotea Gifts, a family-owned tourism retail business that has been in Lower Albert St since 1980. There are now many Aotea Gift stores across New Zealand. He also has a strong background in the development of tourism infrastructure.
Richard is the Managing Director of Aotea Gifts, a family-owned tourism retail business that has been in Lower Albert St since 1980. There are now many Aotea Gift stores across New Zealand. He also has a strong background in the development of tourism infrastructure.
Chamanthie Sinhalage-Fonseka
Chamanthie is a senior consultant at Baldwin Boyle Group (BBG), one of New Zealand’s oldest strategic public relations firms, based in Wynyard Quarter. Her current work at BBG means she works closely with the leaders, executives and boards of leading Kiwi and international businesses to advise on strategic direction, reputation and influence and has a hands-on appreciation for balancing commercial realities and social responsibility. She has many years of experience navigating city politics. Having recently returned to Auckland she has been impressed with how the central city has transformed into a brilliant place to live and hopes to help drive more of this as the city recovers from the pandemic.
Paddy Stafford-Bush
With a background in Local Government, heritage and conservation, as well as sporting and cultural promotion, Paddy brings to the Heart of the City a passion for collective achievement. She would like downtown Auckland to build on its brand as a mecca for business, entertainment and a "must go" place to work and play that is both exciting and magnetic.
Brett Sweetman
Brett has been the General Manager of the Park Hyatt, Auckland since it opened in 2020. Prior to this role, he worked for various Hyatt Hotels for 19 years, including Dubai and Melbourne. He was also General Manager for the latter, prior to his move to Auckland. He would like to assist in making the city centre a destination for locals and tourists.
Greg Moyle -Waitematā Local Board Representative
Greg is the founding Director of Financial Planning New Zealand. He’s also the Waitematā Local Board Representative and has been involved in charity and community work since 1987.
