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 [email protected] to communicate with the Executive Committee.
Heart of the City Executive Committee
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.
Callum Mallet
Callum is COO for SkyCity’s New Zealand and Australian operations, with extensive experience in gaming and hospitality. He has held senior leadership roles across hotels, conventions, and entertainment, and studied governance and hospitality management at Cornell University, London Business School, the University of Nevada and the Directors Institute of NZ. Callum also serves on the Tourism Industry Association NZ board. With the NZICC opening in early 2026, Callum is determined to help the city centre reap the benefits.
Malcolm McCracken
Malcolm is an experienced private sector consultant working on significant projects that support the growth of thriving city economies around NZ. Malcolm also experiences, daily, the role that CBD businesses play in creating a vibrant, welcoming environment, and he is keen to support HOTC's ongoing efforts in any way he can.
Les Morgan
Les is the Chief Operating Officer of Hind Management.
The group’s national hotel portfolio includes a flagship property within the Heart of the City business district. Les has held numerous governance roles and has frequently been recognised with national awards for leadership in business, tourism and hotels.
Dr. John Peebles
Dr. Peebles is a company director and governance advisor. John has served on public, private and not-for-profit boards, is the current Chair of a retirement village group, a director of Recycling Oceania, Chair of a waste business and a manufacturing exporter. John recognises that Heart of the City has a critical role to play in the period ahead, ensuring the city centre is regenerated for business and investment growth.
Chand Sahrawat
Previous board member of HOTC and Ponsonby Business Association. Director and operator of Cassia restaurant The French Cafe and Kol in Auckland. Chand has 15 years plus in hospitality currently working as operations and marketing manager of Vittoria Food and Beverage for NZ.
Chamanthie Sinhalage-Fonseka
Chamanthie Sinhalage-Fonseka is the Principal at Fonseka PR and an experienced public relations consultant. She has advised major international companies in PR matters and handled some of the most complex and high-profile PR issues faced by the New Zealand private and public sectors in recent years. Having lived in central cities for most of her life, she is an advocate for the critical role that a thriving central city plays in attracting talent, innovation and creativity necessary for the economic health and liveability for a city.
Andrew Stringer
Andrew is a lifelong Aucklander and has worked in the Auckland city centre for over 25 years. Andrew leads CBRE in New Zealand, employing over 350 people, of whom around 100 are based in Albert Street. CBRE is the world's largest commercial real estate services business. Andrew was an Executive Committee member from 2013 to 2017.
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.
Joe Tattersfield
Joe has been involved in Queen St since his early 20s working late night Fridays at Walker And Hall on the corner of Queen and Fort St. At one stage, Walker And Hall had five stores on Queen St. As managing director of Walker And Hall, he is committed to making Queen St and the heart of the city the best possible place it can be for all stakeholders. His primary focus is to provide an environment where people feel welcomed, with exciting, enriching activities.
