Current Trustees
Hamish Wilton
Chair
With 20 years experience in commercial property, development and construction law and a proven ability to deliver quality outcomes in community housing, Hamish Wilton is well placed to lead Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust through the building establishment phase. As current CEO of Mackersy Property, Hamish is responsible for the overall strategic management of over $2 billion in assets and leads the organisation in its work with tenants, funders, investors and stakeholders to ensure mutually beneficial results.
Strongly focussed on driving good corporate citizenship through best practice ESG policy and practices, Hamish employs a strategic, logical and holistic approach to community partnerships and leadership.
Growing up in Otago, Hamish holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Otago University and has affinity for the outdoors where he tries to spend a lot of his time with his wife and three sons climbing, skiing, mountain biking and on the water.
Ron Mackersy
Trustee
Ron has forged a successful career in the legal and business arenas spanning several decades and remains a trusted legal and business advisor across many industries. He founded Mitchell Mackersy (which subsequently became Mackersy Legal) in the early 1980’s and then a commercial property syndication and management business in the mid-1990’s (which continues today under the Mackersy Property name).
A long-term Rotarian and also a current trustee of Wakatipu Community Foundation.
Heath Copland
Trustee
Ex QLDC councillor, his professional career spans more than 16 years in business advisory, audit and compliance. Heath worked in the British Virgin Islands and South Africa specialising in offshore tax structuring.
He currently works with CFOs and FCs in mentoring, advisory and consulting capacities, and always with a focus on growth strategies. He has a particular interest in the region and the people and has vast experience in all areas of corporate finance, and transactional services.
Alexa Forbes
Trustee
Alexa Forbes lives in Queenstown and is elected to the Otago Regional Council on the Dunstan Ward.
Alexa has served two terms on the Queenstown Lakes District Council. She works as a facilitator in Leadership for Change programmes at Otago Polytechnic’s Capable NZ.
Her decision making is based in environmental and community values and grounded in a deep knowledge of change and systems thinking.
Jennifer Belmont
Trustee
For the past 25 years, Jennifer has been involved in many nonprofits and has established several including a California local school foundation, tennis association and a Utah community foundation. She is currently the CEO of the Wakatipu Community Foundation and founding trustee for Youth Philanthropy New Zealand and Generation Give.
Jennifer’s passion is helping nonprofits thrive and grow and playing a little tennis along the way.
Lisa Guy
Trustee
Lisa Guy is a councillor for the Arrowtown and Kawarau ward. An experienced Human resource professional with a deep understanding of the unique needs of the Whakatipu region. She has helped in fund raising for mental health initatives, colloborating with other industry thought leaders on ways to increase wellbeing, particularily in the workplace with a strong focus on finding solutions in light of the New Zealands tragic suicide rate and levels of unidentified and unaddressed mental health challenges.
Hannah MacDonald
Trustee
With a batchelor in Commerce and a law degree currently on hold – Hannah brings an exciting skill sets to the Trust being creator, host, producer and everything else inbetween of ‘the love out of lemons’ podcast. A podcast about raising awareness on the lemons life throws our way, and how to create love out of them. This includes everything from mental health, disabilities, relationships, illness’s climate change, political issues, sex, drugs and everything else in between.
Having stepped in where he father left off she is equally as passionate about the project and has a good understanding of the Queenstown community having grown up here.
Support and Staff
Sharon Salmons
Project Administrator
The trust employs Sharon as the project administrator and she is the contact point for the Trust when working with the many stakeholders.
Like many in the area, Sharon came for a Queenstown ski season and then never left. Arriving in 1999, having travelled extensively, she started working in the tourism industry and has made the Whakatipu her home.
Having been in Queenstown for over 25 years, she has a good understanding of the diversity that makes up this unique Whakatipu community.
