Current Trustees
Hamish Wilton
Chair
With 15 years’ experience as a commercial property, development and construction lawyer, Hamish brings some great strategic, logical and practical approach to the project
John MacDonald
Past Chair & Trustee
John has been instrumental in the creation of the Trust. A well-known long-time Queenstown local and business entrepreneur, John has been a strong community advocate for various causes over the years. And as a three-time cancer survivor who lives with Parkinsons disease and member of the LBGTI+ community , he also knows from personal experience, the importance of effective equitable health services and ensuring vulnerable voices are heard.
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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.
Raymond Key
Trustee
Otago born-and-bred, Raymond Key lives in Queenstown with his wife, Janet, and three children. He brings financial and governance expertise to the trust after 20 years of experience in international financial markets at various global investment banks in senior positions. He also has a good insight into the community with his various other community roles which include: Chair, Wakatipu Community Foundation; Chair Community Foundations of NZ; board member, Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust; Treasurer, Queenstown Alpine Ski Team; Member, Restorative Regeneration Advisory Group (RRAG) to QLDC.
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.
Heath Copland
Trustee
Recently as a 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.
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 24 years, she has a good understanding of the diversity that makes up this unique Whakatipu community.
Acknowledging Past Trustees
Darren Rewi
Past Trustee
Bill Moran
Past Trustee