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
2 times 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 has been with the project since inception.
Alexa has served two terms on the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Otago Regional Council on the Dunstan Ward. Until this year, she worked 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 45 South Organisation https://www.45south.org/ (previously 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.
Sharon Salmons
Project Administrator
The trust employed Sharon as the project administrator in 2020 but after John stepped down in 2024 she moved to be a trustee.
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.
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.
Lisa Guy
Trustee
Lisa Guy is a former Arrowtown–Kawarau QLDC councillor with practical governance experience across infrastructure, finance, risk, and community engagement.
Her professional background spans Executive Leadership, HR, organisational development and large-scale operational establishment, including roles on establishment teams for greenfield site development, ramp-ups and openings of hotels, supermarkets, and large scale production facilities.
Lisa brings a people-centred, systems-focused approach to governance, with strengths in governance, team leadership, policy development, community and stakeholder engagement, organisational setup and culture.
In 2026 she will also facilitate REAP community programmes, further deepening her connection to local whānau, newcomers and frontline community needs.
Lisa has supported mental health fundraising initiatives and collaborated with industry leaders on workplace wellbeing solutions in response to the region’s mental health pressures. She brings a mix of straight-talking pragmatism and grounded community insight with a knack for cutting through noise, organising what matters, and helping people navigate change with clarity and care.
Her leadership is steady, human, and anchored in what will genuinely work for the Whakatipu. Bringing clarity, integrity and steady leadership in complex environments, she s committed to supporting strong governance foundations and helping guide the Wakatipu Community Hub through its next phase of development.
Jo Brand
Trustee
Ko Takitimu tōku Maunga
Ko Mata Ura tōku Awa
Ko Waitaha, Kati Mamoe, Kāi Tahu, Te Awara ngā iwi
Ko Rowena Skerrett rāua David Brand ōku matua
Ko Kaitoko Mātauranga o Hokonui
Ko Jo Brand tōku ingoa
Jo has been mandated to represent the seven papatipu rūnanga that have a shared interest in the Queenstown Lakes District (Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Hokonui Rūnaka, Te Rūnanga o Ōraka-Aparima, Te Rūnanga o Awarua, Waihopai Rūnaka ). Jo is the Kaitoko Mātauranga o Hokonui overseeing Education & Community Development portfolios. Jo has a background in operations management (FMCG) and has studied Psychology & Communications. Locally Jo has sat on the executive oversight group for Te Hau Toka and is the Hokonui Director on the Te Tapu o Tāne board.
Support and Staff
Sarah Hannan
General Manager
Sarah Hannan is the new General Manager of the Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust, bringing over two decades of executive leadership experience across community, economic development, and commercial sectors. She has a proven track record of establishing organisations, leading complex capital projects, and mobilising stakeholders to deliver high-impact regional initiatives.
Sarah most recently led the successful development of the $40 million Hawthorndale Care Village in Southland, a world-leading aged care and dementia facility, overseeing the project from concept through to fundraising, construction, and opening in 2025. She also established and served as Chief Executive of the Southland Foundation, building a sustainable platform for long-term philanthropic investment and rapidly growing its endowment.
Her earlier leadership includes directing the Southland Regional Development Strategy, working collaboratively with leaders across business, iwi, and community to deliver a coordinated vision for regional growth, and serving as Chief Executive of the Southland Chamber of Commerce, where she led a successful organisational turnaround and strengthened the regional business ecosystem.
Having recently relocated to Queenstown, Sarah is excited by the opportunity to contribute to the region’s future. The Whakatipu Community Hub is critical social infrastructure, bringing services together in a more accessible and efficient way, improving sustainability in the face of funding pressures, helping strengthen the social fabric of a fast-growing community.
Known for her strategic clarity and ability to work collaboratively to turn ambitious ideas into reality, Sarah is focused on delivering a community asset that will create lasting social impact.
