About

Heather Shotter - Executive Director

Heather has had a successful career in the corporate sector.

She has spent 12 years at SKYCITY Entertainment Group, where she held responsibility for the day to day running and growth of all New Zealand operations and for Group Marketing across Australasia.

Her career has also included tenures at Telecom New Zealand and Shell Oil New Zealand.

Heather  was previously the Executive Trustee of the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, where she  spearheaded the development of a new strategic plan to support improved revenue and new investments in rehabilitation and wellbeing for women with breast cancer.
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Mariota Smutz - Policy Manager

Mariota comes to us with nearly 10 years' public sector experience in a variety of policy roles and central government agencies. He holds degrees from the University of Auckland in Law and Health Science and draws on his analytical skills to research a number of areas of significance for the Committee and its members.

Mariota's interests include medical-legal issues in biotechnology and fertility, financial literacy education and he is also a member of the Executive Council for the Pacific Lawyers' Association.

He is passionate about Auckland and making a lasting contribution to achieving the Committee's vision – creating a city that is one of the world's most exciting and dynamic places to live and work.
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Nikki Carter - Programme Manager 'Career Ready'

Nikki has a background as a teacher, school board member and scientist with a PhD in embryology and has worked in biotechnology.

She manages the Schools and Business: Achieving for Auckland programme - formerly known as the Building Better Schools Programme.

The Programme was established in 2005 by the inaugural participants in the Committee for Auckland's Future Leaders Programme. It was set up, with a clear vision, to help reduce the educational inequality in New Zealand by developing and supporting high quality partnerships between businesses and low decile schools (decile 1-3).

The main focus of the programme is to sustainably improve the capability of the school's management and governance bodies and not monetary contributions by businesses.
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Lorraine Mentz - Future Auckland Leaders Project Manager

Lorraine Mentz is the project manager for both the Future Auckland Leaders' programme and the Springboard Trust.
Lorraine has 25 years involvement with non profit organisations in New Zealand, UK and Africa.

Our work with the SpringboardTrust's capacity partners offers innovative, high-potential non profits the practical support they need to help realise their aspirations. By accelerating growth in not for profit organisations we help them deliver effective social change and in turn we build stronger communities, a more skilled workforce, more confident and creative youth, and ultimately higher achievers with high aspirations from all groups in society.

The ongoing success of the Future Auckland Leaders Programme is a testimony to Lorraine's expertise and dedication. We are proud to have a Future Auckland Leaders Alumni totalling 66 high performing people, with another 30 Future Leaders currently completing their programme.

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Suzanne McNicol - Communications Manager

Suzanne is an experienced marketing and communications practitioner who has spent the past twenty years working in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors.

She has held strategic management roles for The Radio Network, MediaWorks and Telecom. Suzanne works closely with the Committee's Board and staff to promote its programmes and projects through public relations and direct marketing initiatives.

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Dorren Kemeys - Executive Assistant / Events Coordinator

Dorren coordinates the Committee events and does a range of background work to ensure that the office runs smoothly.

She has a background in administration management and working for not for profit organisations.

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Sarah Lang – Iwi Business and Maori Business Strategy Project Manager

Sarah Lang is a senior project manager, with over 15 years of experience in the government, not for profit and public sectors.  Sarah has assisted a wide range of organisations in the development and implementation of their strategic directions and policy frameworks.

Sarah joined the Committee for Auckland in July 2004, and during this time, she has headed the Committee’s Regional Homelessness Taskforce, the Exhibition Convention Centre workstream,, the Government Affairs Forum, the Growing Auckland:Growing NZ research stream, and she is currently managing the events and programmes of the Iwi Business Consortium (including the Maori Graduate Placement programme) and the Maori Business Strategy Network.

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