About Your Trusts

Passionate and community-focused, Leanne is a proud third-generation Westie who lives in New Lynn with her partner, Phil.

To me, The West is: The West is my spiritual and physical home. I love the diversity and down to earth nature of the people who live here as well as our magnificent Waitākere ranges and wild west coast beaches.

Originally trained as a nurse and now involved with schools and in governance, I am passionate about empowering and supporting our people, organisations and communities. They are what make our area the best it can be.

To me The West is: I love my local spaces and parks, from Te Auaunga Oakley Creek to Avondale Markets and to the beach at the Bay, but mostly I enjoy being around the people who make our community unique and home

A globally awarded advertising and marketing professional, Ben has lived in Titirangi for over 20 years.

To me the West is: An oasis of beaches, forest and nature on the edge of the best city in the world.

I am a proud father of one daughter and live with my wife in Avondale. As a business owner, I am passionate about revitalising our town centres.

To me, The West is: Beaches, barbeques and chilling out with family and friends.

I have lived and worked out west most of my life and lived in Glen Eden for the past 20 years.

I put my hand up for the Portage Licensing Trust because I wanted to understand more about how the trust model operated from inside the operations. I want to see how, and if the trust model can be improved to increase the level of support provided to our communities, and community groups for the betterment of the community.

To me, the West is: Where I was born and bred, where my children have grown up and where my grandchildren will thrive.

I am a proud dad of two children. I live in Waterview and work as a software engineer. During my leisure time, I love cycling and craft beer.

Joining the trust is a great opportunity to contribute to a community-owned business that helps so many West Aucklanders. I would like to see The Trusts continue to sell alcohol responsibly, to support the community and have venues that locals can be proud of.

To me, the West is: The best little place to live in the world!

I grew up in the west and have spent my career working with and supporting the hospitality industry. I'm a big fan of our New Zealand coffee industry and love our food scene. I’m a parent of three young children so we are always busy on the weekends with sports, ballet or out in the Waitakere Ranges.

I joined the licensing trust to help develop hospitality in the west. With eighteen years in hospitality, this is my area of expertise, and this is where I want to make a difference. Our community out west is proud of our towns and will judge the trust by how vibrant their local hospitality scene becomes.

I hope to see new energy in the way we do hospitality. Coming out of the disruption that the last few years have seen, the west is ready for more variety and excitement in what we can enjoy in our neighbourhoods. By its nature, hospitality moves fast so we have a real opportunity to deliver this in our term.

I have been an independent and experienced community advocate in the West for many years.

I joined the trust not only to continue to support our unique community asset but also to seek to enhance our restricted offer in the hospitality sector. I would like to see an enhancement of our hospitality bars and restaurants.

To me, the West is: Best!

I've lived out west in Kelston most of my life and attended the local schools. I have a business in Henderson importing automotive parts that I had originally started at home in Kelston. I also tend to buy project cars off Trade Me which I shouldn't do.

My father sat on the board about 20 years ago and I saw what the trusts gave back to the community. I felt this was something I could get involved with and hope to help continue the good work they do.

I want to help create new bars and restaurants out west for all to enjoy. Not a whole lot has changed over the past 20 years, so I want to start the movement in this area. Watch this space.

To me, the West is: A unique part of New Zealand with a lot to offer, so let’s make it awesome.

I'm an Aucklander born and bred, currently living in Glen Eden along with my husband and our dog, Scotch.

I would like to see more high-quality hospitality offerings in West Auckland and support moves toward greater competition and choice for our community. I want to see The Trusts facilitate a revival in the West Auckland hospitality sector and maximise its returns to the community.

To me, the West is: Auckland's greatest potential new and thriving hospitality hub.

Long time West Auckland volunteer and resident, committed to good community governance which benefits local people.
To me, The West is: The West is home, heart and good people, always wanting what's best for family, our beautiful environment and the future of our tamariki.

Having lived and worked in West Auckland for over 55 years, I am a very proud Westie, supporting the community not only through pharmacy but also as a Trustee of WLT for over 35 continuous years, providing so many people and organisations in our community with much needed support.

To me the West is: A community which comes together to support each other when times are good and when times are not so good.

Mark lives at Te Henga with his partner, having raised three sons and worked in local government for 30 years, he has been the Executive Officer at Community Waitākere and a Waitakere Ranges Local Board member since 2019.

To me The West is: A collection of communities that does things its way, that doesn’t wait for permission and works together for all, an environment that is outstandingly beautiful, globally unique and loved by the people of the west, an economy of innovative and caring small businesses who work in and with their communities. In the west we continue wrestling with the big issues and we are finding our own solutions... I couldn’t live anywhere else.

Brooke Loader BA/LLB (Ngapuhi) - as a local lawyer, small business owner and elected member to the Henderson-Massey Local Board, Brooke is dedicated to building thriving town centres and neighbourhoods, and ensuring that the Waitakere Licensing Trust is run responsibly with the community at the heart of everything that they do.

To me the West is: Brooke thinks that the West is the best place to bring up her family, do business, and to connect with like-minded locals that care about their community

I am a proud Westie and successful IT engineer working in the global internet industry. I have lived and participated in communities across all corners of the world.

I joined the trust to help drive competition and choice as well as to ensure The Trusts evolve to address the change in demographics, providing better local hospitality, entertainment options, and employment opportunities.

As West Auckland sees one of its biggest growth periods through a time of climate change, I want to help drive the board in addressing these issues, by providing better local options that prevent westies from having to travel to neighbouring communities for these experiences.

To me, the West is: A very diverse area with lots of potential to become a thriving part of Auckland.

A marketing and advertising professional by trade, I am passionate about sharing my skills and knowledge to help small businesses grow. I love being outdoors and experiencing everything New Zealand has to offer with my son, Jackson, my partner, Simon, and our new pup, Ranger.

I decided to run for a position as an elected member of the Waitākere Licensing Trust to bring a voice to the board, advocate for more and better hospitality options, achieve a higher level of giving back to the community and a greater level of dialogue and communication between the community and the boards that serve them.

I would like to achieve a greater level of giving back to the community, improving and growing the hospitality options for the west and ensuring there is a greater degree of two-way communication between the WATs board, elected members and the community.

To me, the West is: Black sand beaches, cool green forests and rugged coastlines. It is diverse, down to earth, and growing!

A financial professional by trade, I am a father of four kids, husband, and slave to four rescue cats and a dog who thinks no one loves him. I have more than 20 years of experience in governance and the financial industry.

With a love for serving and supporting my community, I am involved in and lead local community groups. During my leisure time, I enjoy sports, visiting beaches and walks in our paradise.

I am here to serve our community by being an advocate for them through increased giving back to the community, growing our hospitality options so we don’t have to travel out of the region, and help our local economy, hiring locals as we grow and look at the changing needs of our demographics.

I want to look at ways we can meet the growing needs of our changing demographics, ensure the locals are put first when decisions are made, and help support The Trusts’ customers through outlets and venues.

To me, the West is: A place to call home.

Senior executive and governance roles in the retail, distribution and technology sectors that have delivered business growth, transformational change and market leadership enable me to bring a broad set of skills to my directorship with WATS.

To me, The West is: I am proud to be involved with a business that returns 100% of its surplus profits to the community it serves

Experienced professional Director and chartered Accountant with a career background that included CEO roles of FMCG and agri-business organisations in NZ and internationally.

To me, The West is: Community control of business wealth creation for the exclusive benefit of the community.

Steve Bayliss is a writer, professional director and consultant. He is one of the country’s most experienced and awarded marketing professionals.

"The Trusts is an iconic West Auckland brand," says Steve. "I am excited to help shape solutions that meet customers’ needs while also giving back to the wider community."

Kirsten Andrews has more than 25 years of experience in the property industry, from property development and strategy to asset and transaction management.

"I’m excited to be joining the WATS board at a critical time," says Kirsten. "I look forward to contributing to an organisation that does such great work supporting the local community."

Originally trained as a nurse and now involved with schools and in governance, I am passionate about empowering and supporting our people, organisations and communities. They are what make our area the best it can be.

To me The West is: I love my local spaces and parks, from Te Auaunga Oakley Creek to Avondale Markets and to the beach at the Bay, but mostly I enjoy being around the people who make our community unique and home

Mark lives at Te Henga with his partner, having raised three sons and worked in local government for 30 years, he has been the Executive Officer at Community Waitākere and a Waitakere Ranges Local Board member since 2019.

To me The West is: A collection of communities that does things its way, that doesn’t wait for permission and works together for all, an environment that is outstandingly beautiful, globally unique and loved by the people of the west, an economy of innovative and caring small businesses who work in and with their communities. In the west we continue wrestling with the big issues and we are finding our own solutions... I couldn’t live anywhere else.

Long time West Auckland volunteer and resident, committed to good community governance which benefits local people.
To me, The West is: The West is home, heart and good people, always wanting what's best for family, our beautiful environment and the future of our tamariki.

I am a proud father of one daughter and live with my wife in Avondale. As a business owner, I am passionate about revitalising our town centres.

To me, The West is: Beaches, barbeques and chilling out with family and friends.

A proud Aucklander with Director and Chair experience in numerous community-facing organisations across care, health, housing, development, regeneration and kids' support.

To me, The West is: An amazing collection of people and communities sharing amazing local spaces, parks, markets, forest and beaches with a bright and growing future.