CEO - Leigh Auton

Leigh Auton became CEO of Manukau City Council on 3 April 2006.

Mr Auton has spent a large part of his career at council, having started as a planner and working his way through senior management. He was Director of Environmental Management prior to becoming Chief Executive and was Chief Executive Designate from September 2005 until becoming CEO.

He holds a Master of Arts (Hons) in Geography and a Master of Town Planning (Hons) degree, and is a former president of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

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Director Strategy - Grant Taylor

Grant Taylor has held director roles in finance, administration and strategic development with Manukau City Council since the early 1980s, before becoming Director of Strategic Development at Auckland City from 2001-2005.

A chartered accountant by profession, Mr Taylor's specialist areas include local government finance and for the past decade, he has focused on broad strategic direction, central and regional government relationships and governance.

The Strategy Directorate includes:

• Communications
• Events
• Strategy and policy
• Asset and infrastructure strategy
• Council enterprises
• Strategic and annual planning.

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Director Organisational Performance - Robyn McCulloch

Robyn McCulloch first joined Manukau City Council in 1999 as Quality Manager. In 2001 she became Manager of Business Performance. 

Ms McCulloch has been instrumental in standardising contractual, procurement, quality processes and business improvement across the organisation.

In April 2006 she was appointed to the role of Director, Organisational Performance.  The Directorate has four departments – Human Resources, Information Management, Customer Relationships and Best Practice.

The Organisational Performance Directorate includes:

• Customer relationships
• Human resources
• Best practice
• Information management.

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Director Environment - Ree Anderson

Ms Anderson has a long-standing association with Manukau City as the Portfolio Manager, Environment Policy and Monitoring from 1996-2000.

She first joined Manukau City Council in 1993 and during this time became passionate about urban planning; promoting the first urban design guidelines for the city which were incorporated into the Manukau District Plan.

Most recently, she was Director, Strategy and Policy at Rodney District Council.

The Environment Directorate includes:

• City design and planning
• City environment
• Resource consents
• Development compliance and enforcement
• Building authority.

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Director Community - Ian Maxwell

Mr Maxwell was previously Group Manager Implementation Planning at Auckland City Council where he has held numerous positions. From 1997-99 he was the Group Manager City Marketing and Group Manager, Strategic Development from 1995 -1997. He was also a key player in the development of The University of Auckland Tamaki Campus.

Mr Maxwell holds a Bachelor of Planning, Master of Philosophy (Economics), and Master of Business Administration, from The University of Auckland.

The Community Directorate includes:

Libraries

• Parks

Leisure

• Arts
• Housing for the elderly
• Manukau Memorial Gardens
• Community advice and advocacy.

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Director Economic - Rick Walden

Mr Walden joined Manukau City Council after three years as General Manager Transport Services for North Shore City Council where he helped to lead the innovative $300m Northern Busway Project. Before that he spent five years in national management roles with Carter Holt Harvey.

Mr Walden is a Chartered Professional Engineer (Civil and Business), and International Professional Engineer (IPE).

The Economic Directorate includes:

• Transportation
• Parking
• Property investment and development
• Economic development services.

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Director Finance - Dave Foster

Dave Foster has a wealth of experience in financial management within local government. He joined Manukau City Council from the Office of the Auditor General where he was the Sector Manager, Local Government.

Earlier in his career, Mr Foster was with Wanganui District Council as Manager of the Information and Finance Group. More recently, he held the position of Finance Manager at Palmerston North City Council.

The Finance Directorate includes:

• Financial systems and advice
• Treasury and revenue
• Cashiering
• Accounting
• Transactions
• Legal services
• Democratic services.

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