Mark is a proud west Aucklander living in Te Henga/Bethells Beach with his partner Janet Cole.
Raised in Laingholm, he acted at Titirangi Theatre and tramped in the Waitakere Ranges. Whilst building their house and raising 3 boys, Mark was also the Chief at Bethell’s Valley brigade.
He worked in local government for over 40 years in Auckland City, Footscray Council in Melbourne, Waitakere City Council & Auckland Council. He held a variety of leadership roles in community development, arts, leisure, strategy, wellbeing collaboration, planning and local board advice. He was CE at Community Waitakere from 2018 to 2023.
In 2019 he was elected to Waitakere Ranges Local Board and Waitakere Licensing Trust and was appointed a Director of The Trusts in 2022.
Mark has extensive experience in community governance and as a contract facilitator. He is currently on the Board of Te Uru Contemporary Gallery and Pest Free Waitakere Ranges Alliance among others. He is passionate about the west, local decision-making and community activity.