The Team
Kevin Lidgard
Head of Marinas
Previously the Marina Manager of Westhaven. Kevin now looks after all Panuku operated marinas including Westhaven, Auckland Central and Silo. Kevin has a long history in the marine industry including a two-year stint as General Manager of Polaris Marine in Sydney. His wealth of knowledge will help drive major refurbishment works and facility improvements.
Gareth Wilson
Marinas Manager
Gareth Wilson comes from an Auckland boat building family and is the son of Bob Wilson of Brin Wilson Boats. He kick-started his superyacht career as a crew member on a Viaduct Marina-based vessel in 1999. After living in Spain for several years, Gareth returned to New Zealand to work in the Bayswater Marina’s Operations Team where he worked his way up to Marina Manager. Gareth is one of New Zealand’s few Certified Marina Managers and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
David Marginet
Marinas Quality Manager
David started his career in the marine industry as captain of one of the most sought-after superyachts in Barcelona. He joined Westhaven Marina in 2017, progressing through different roles he is now the Quality Manager Marinas, ensuring a smooth-running marina and ensuring that all marina users get the best experience possible.
Mike Keown
Marinas Asset Manager
Mike Keown comes to us from Gulf Harbour Marina, which he managed for the past four years. Originally from Liverpool in the United Kingdom, Mike found his love of sailing in the Scottish islands. He has worked in various countries in the maritime industry for over 20 years, including as a sailing instructor in Greece, a superyacht skipper in Miami, and has experience in most marina roles from dockmaster through to marina manager. His new role involves making sure that Westhaven, Silo and Auckland Central marinas are well maintained and developed to an excellent standard for boaties and visitors to enjoy.
Matt Young
Marinas Systems Manager
Matt has a long and varied history within the Information Technology (I.T) sector, primarily in software development. Matt came to Westhaven, towards the end of 2019, to help with the implementation of Pacsoft's Marina Mangement System (MMS/NG), staying on afterwards to provide ongoing user support and help look after systems. To ensure Matt's spare time is kept to a minimum, he has two young teenagers and an old house in constant need of renovation.
Ryan White
Senior Commercial and Marina Ops Coordinator
Ryan has been with the marinas for 5 years after spending an extended period overseas working and travelling. He started out at Westhaven before moving through to his current role in Auckland Central Marina. Ryan’s professional experience includes super yacht crewing in Alaska, charter cruises on the Great Barrier Reef and on car ferries servicing the Isle of Wight.
Nik Sobocanec
Senior Commercial and Marina Operations Coordinator
Nik's strong passion for the water and boats brought him to Westhaven Marina in 2018. He enjoys the vibrant environment of Auckland Waterfront and loves to share his experiences with customers from all over of the world. With desire to expand his career further he joined Auckland Central/Silo Marina team in March 2023. Previously, Nik worked in various roles in the Croatian Police force for 8 years, and this is where his formal education comes from. As a keen sailor you can see him almost every weekend out with his family in the Hauraki Gulf.
Harriet Dennison
Auckland Central & Silo Marina Office Coordinator
Originating from the United Kingdom, Harriet moved to New Zealand in January 2020 after working in various administrative roles in both London and Sydney. Since moving to Auckland, Harriet has discovered a keen interest in boating and can often be seen out on the water trying out new fishing spots.
Kiara Hamilton
Commercial and Marina Operations Coordinator
Kiara first joined the marinas in June 2021, previously working at Westhaven now as part of the Auckland Central Marina and Silo team. She has recently changed roles after successfully completing her Marina Cadetship Programme. She has a huge passion for sailing and spent many years in young mariners.
Georgia Dresner
Marina Operations Cadet
We are delighted to welcome Georgia Dresner as our new marina cadet. Originally from Tauranga, Georgia moved to Auckland two years ago and has been immersed in maritime life ever since. Growing up sailing with her family and racing with a crew for fun, she developed a deep love for the water. Over the past year, Georgia gained valuable experience working onboard Fullers360 ferries. She is excited to expand her knowledge through this cadetship and looks forward to exploring the many opportunities the marina industry has to offer.