As Head of Investment, Marissa leads Auckland’s business attraction and international trade portfolio, working with global investors and high growth industries to strengthen the city’s economic resilience and accelerate future focused growth.

With two decades of economic development experience across the UK and New Zealand, Marissa brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to building vibrant, competitive ecosystems. Her work has consistently focused on enabling the conditions for high growth sectors to flourish, particularly within technology, creative industries, and advanced innovation communities.

Marissa has played a pivotal role in establishing and scaling several of Auckland’s and the UK’s most influential innovation hubs, including GridAKL Innovation Campus, GridMNK, Click Creative Tech Studios, Reserve, Proto Digital Catapult, Northern Design Centre, and VRTGO Labs. She also led the creation of Tech Tāmaki Makaurau, an industry driven strategy designed to strengthen Auckland’s tech sector and elevate its position as one of the world’s most diverse and future focused technology industries.

Her leadership in forging international partnerships, including the Auckland & Denver city partnership and the GridAKL/Stone & Chalk collaboration has expanded global market access for Auckland companies and deepened cross border investment and trade opportunities for high growth tech firms.

Marissa is also the founder of Auckland Startup Week, an annual celebration showcasing the people, ideas, and ventures shaping Auckland’s identity as a globally recognised city of innovation.