Sumeet Bhanot

Sumeet Bhanot is Kaiurungi Ahumoni (Director of Finance) at Whakaata Māori. A Chartered Accountant with an MBA from the University of Strathclyde, he brings over 15 years of senior finance experience across sectors including aviation, healthcare, manufacturing, and the cultural sector.
Sumeet is a finance leader known for delivering financial sustainability, operational improvements, and system transformation. Prior to joining Whakaata Māori, he served for nearly a decade as Head of Finance at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland Museum, where he led financial strategy, automated core systems, and supported the organisation’s long-term growth. His earlier career includes key roles at Air New Zealand and Qantas.
At Whakaata Māori, Sumeet oversees financial operations that underpin the organisation’s ability to create, share, and sustain kaupapa Māori content. He is passionate about aligning strong financial governance with cultural impact and organisational resilience.