Tēnā koutou PANNZ 2025,
Ka pai - so bits about me.
Had dogs all my adult life and horses a few times; prefer doing anything outdoors than inside and barefoot at home always. Lived in 5 countries - worked on every continent. I worked in the Airports Sector for almost 13 years - in senior exec level of operational and strategic development. Joined the charity space almost 9 years ago.
Managed the Spirit of Adventure Trust (tall 50 mt sailing ship / youth development) as GM for almost 5 yrs in Tamaki - moved to Whakātu Nelson (hubby a Kiwi born here); The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakātu for 3 yrs and now GM at NFT (Nelson Festivals Trust).
This is my 1st PANNZ and my buddy is the fabulous Janelle Bish, who joined us earlier this year as Artistic Director for Nelson Arts Festival!
Looking forward to meeting lots of people and talking about your views on long term and life supporting sustainability of festivals - our funding landscape (urg) and resourcing.
Just small topics for the day!
Best wishes to all
Organisation/Company
Name: Nelson Festivals Trust
My Role: General Manager
Operating the 11-day Nelson Arts Festival is not all we do - we are branching out, slowly and purposefully with new activations and collaborations with local artists and our regional arts community. A refreshed strategy that asks us...what else could we be?
Funded and resourced new events being key.
Rohe
English by birth - lived in 5 or 6 cities in the UK - then lived in 4 countries and spent a long time in many others - so nomadic by nature as was my husband, a Kiwi. Then we needed to settle so eventually Whakātu Nelson became the place.
How I got where I am today
For the last 8 years I’ve worked in the profit-for-purpose arena in GM roles and I prioritise the challenges – funding, balancing strategic goals around small expert teams and generating new audiences. I focus on ensuring organisational sustainability, driving profitable growth & continuous improvement, leading with a pragmatic & solution driven perspective and using my commercial nous from 30+ years’ experience to provide a balanced perspective of generation aligned to risk management. I hope to always deliver integrity, vigilance, common sense and care for the people I work with.
For the prior 20+ years I worked in larger global commercial service and infrastructure organisations and specialised for almost 13 years in senior management in the airports sector. As a general manager I have broad business experience; been responsible for large, complex organisations; and have experience in dynamic & highly competitive work environments and global markets.
With a professional background in Project Management and Strategic Development I have extensive negotiation experience and have led and been part of several strategic reviews to focus an organisations’ goals and outcomes.
Whānau
Husband!
What grounds me?
Outdoors and animals. Only have 2 dogs these days but had a menagerie at times in the past! And talking to my best friend in the UK - still best friends, after 27 yrs of not living there.
