People
The Academy has a large and enthusiastic membership and is run by an elected President and Council, paid staff and a dedicated team of volunteers. These are our people...
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Patron |
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His Excellency The Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand, Governor General of |
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President |
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Jenny Shearer Joined Council in 2004, President since 2007 I have been President of Wellington Potters Association, delegate for NZ Potters, Community Arts Council and NZ Craft Council. My training in Ceramics and Art came from a one year course at the Gloucestershire School of Art in the U.K. Otherwise I am mainly self taught in the grand tradition of early New Zealand potters. I have exhibited widely over the years, mainly porcelainous domesticware. My work is held in the permanent collections of Auckland, Christchurch, Napier and Southland Art Galleries. Also the Dowse Art Museum and Government House Wellington. |
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Ian Hamlin Joined Council in 2001, Vice President since 2008 I began painting straight from leaving School on the West Coast in 1977 so I’ve now been a fulltime artist for over 30 years. I first exhibited at the Academy in 1981 before moving to Wellington in 1983 and I’ve now held over 40 solo exhibitions including five at the Academy. I was elected an artist member in 1998. My work is usually based on an environmental theme and is held in collections worldwide. I live on Wellington’s wild South Coast, and in the Marlborough Sounds I’m revegetating a bush block and growing olive oil and award winning lavender oil. I see the Academy as a vital link in the arts chain being an important venue for emerging artists to gain exposure alongside more senior practitioners. The Academy has the freedom and flexibility to encourage artists ‘to do their own thing’ and my vision is to encourage this diversity and maintain the strong tradition of the Academy being run by artists for artists.
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| Councillors | |
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Wendy Masters
joined council in 2004
"I'm on the council to support my fellow artists. The NZFA provides a unique opportunity for Artists throughout NZ to exhibit in a large, beautiful and hard won gallery. It's a satisfying experience to view a wide range of art - each exhibition evolves its own character, enhanced by optional themes and guest artists. As a school leaver I trained in graphic design, painting, and sculpture and have worked at these all my life whilst raising a family. Watercolour is my delight and challenge - I like to keep on the edge of control".
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Colin Slade
joined council 2009 After completing an apprenticeship in chair-making in England in the 1960’s I eventually found my way to New Zealand and began designing and making on my own account. I helped found the Guild of Woodworkers in 1978 and later joined the executive of the Crafts Council of NZ, of which I was president from 1985-1987. After 30-odd years at the bench, for health reasons I had to give up furniture making and now work as an advocate for the improvement of mental health services. Since the early 1980s, I have also been a freelance journalist, writing mainly on the arts and more recently for publications in the mental health sector. It has been a pleasure to reconnect with artists and art lovers through membership of the Academy. I know from experience how tough it can be to survive as a working artist and I look forward to contributing to the academy’s work in helping support a thriving visual arts community.
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Di Conway joined council 2003 I’m a fulltime working artist, and have been a member of the NZAFA since the late 80`s. I have the privilege of being an elected artist. It’s an amazing feeling receiving the acceptance slip, something that hasn’t faded over the years. My first work was accepted for the exhibition ‘ACADEMY WOMEN. A CENTURY OF INSPIRATION’ in 1993. I have been exhibiting, nurtured and encouraged ever since by the Academy and its members. The members opening nights, meeting other artists and like minded people, celebrating NZ art are just some of the highlights of being involved with the Academy. |
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Carole Hartney joined council in 2003 I’ve been a public relations professional for over 20 years, with a previous career in the media. Spanning both careers I have worked with a wide spectrum of multi-national and New Zealand organisations and companies. Denis and Verna Adam of The Adam Foundation have been clients for over 18 years and this association has added to my own personal interest in the arts. I have held a variety of media roles and have been a current affairs and consumer journalist, news editor and producer. I spent 16 years in broadcasting and the media with the BBC, Sydney Morning Herald and Television New Zealand. I am a former chair of Footnote Dance Company and have been a NZAFA council member for 6 years.
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Ray Smith joined council in 2002 I started a company that grew to be a National Flooring Distribution Group with worldwide affiliations. Alongside my business interests I have always had a passion for all sports and am a director and life member of the NZ Marist Rugby Fedreration. I believe the involving of youth early on helps their growth in personal and social skills and creates a commitment to work as a team and in a structure. I am enjoying my involvement with the Academy where there is a need to strive for best governance practice and terms of reference for members in this changing world.
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Donna Dentice B.A. Dip Tch. joined Council in 2008 I come to the Academy with skills built up from a successful career in leadership in the not for profit sector. I am currently the Chief Executive of Young Enterprise Trust, a charitable trust that delivers enterprise and financial education into schools. More than 90% of that Trust’s funding is sourced from the corporate sector and philanthropic trusts, and my work has been developing communities of interest that work together with positive results. I was a school principal for 13 years; three years at NgaTawaSchool, a secondary boarding school in Marton, and ten years as principal of Chilton SaintJamesSchool, an independent school in Lower Hutt. During my time at Chilton, I was in charge of two preschools, a primary school, a secondary school, an international school and a performing arts school, building it to become the largest independent school outside Auckland. I believe that the creative arts are an essential contributor to the human condition, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to use the things I have learnt in running ‘not for profits’ to assist the Academy.
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Alfred Memelink joined Council in 2002 Actually a marine engineer by profession but 9 years ago I made a lifestyle change and came ashore to mainly follow my passion for art. I predominantly paint in watercolours and enjoy painting most, my favorite port of call and home port, Wellington. I’ve served on the Academy Council since 2002 and am the president of the growing group, Watercolour New Zealand. As the sea is so strong in my blood, I find it impossible to leave the sea completely so I still manage to slip off for the occasional adventure at sea or can sometimes be seen darting around the harbour on the little red tugs.
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Chris Hall joined Council in 2006 I grew up in Nelson and was educated at Nelson Boys College and graduated from Canterbury University with a Bachelor of Commence degree. I am now a resident of Seatoun and married with 3 sons. I worked for the ANZ Bank for 35 years serving in London, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Wellington. I retired as a senior manager of the Bank. More recently I have been doing accounting work for a small Wellington company and have done two stints as manager of a property in Shropshire England. I have a long standing interest in art but did not take up painting until retiring from the Bank. Initially my main interest was watercolour but over the last couple of years I have taken up acrylic, oil and pastel painting. My main involvement with the Academy is in supporting the administrative activities. I have been a member of the Academy since 2003 and on several occasions have had paintings accepted for exhibition at the Academy.
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James Harcourt joined Council in 2009 I was born and educated in Wellington and graduated from Whitireia Polytechnic in 1995 with a Diploma of Fine Art. I have exhibited my own work extensively and have also been curating exhibitions over this period. I am looking forward to rejoining the council for a second time. I anticipate enjoying helping the Academy continue to provide a quality platform for a wide range of artists, representing the membership in strong and varied exhibitions and pushing artistic expression forward to enrich our experience in the community.
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Judith Royal joined Council in 2009 I was born in New Zealand and spent some of my early years in Australia. I am married to Alan and have two boys. My interest in the fine arts was stimulated by an art appreciation course and I have since owned several galleries, served on Community Arts Councils in the Waikato and Wairarapa and been the chair of of a National Arts Award group based in the Wairarapa. I have been an Academy volunteer for a number of years and became an Elected Artist Member in 2007 |
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David Hyams joined Council in 2008 |
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Matt Gauldie joined Council in 2002 I am an artist working here in Wellington, and a captain in the NZ Army as official Army artist, my studio is at Shelly Bay. I want to see the Academy recognised by all as an important building block to creating a foundation for New Zealand culture, for artists of all stages to develop by using all the Academy can offer....encouragement, support, confidence in one's self and abilities, an outlet for personal expression and most importantly a network of other artists,all with varying agendas and reasons for making art.
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| Treasurer | |
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Greg Freeman joined Council in 1996 as Honorary Treasurer Greg is a graduate of the Otago University. A Wellingtonian from Wellington College, via their first fifteen and many other sports. His early work experience was with Shell oil before setting up his own Accountancy business in Oriental Bay in 1990.Greg has always been interested in art, having completed an arts course as part of his School Certificate examinations, and comes from a family who have long been supporters of the Academy. |
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Secretary |
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Bill O'Byrne joined Council in 2008 I am the Academy's secretary who somehow turns Council meeting minutes into hours. Sometimes journalist, sometimes semi professional carbohydrate tester for various multinational confectionery companies. I have no visual art skills, but can draw a cat for small children without ridicule. If they already have learning difficulties.
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Honorary Solicitor |
Geof Shirtcliffe |
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Honorary Auditor |
Tim Fairhall |
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Staff |
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Executive Manager |
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Neil McCormick |
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Exhibitions Manager |
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Jane Brimblecome |
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Volunteers |
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The Academy relies heavily on the support and energy of its many volunteers who do a wide range of tasks. From receiving and unpacking of artworks, to cataloguing and hanging exhibitions. As the face of the Academy on the front desk and in the office administration. Photography and design, marketing and website management the volunteers have always been the heartbeat of the Academy. |
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A few of our team are: Jill Allan, Natalie Brasell, Beryl Buchanan, Margaret Clarke, John Conigrave, Alex Di Mercurio, Annette Goldsmith, Glenda Heath, Maureen Lawler, Barbara Lewis, Bruce Luxford, Kay McCormick, Judith McDougall, Johnny Mills, Olympia Osborne, Jann Pearce, Phil Quin, Heleyni Pratley, John Rundle, Esda Thompson. |
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You can support the Academy by becoming a member or as a volunteer |
