Our People

Kazu Nakagawa

Our People

Fiona Blanchard SOTG Director

Director of Te Whare Taonga O Waiheke/Waiheke Community Gallery, Fiona is an experienced cultural sector leader who has headed up world-class, customer-centric, and operational teams for the City of Sydney, Auckland War Memorial Museum, and City Gallery Wellington. A resident of Waiheke for six years, Fiona and her husband Mike are passionate about the people, community, and place.

Kriselle Baker Co-Chair Curatorial

Kriselle (Pākehā, Ngāpuhi, Ngāruahine) splits her time between Waiheke and Auckland, where she works as an arts writer, editor, and publisher. She has a Ph.D. in Art History from The University of Auckland with an undergraduate degree in languages. Kriselle was a founding member of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Contemporary Benefactors and has served on the Board of Te Tuhi and The Hotere Foundation. She is a current board member of the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation.

Anna Brealey Co-Chair Financial

Anna Brealey has worked as a Financial Controller and Marketing Manager for the family property development company NZ Living for the past 18 years. Now that the business requires less of her time, she is keen to put more effort into community activities. Anna has been a volunteer for the last three Sculpture on the Gulf exhibitions. She is currently a director on the board of Simplicity Living Limited. Anna and her husband Shane are full-time residents on Waiheke.

Lewis Holden Deputy Chair

A Waiheke resident and partner of artist Charlotte Handy, Lewis Holden is an independent analyst and Director with extensive experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Lewis was previously Chief Executive Officer of Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and has held senior roles in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Treasury and the Ministry of Economic Development. A chartered member of the Institute of Directors, Lewis has represented New Zealand on the Boards of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation in Washington D.C. His current directorships include roles as Deputy Chair of the Reconnect Trust Board and Reconnect Family Services Limited and as a Board Member of Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision.

Jon Ewer Secretary

An island resident since 1999, Jon Ewer has many years of governance experience in both the private sector and not-for-profit organisations. He has a background in engineering and is a Senior Technical Director with Beca. Jon is a committee member and steadfast supporter of the Waiheke Community Art Gallery. Having served on the Board of Sculpture on the Gulf in 2013 and helped organise the 2015 and 2017 events.

Roger King

Roger King is an experienced strategist and consultant in the creative sector. He was formerly an arts and music festival director with significant experience in programming and management including five WOMAD (World of Music, Arts & Dance) Festivals. King created the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) and programmed it for 20 years achieving significant financial reserves. He has also initiated and directed arts festivals in Taupo and Tauranga. Since leaving ‘hands-on’ festival management and programming in 2011, King has worked in consulting and governance roles. He served on the board of the Arts Council of New Zealand for six years and has held Chair and Trustee roles for Ngā Toi Hawke’s Bay, Cape Coast Arts & Heritage Trust, Chamber Music New Zealand, The Big Idea Charitable Trust, Auckland Arts Festival, Black Grace Dance Company, and Objectspace.

Andy Hill

Andy joined the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in 2020 as Director Auckland. He has significant government experience and prior to his current role spent 15 years working for the Ministry for Primary Industries focused on policy development and natural resource management. Over that period Andy had secondments to the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and as Private Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries. He is also Chair of Eco Choice Aotearoa, New Zealand’s government owned ecolabel. Andy has had a family connection to Waiheke for many years and has been a permanent resident since 2020.

Natasha Beckman

Natasha Beckman is the Director of British Council New Zealand and the Pacific. Natasha has many years of experience in Festivals, Artist Management, Events, Museums and Galleries. Her training includes a BA in Art History and Law and an MA in Art History, specialising in Māori and Pacific Art. She also completed an internship at The Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Previous Auckland posts include Public Programmes & Cultural Relations Manager, Auckland Museum; Visual Arts & Public Programmes Manager, Auckland Arts Festival; and Manager of Alberton House, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Previous international posts include Director of Urban Soul Orchestra, London, Visual Arts Officer, Arts Council England and Patrons Programme Manager, Venice Biennale for Creative New Zealand. Natasha currently advises on several Boards including the British New Zealand Business Association.

Hamish Boyd

Hamish Boyd is a Principal with JASMAX Architects and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. His design work focus is on public architecture. He is a member of the Ministry of Education Design Review Panel, he sits on the board of the Parnell Business Association, and is the establishment Chairman for Learning Environments NZ. He served for a six year term on the board of the Building Research Association of New Zealand. He is the immediate past chairman and an active master’s rower for the Auckland Rowing Club and committee member of the Waiheke Rowing Club. He is also an avid cyclist and passionate fly fisherman.

Richard Maloy

Richard Maloy is an artist, arts educator and resident of Waiheke Island. Maloy’s work has been exhibited locally within Sculpture On the Gulf, public museums and art galleries including: Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū and Govett-Brewster Art Gallery New Plymouth. Maloy has exhibited internationally including: Encounters the curated section of Art Basel Hong Kong and Asia Pacific Triennial Brisbane. Maloy is currently Programme Leader School of Fine Arts Undergraduate Whitecliffe.

Heather Harris

Heather Harris has extensive leadership experience at Director/Chief Operating Officer level. She has had an international career in the cultural and heritage sector, including COO at the Australian Museum in Sydney, Director of Collections at the V&A Museum in London, Director of Cultural Institutions for Auckland, and COO at Auckland Museum. She has degrees in Arts and Law and a Masters Degree in the History of Art. Previously she has held senior public sector roles specialising in local government, planning and the environment sectors. Heather is highly experienced working on and for boards, with a focus on operational, financial and regulatory risk, innovation, and oversight of major building and technology projects.

Kirsty Wilkinson

Kirsty Wilkinson has a law and commerce degree and has worked mainly in the health sector for the past 30 years. She has start-up business and consulting experience. Kirsty has run her own business for the last 15 years with responsibility for all aspects of management including finance, marketing, staff and customer management, and strategic planning. But her passion in life is the arts. She supports a number of arts organisations and artists, and has run fundraising initiatives, including for Sculpture on the Gulf. She is passionate about Waiheke and is very much looking forward to being able to give back to the community via the WCAG Board.

Jeanine Clarkin

Jeanine Clarkin is of Ngāti Hako, Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui, and Ngāi te Rangi descent. She is a pioneer of Māori fashion in New Zealand, having started her eponymous label in 1994. Jeanine is committed to creating sustainable fashion which explores colonisation and the loss of Māori lands. Jeanine has resided on Waiheke for the past 20 years and has been an active member of the arts and cultural fabric of Waiheke Island having served on Piritahi Marae Committee as Co-chair, Artworks Theatre Board, and the Waiheke Marine Project Steering Group. "I have been privileged to be able to explore curating exhibitions on Waiheke and further afield. My interest in community art development derives from social, climate, and political commentary in current affairs as it affects our people and indigenous communities locally and globally, exploring concepts that provoke thoughts and ideas into actions."