PEOPLE / Wānaka Performing Arts Centre

Joined By /

PATRON /

Prue Wallis

Prue Wallis has long played an active role in the arts, conservation and community and, together with her late husband, Sir Tim Wallis, has been part of the Wānaka community for many years, contributing to initiatives that have helped shape the region's identity. As a founding Trustee of the Wānaka Festival of Colour and through her ongoing involvement with arts organisations in both Wānaka and Christchurch, Prue has seen first-hand the difference the arts make to a community. Her experience has also given her a clear understanding of what is needed to attract a wider range of performances to Wānaka. Visiting professional performances have often had to adapt productions to suit the facilities currently available, reducing the range and scale of performances they are able to bring. For Prue, the next step is bringing this vision to life by creating a place where audiences can enjoy outstanding performances and creativity can flourish. "A thriving arts environment is essential to the health and wellbeing of a community. Wānaka has become a world-class destination, and the people who live and holiday here expect great cultural experiences alongside our wonderful outdoor lifestyle. Music, theatre and dance enrich our lives. Wānaka deserves a performing arts centre which can welcome local, national and international productions and festivals of the highest standards. As Patron, Prue is proud to support a project that will bring more outstanding performances to Wānaka for the benefit of current and future generations.

AMBASSADORS /

Rima Te Wiata

Sir Sam Neill

Helen Clark

ONZ

Sir Ian Taylor

Justine Cormack

DMA

Trustees /

Ant Howard

Chair

Ant Howard is an experienced business leader and governance professional whose career spans the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. As Chief Executive of Wang New Zealand, he led the organisation through its transition to become Gen-I, before establishing Howard & Co an investment and advisory company. He has since held numerous commercial, government and community governance roles and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors. He also served two terms as Chair of MetService, giving him significant experience working with central government. Ant served for over a decade with Be. Accessible, as a Trustee and executive director, supporting its work to make New Zealand accessible for people with access needs. He is also a Trustee of the Lloyd Morrison Trust, which supports arts, cultural and community initiatives, including the Wānaka Festival of Colour. Ant and his wife, Kate, have had a strong connection with Wānaka for many years and are active supporters of the region’s arts and community organisations. As Chair of the Wānaka Performing Arts Precinct project, Ant brings extensive leadership and governance experience, together with a strong commitment to delivering an enduring cultural asset for the Upper Clutha of which our residents can take pride in.

Michael Sidey

Trustee

Michael Sidey has had a lifelong association with Wānaka, having spent time in the district since childhood before making it his permanent home in 2011. He brings extensive experience in governance, financial markets and community leadership, having spent more than three decades with Forsyth Barr, including serving as a Director and Deputy Chairman. Michael has a strong track record of community involvement and was instrumental in the development of the Wānaka Watersports Facility. He is currently Chair of the Living with Parkinson's Charitable Trust and continues to contribute to a number of community and charitable organisations through trustee and governance roles. Michael was the founding Chair of the Lake Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust when it was established in 2021 and remains deeply committed to the vision of creating a lasting arts and cultural legacy for the Upper Clutha community. As a trustee of the Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust, he brings strategic leadership, governance expertise and a passion for delivering projects that benefit future generations.

Mark Verbiest

Trustee

Mark Verbiest is currently Chair of Meridian Energy and Summerset Group, and a Director of ASB Bank. A lawyer by training, Mark spent many years as a partner of a national law firm before moving into senior executive and governance roles. He brings extensive experience in corporate strategy, governance and organisational leadership. Mark and his wife Sally have had a connection with Wānaka for more than 40 years and have called it home for over a decade. Mark has a long-standing interest in the arts, having previously served on the boards of both the Wellington International Arts Festival and the Festival of Colour. He is also a trustee of the Southern Alps Air Rescue Trust. As a trustee of the Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust, Mark brings extensive governance experience and a passion for helping create a vibrant and culturally rich future for the Upper Clutha community.

Alistair King

Trustee

Alistair King is a Partner with Findex, New Zealand's largest provider of accounting and business advisory services to the rural sector. Based in Central Otago, he leads Findex's national viticulture practice and is highly regarded throughout New Zealand's wine industry. A third-generation horticulturist, Alistair combines practical industry knowledge with extensive business, governance and strategic advisory experience. Alistair is an active contributor to the Central Otago community. He served as Chair of the Wānaka Chamber of Commerce for six years and has played a significant leadership role with the Festival of Colour, both as Chair and continuing Board member. He also holds a number of advisory and governance positions and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. As a trustee of the Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust, Alistair brings strong commercial acumen, governance expertise and a deep commitment to the cultural and economic development of the region.

Allan Dippie

Trustee

Allan Dippie is the founder and Managing Director of Willowridge Developments, a company that has played a significant role in the growth and development of Wānaka and the wider Central Otago region. A highly successful entrepreneur and business leader, Allan brings extensive commercial, governance and development experience to the Trust. As a trustee of the Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust, Allan is passionate about supporting initiatives that contribute to the long-term vibrancy and prosperity of the Upper Clutha community. Having lived and worked in the region for many years, he is deeply committed to its future and to helping shape a thriving community for generations to come.

Kirsty Hazledine

Trustee

Kirsty Hazledine has a background in arts administration and education, including roles with the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth and the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. She later taught at Wellington College, where she became Arts Director. Through her work in education and the arts, Kirsty developed a strong appreciation of the transformational role that arts and culture can play in people's lives and communities. She is currently Chair of the Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust, which presents the Festival of Colour and Aspiring Conversations. Having been connected to Wānaka for more than 50 years and a permanent resident since 2022, Kirsty brings arts leadership, community insight and a deep commitment to the cultural future of the Upper Clutha.

Chris Hadfield

Trustee

Chris Hadfield is a qualified geologist with a background spanning banking, finance and the performing arts. He moved to Wānaka with his husband Paul more than 20 years ago and has been an active member of the local community ever since. Chris is currently a member of the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board. A former singer with New Zealand Opera, Chris also served as Theatre Manager for both the St James Theatre and the Opera House in Wellington. In this role he gained extensive experience in venue operations, event management and supporting a diverse range of performances, exhibitions and community events. As a trustee of the Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust, Chris brings valuable insight into the practical operation of multi-purpose arts venues, strong community connections and a commitment to helping realise a performing arts precinct for the Upper Clutha community.

Bridget White

Trustee

Bridget White is a Senior Associate with Warren and Mahoney, one of New Zealand's leading architecture and design practices. Based in Wānaka, she brings international experience gained over more than a decade working in Norway on projects spanning aviation, healthcare, education and public infrastructure. Passionate about the relationship between architecture, community and the natural environment, Bridget specialises in design strategy, sustainability and the creation of places that enrich the lives of the people who use them. As a trustee of the Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust, Bridget brings expertise in design, sustainability and creating spaces that strengthen communities.

Mathew Doyle

Trustee

Mathew Doyle is Co-Head of Arts and Teacher in Charge of Music and Music Technologies at Mount Aspiring College. He is passionate about arts education and helping young people develop their creative potential. Alongside his work in education, Mathew has been actively involved in the Upper Clutha and Queenstown Lakes arts and events community for more than 20 years as a musician, production manager, sound engineer and event coordinator. This experience has given him a deep understanding of both the creative and practical aspects of delivering arts and cultural experiences. As a trustee of the Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust, Mathew brings expertise in arts education, youth engagement and event delivery, together with a commitment to growing sustainable arts and cultural opportunities for the Upper Clutha community.

Project Team /

Nicki McDonald

Trust Administrator nicki.mcdonald@wpap.org.nz

Nicki McDonald is the Trust Administrator for the Wānaka Arts & Culture Charitable Trust and plays a key role in supporting the development of the Wānaka Performing Arts Precinct. Nicki brings extensive experience in organisational leadership, fundraising, sponsorship, stakeholder engagement and event management. Her career has spanned the not-for-profit, sporting and technology sectors, including senior leadership roles with the NZ Youth Mentoring Network, First Foundation and Hockey New Zealand. Throughout her career she has secured funding partnerships, led major projects and events, and helped organisations build the systems and relationships needed to thrive. Working closely with the Board and Project Director, Nicki helps coordinate the operational, governance and fundraising activities that underpin the project. Having enjoyed a connection with Wānaka since her teenage years and called it home for the past decade, she is passionate about contributing to the future of the Upper Clutha community.

Olivia Egerton

Project Director olivia.egerton@wpap.org.nz

Olivia Egerton brings more than fifteen years of governance experience across the arts and cultural heritage, export, and not-for-profit sectors, underpinned by a conviction that creativity and culture are essential for thriving communities. Founder of Studio Kotare, she has chaired Te Hono, a partnership between Aotearoa New Zealand's food and fibre sector, iwi, and government agencies, and held roles with Lincoln Agritech, The New Zealand Merino Company, Te Matatiki Toi Ora, The Arts Centre of Christchurch, and Ronald McDonald House South Island. Olivia believes in the opportunity of the Precinct – for arts to have space at the heart of the community. This Precinct creates an opportunity for diverse stakeholders to come together for the next generation and deliver a shared vision for generations to come. The proposed design, with arts at the heart—the kind that helps a place hold its people, its stories, and its future—is sustained by complementary development – offices, food and beverage, and inspiring activity. Curious by nature, with an appetite for bold decisions, she brings the experience of having been involved in critical arts infrastructure – the rebuild of Te Matatiki Toi Ora, The Arts Centre of Christchurch, and the visioning and establishment of Te Atamira, Queenstown’s arts and culture centre. Otago has been home to her extended family for more than a century.