Our Staff

Corporate

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  Mladen Ivancic

  Acting CEO

  As Acting CEO, Mladen leads the NZFC, ensuring appropriate support to NZFC staff and programmes across the organisation. He manages the Leadership Team and continues to directly lead the finance and HR functions which he previously managed in his capacity as Chief Operating Officer. Mladen steps into the Acting CEO role with much valuable knowledge and experience built over his many years as a leader at NZFC. 

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  Chris Payne

  Acting Chief Operating Officer / Head of International Relations

  As Acting Chief Operating Officer, Chris oversees the Legal & Business Affairs, Policy, Business Technology Services and Office Administration teams, helping to ensure the smooth operation of the organisation. Chris is also maintaining his International Relations role where he facilitates introductions, relationships and opportunities for NZ filmmakers and international partners. Chris has worked in the film and television industries in NZ and Japan for over two decades. In addition, he has worked in business development roles in the corporate sector. 

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  Karen Anslow

  Executive Assistant to the CEO

  Karen provides executive support to the Chief Executive and the NZFC Board. Prior to joining the NZFC she was at the Ministry of Health where one of her lasting memories was supporting the executive leadership team through the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

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  Tayla Hancock

  Senior Policy Advisor

  Tayla provides policy and strategic advice to the NZFC, manages our ministerial services and is the Chair of the NZFC Staff Diversity and Inclusion Committee. You may contact Tayla with queries about policy and governance, the Official Information Act or documents such as the Statement of Intent, Statement of Performance Expectations and Annual Report. You may also contact her regarding any diversity, equity and inclusion matters. Tayla has a master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology. Her research analyses how marginalised communities are represented on screen and she specialises in visual research methods.

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  Jennifer Wilton

  Senior Policy Advisor (Operational)

  Jennifer provides policy support with a focus on the Review of Government Investment in the Screen Sector.  This is a part-time role at NZFC while she completes her MA in Creative Writing (Scriptwriting) at VUW’s International Institute of Modern Letters. She has a decade of policy experience as a Senior Policy Advisor previously working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Career highlights include diplomatic postings to Moscow and Tokyo. She has a diploma in screenwriting at Vancouver Film School.  

Development and Production

Want to make a feature film or documentary? Then our Development and Production team are the people to talk to. The team is headed by Leanne Saunders and made up of members Christina Andreef, Johanna Smith, Marc Ashton, Mechele Harron, Olivier Leroy, Joel Rudolph, Linda Hughes, Rosie Hole, Jaunnie Ilolahia and Rachel Emery. 

Turning ideas into films

This team develops exciting ideas into great films. They will tell you what we can do to help your feature or documentary idea become a film, including script, shoot and post-production. Enquiries about Early Development Fund (EDF) and Advanced Development Fund (ADF) applications should be sent to Mechele and about production investment applications should be sent to Marc. Queries about the Screen Production Recovery Fund should be directed to Joel and about Te Puna Kairangi - Premium Fund should be directed to Rachel.

This unit’s focus is working with filmmakers to create the best possible films, so if you want general assistance with your career then you need to talk to our Talent Development team.

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  Leanne Saunders

  Head of Development and Production

  Leanne is responsible for overseeing the development of films from the early development stage through to the end of post-production. Her department focuses on supporting exciting ideas to become great films. 

  Leanne has over 15 years’ experience in film and television production. Her feature film credits include The Weight of Elephants, Born to Dance, The Devil’s Rock, Christmas and Desert. With Headstrong co-founder Ant Timpson, Leanne executive produced low budget features The Devil Dared Me To and A Song of Good.  More recently, through Piki Films, Leanne produced Hunt for the Wilderpeople with company partners Carthew Neal and Taika Waititi. 

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  Christina Andreef

  Development Executive

  Christina Andreef analyses feature and series scripts at all stages, and provides development advice to filmmakers.  She also gives feedback on film cuts-in-progress.  Christina is an award-winning filmmaker whose films have screened in over 80 festivals around the world - Excursion To The Bridge of Friendship (in official selection at Sundance & Cannes), The Gap (Sundance & Telluride) and Shooting The Breeze (Sundance & Berlin).  Her debut feature Soft Fruit opened the World Cinema Section of Sundance, screened in Critics’ Week in Cannes and had a U.S. theatrical release through Fox Searchlight.  In Australia it was nominated for 7 AACTA Awards including Best Original Screenplay and Best Director.  Christina has experience in screenplay adaptation and has taught screenwriting at Sydney Film School, Sydney University and University of Technology, Sydney. Having benefitted immensely from her early years as director’s assistant to Jane Campion, she finds great satisfaction in mentoring young and culturally diverse filmmakers. 

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  Johanna Smith

  Development Executive

  Johanna Smith (Ngāti Porou, Ngā Puhi) has worked in the screen and theatre industries in Aotearoa for over 20 years in a number of key positions including: writer, story producer, script editor, and script and development consultant.

  Jo is passionate about promoting diverse voices in the creative sector. Most recently she has been balancing her industry work with lecturing in screenwriting at Unitec’s Screen Arts degree. Writing credits currently on screen include: Shortland Street, Baby Mama’s Club (2018 NZTV Awards: Best Web Series), Baby Mama’s Club 2 and SIS (Comedy Central, Neon).

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  Marc Ashton

  Production Executive

  Marc’s career in film began in the early 90s in multiplex management and distribution across the east coast of Australia at the height of Hoyts Corp’s expansion. This was followed by over two decades in domestic and international film and television production; starting on the studio floor in a variety of technical crew roles. He has had a successful freelance career as assistant director and/or co-producer at the highest level of production with many prominent filmmakers both in New Zealand and Australia, as well as short stints in the US and China.  His credits as 1st AD include Top of the Lake, Hope and Wire and Boy and his co-producer credits include The Lovely Bones and Terminus.

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  Linda Hughes

  Production Executive

  Linda Hughes has joined the Development and Production team as Production Executive.  

  Linda Hughes has worked in screen and television for over 15 years in Aotearoa and the United Kingdom. She has worked in business development and department production at Amazon Studio, Wētā FX, Wētā Workshop, Discovery Channel and TVNZ. Her roles have seen her provide production support at both the show and programme level, including IP development, script analysis and breakdowns, show bibles and pitch packages, practical and VFX production management, and pipeline database management. 

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  Olivier Leroy

  Investment Executive

  French-born New Zealander Olivier Leroy began his film career as a Development and Production Assistant at French production company Gloria Films where he was responsible for overseeing financing applications from around the world. In this role he gained extensive experience in the logistic and legal requirements around international coproduction. He has worked at the NZFC since 2018, initially in a support role where he coordinated the Raupapa Whaakari series drama development initiative, before taking the role of Devolved Development Coordinator.

  Most recently he has coordinated the development of Te Puna Kairangi – Premium Fund.

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  Jaunnie Ilolahia

  Investment Coordinator

   Jaunnie has carved out an exciting and successful career in film and television working on projects like: The Panthers, Mulan, The Meg, The Jungle Book and The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Shannara Chronicles. She cut her teeth on the sets of large-scale Hollywood feature films and television series before taking up an administration role with the Indigenous and Film Development departments at Screen Australia/Australian Film Commission where she spent eight years growing and developing her skills. Her time here proved to be invaluable, managing hundreds of onscreen projects and developing her own story ideas, and exercising her ability to communicate and connect across all cultures and ages.

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  Mechele Harron

  Development Coordinator

  Mechele descends from Tainui/Taranaki whakapapa, with strong ties to Tūrangawaewae Marae and Parihaka Pa.  She started her career as a news journalist before heading into the world of television and working her way up to becoming a producer at Māori Television in Tamāki Makaurau, enabling her to produce many Māori language programmes including historical documentary series and tamariki programmes.  Mechele provides administration support for the Development and Production team and is the key point of contact for feature film development enquires.

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  Joel Rudolph

  Development and Production Department Coordinator

  Joel has had an everchanging job description at the Film Commission, having taken on at least four different roles within the past year. Since leaving University where he gained a Masters in Theatre, he has worked on several live theatre productions in various roles including directing, stage and production management, sound design and marketing on projects ranging from devised work to opera. Standout experiences include working as the lead sound designer on a gender-swapped production of Hamlet and sitting in rehearsal rooms with an ensemble of opera singers in full voice.

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  Rachel Emery

  Premium Fund Project Coordinator

  Rachel is the Premium Fund Project Coordinator providing end-to-end co-ordination and planning support to the Premium Fund. Rachel has a television and commercial background. She has spent most of her career in Auckland, this includes working at TVNZ and as a commercial producer. Rachel has also been a development executive in London. 

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  Rosie Hole

  Investment Executive

  Rosie Hole provides advice to filmmakers applying for feature film production funding and is involved in assessing applications, particularly from a finance and market perspective. She also is involved in funding recommendations and assessment panels for advanced development funding, and for the business and slate funding programme, Boost. Rosie spent almost a decade working in London as part of the Universal Pictures Content Group, where she was responsible for acquiring feature films, documentaries as well as a range of other content for global or multi-territory distribution across all platforms. Prior to Universal Pictures, Rosie worked at Television New Zealand as the Commissioning Assistant and then as Production and Partnerships Coordinator for TVNZ’s Digital Channels.

Talent Development

Need help with your career? Want to make some connections here or overseas? Would you like to make a short film? Then contact our Talent Development team. It is led by Dale Corlett and comprises Jude McLaren, Rachel Corley, Prashanth Guna and Nia Phipps.

Developing careers

Our focus is on finding, fostering, connecting and progressing exceptional New Zealand filmmaking talent. We help in the development of careers and making connections for you both here and overseas. We want to help local and expat producers, directors, writers and actors. The team is also responsible for our relationship with industry guilds and organisations, and for supporting short films, which are a valuable stepping stone to feature films. 

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  Dale Corlett

  Head of Talent Development

  As the leader of Talent Development, Dale is a funding decision maker on all NZFC talent development grants and funds and the lead contact with the New Zealand Screen Industry Guilds and organisations. He is also one of the leadership team members on the NZFC Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Dale advises on career progression and on all funding administered by Talent Development.  Dale was the CEO/Creative Director of GMAC Film in Scotland responsible for identifying high quality emerging talent and supporting progression from shorts to features. 

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  Jude McLaren

  Talent Pathways Manager

  Jude is the key contact for on the On-the-Job Development Funding and manages both this fund and the funding process for the annual Kōpere Hou - Fresh Shorts development and works alongside industry partner Script to Screen to deliver this programme. She is the key contact for Catalyst He Kauahi short films. Jude has extensive production and development experience having worked as production manager, postproduction supervisor and development executive. She holds a BA in Theatre and Film from Victoria University, a Bachelor of Broadcast Communication from the New Zealand Broadcasting School, and a Certificate in Career Development from AUT.  

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  Nia Phipps

  Talent Development Executive

  Nia works closely with the industry guilds and talent development partners and is a lead contact for professional development enquiries.  A screen practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in production, post-production and screen sector organisations. Nia has worked with brands across the screen sector such as RNZ, TVNZ, NZME, Stuff and talent development initiative Loading Docs. She is part of The Rebel Film Collective (Prod/Dir/Impact Prod) who recently created the celebrated feature documentary High Tide, Don’t Hide (2021). Nia is also a member of the NZFC Diversity and Inclusion Committee. 

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  Rachel Corley

  Deliveries Coordinator

  Ngā Puhi 

  Rachel has been a part of the NZFC whānau for over a decade. With a background in Post-Production, Rachel manages the Short Film Post-Production and Travel Grants, as well as the delivery of all Short Film (Fresh, Catalyst, Aho) and Interactive projects. Previously, Rachel project managed the Digitisation Programme for the NZFC and continues to do so for the ANZ Film Heritage Trust. She has a Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications, and a Diploma in Photography and Graphic Design. 

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  Prashanth Guna

  Talent Development Coordinator

  Prashanth’s role is to coordinate across all aspects of the Talent Development team. He encourages new and emerging talent to utilise the platforms provided by NZFC. Shan, hails from Malaysia is a filmmaker with experiences in production, post-production and direction. His most recent feature is set to debut in NZ in 2023. As a side hustle, Shan practises as a Physiotherapist.

Marketing

Do you want to tell the world about your film? Our marketing team is run by Jasmin McSweeney and comprises of Amanda Heatley, Hayley Weston and Ariana Namana. We are focussed on getting more people watching great New Zealand feature films, both here and overseas. 

Connecting films with audiences

Jasmin is the person to talk to about dealing with sales agents, distributors and major festivals. Amanda looks after film materials, deliveries and services back-catalogue sales deals. Hayley works with Jasmin on film festival strategy and manages requests for film festival and cultural screenings. Ariana supports the team, assisting Jasmin with test screenings and events.

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  Jasmin McSweeney, MNZM

  Head of Marketing

  Māori Kūki ʻĀirani  

  Jasmin is responsible for the promotion and marketing of New Zealand films in New Zealand and internationally. She works closely with filmmakers, distributors, film festivals and international market partners on the festival and release strategies for feature films, and assists distributors and filmmakers to identify and engage with audience through test screenings, research and distribution grants. Jasmin’s NZFC marketing film projects include The World’s Fastest Indian, Boy, Whina and Muru. Jasmin is a director of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) Board.   

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  Hayley Weston

  Film Festival Executive

  Hayley is responsible for domestic and international film festival submissions for feature and short films, working closely with the Head of Marketing on festival strategy release.  She is responsible for the organisation of cultural and showcase screenings. Hayley has significant experience in theatrical, festival and home entertainment distribution and marketing, both in New Zealand and overseas. Before joining the NZFC, Hayley worked with Rialto Distribution, Reading Entertainment and Roadshow Films.  

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  Amanda Heatley

  Film Materials Executive

  Amanda oversees the quality control and acceptance of all our contracted film materials and will be your point of contact if you have any questions regarding delivery.  

  She is responsible for the archiving of all film material held by the NZFC, and the delivery of our back catalogue materials to buyers.  

  Amanda also assesses post-production budgets for grant applications. 

  With over 20 years’ experience working in post-production both in New Zealand and the UK, Amanda has a thorough understanding of budgets, schedules, workflows, and the technical aspects that surround them. 

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  Ariana Namana

  Marketing Coordinator

  Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa  

  Ariana is responsible for the co-ordination of the Marketing team. She oversees the NZ Film On Demand platform, co-ordinates the NZFC’s Distribution Grants, and organises events, test screenings, and audience research. Ariana graduated from Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou (University of Otago) in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and in 2022 graduated from the Whāriki/Meta Te Mātātahi Digital Marketing Programme. Before joining the NZFC Ariana worked in cinema exhibition.  

Te Rautaki Māori

Do you have a great Māori story you want to tell? We greatly value our unique Māori culture, and films with strong cultural elements are among the most successful in which we have invested , both here and overseas. 

Our team

Karen Te O Kahurangi Waaka is the NZFC's Pou Whakahaere and leads on implementing Te Rautaki Māori with assistance from Kathryn Graham and Nkhaya Paulsen-More.  Feel free to contact any one of these staff members with enquiries related to Māori stories. We want to help you make great Māori films for global audiences. 

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  Te O Kahurangi Waaka

  Pou Whakahaere

  Te Arawa : Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhourangi – Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Whakaue. Mataatua: Ngāti Awa – Ngāti Pūkeko 

  Te O Kahurangi is responsible for guiding the effective implementation of the NZFC’s Te Rautaki Māori. She is a producer with extensive experience in governance, culture, intellectual property rights, iwi and community organisations as well as active involvement in Māori screen issues. Prior to joining the NZFC in 2018,  she worked for 15 years at Kura Productions, producing with Quinton Hita a range of television productions in te reo Māori.  

  She has served as a board member of Ngā Aho Whakaari - the Māori in Film & Television legacy collective and prior to her screen industry career, she worked extensively in the tourism industry in Rotorua. 

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  Kathryn Ariana Graham

  Kaiwhakawhanake Hinonga/ Māori Development Executive

  Iwi: Ngaati Koroki Kahukura 

  Kathryn is responsible for developing talent across the Māori film industry, encouraging more Māori and Pasifika people to engage with the NZFC and implementing of the NZFC’s Te Rautaki Māori.  

  Kathryn has worked as a television creative director across a wide genre of content from kids to primetime documentary. Working as a Commissioning Editor for both Television New Zealand and Māori Television Kathryn supported Māori and the use of te reo Māori inside the network environment and encouraged diversity of content on mainstream networks. 

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  Nkhaya Paulsen-More

  Kaiwhakarite Rautaki – Rautaki Māori Co-ordinator

  Tainui: Ngāti Maru (Hauraki), Aotea: Ngāruahine, Mātaatua: Ngāti Pūkenga. 

  Nkhaya  a proud descendant of Māori and coloured South African heritage, oversees the general day-to-day functioning of Te Rautaki Māori Team. She also manages general queries for filmmakers when they first engage with Te Rautaki Māori. 

  Nkhaya hails from the creative writing industry and has published personal essays in Massive, Te Pararē, and Turbine | Kapohau. She holds a BA in English (Massey University) and an MA in Creative Writing (Victoria University of Wellington).  

International Team

The International Team looks after Incentives, International Screen Attraction and International Relations. This team works with many organisations and individuals both here and overseas. Catherine Bates administers the Government’s New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG).  Chris Payne connects New Zealand and international talent and works with government agencies offshore on co-production treaties. Philippa Mossman is responsible for attracting international productions to New Zealand and connecting them with our local industry.

Support team

Supporting Catherine, Chris and Philippa are Mel Read, Jacqui Wood, Nicola Lemberg, Jane Simons, Tom Kelly, Pam McCabe and Melissa Booth.

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  Catherine Bates

  Head of Incentives

  Catherine manages incentives rebate scheme, the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG), for both international and New Zealand Productions , with a particular focus on the 5% Uplift. She is the NZFC’s first point of contact for New Zealand government agencies in relation to the 5% Uplift and works closely with international productions and New Zealand government partners to deliver strong outcomes for all.  Catherine began her career at Tourism New Zealand and was involved with the development of the New Zealand destination brand and global 100% Pure New Zealand campaign, development of the New Zealand Story and the NZ Inc Hobbit leverage programme.  Before joining the NZFC she lead the development of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup New Zealand Opening Ceremony.

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  Philippa Mossman

  Head of International Screen Attraction

  Philippa is the lead contact for major international screen productions considering New Zealand and manages key relationships with studio production executives and independent producers.  She is responsible for New Zealand’s provision of an international enquiry service and has wide-ranging expertise across screen production and the media sector. In December 2022 Philippa was elected as a director on the board of Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI). 

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  Mel Read

  Incentives Executive

  Mel (she/Her) is part of the team responsible for administering the incentives rebate scheme, the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG), for both international and New Zealand productions. She is also part of the NZFC’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which is responsible for developing, delivering and monitoring He Ara Whakaurunga Kanorau | Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Prior to joining the NZFC in 2017, Mel worked in direct marketing and radio broadcasting. 

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  Tom Kelly

  Incentives Executive

  Tom is part of the team responsible for administering the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG) for both International and New Zealand productions.  Prior to joining Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga, Tom worked for over 20 years in film and television production departments in both New Zealand and the UK. 

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  Leah Macmillan

  Incentives Coordinator

  Leah’s role is to assist with administration for the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG) for both International and New Zealand Productions. Leah has always had a passion for the Film and TV industry especially in Aotearoa. Leah is also an actor with a variety of featured roles in New Zealand and international films and TV shows.  

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  Jacqui Wood

  International Enquiries Executive

  Jacqui actions the international attractions team’s research work and provides in-depth production and locations enquiries responses. She has worked with leading producers and directors as a production coordinator on feature films and television series and also spent several years as a film commissioner in the South Island. 

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  Pam McCabe

  Office Coordinator

  Pam supports the staff in the international area and the incentives team and has over twenty years experience in administration for screen organisations and Government agencies. 

   

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  Nicola Lemberg

  Promotions Coordinator

  Nicola coordinates the PR and Promotions for the New Zealand Screen Production Grant, 5% Uplift and helps run the social media and website at NZFC.   She comes from a background in film studio release publicity and social media marketing. Nicola graduated from AUT University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Television and Screen Production. 

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  Jane Simons

  International Attractions Coordinator

  Jane assists the international attractions team with enquiries from and outreach to international productions considering New Zealand as a filming destination.  She has a background in VFX production with previous roles at Rushes Postproduction, Moving Picture Company and Wētā Digital. Following this she moved to working on-set on a number of international and local productions. She is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington with a BA degree in Film & Art History. 

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  Melissa Booth

  Senior Communications Advisor

  Melissa looks after NZFC’s public image across owned and earned media promoting the economic and cultural benefits of our screen industry, NZFC funding, and our international brand. She is the first point of contact for media. Melissa has over 20 years’ experience working as a unit publicist on international feature films including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, King Kong, and The Rings of Power Amazon series. She is also an experienced media trainer and expert at crisis communications. 

Legal and Business Affairs

The Legal and Business Affairs team is Katie Baker, Mia Gaudin, Grace Alexander and Bonnie Mahon.

Katie, Grace, Mia and Bonnie are responsible for all contractual matters and manage the Te Ahi Kā programme as well as providing legal support across the orgnaisation. 

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  Katie Baker

  Legal and Business Affairs Manager

  Katie heads up the Legal and Business Affairs Team at the NZFC.  Katie believes in solution focussed legal advice. She negotiates financial closing documentation for NZFC’s production funding investments as well as advising the NZFC with its legal, contractual and compliance matters.  Katie has entertainment/media and commercial law experience both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.  

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  Bonnie Mahon

  Business Affairs Executive

  Bonnie works across all areas in the Business Affairs team, providing legal advice within the NZFC on a broad range of contractual and other legal matters.  Bonnie has legal experience in both the public and private sectors in New Zealand and is passionate about putting this to use in the film industry. She has a Bachelor of Laws degree from Otago University. 

   

   

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  Grace Alexander

  Business Affairs Executive

  Grace supports the Legal & Business Affairs Team by providing NZFC with commercial and legal advice across its broad operations. She acts for the NZFC in its capacity as an investor in feature films and provides in-house support in respect of the NZFC’s other functions as a crown entity. Grace appreciates being able to use her legal skills to support the arts. Prior to her role at the NZFC, she acted for filmmakers and other creatives at a specialist entertainment law firm.

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  Mia Gaudin

  Business Affairs Executive

  Mia is a public and commercial lawyer with extensive experience across government at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Treasury and Crown Law. Mia has a Masters in Creative Writing, an active practice as an art critic, and is writing her first novel. She is passionate about using her legal skills to advocate for artists working as a volunteer for many arts organisations. 

Finance

Our Finance team is headed by Mladen Ivancic and includes Raewyn Young, Dominique Fromont and Carol Wang. They are responsible for managing the New Zealand Film Commission's finances.

What we do

Mladen is responsible for the administration of co-production applications and works alongside Government agencies on the negotiation of new co-production agreements. Raewyn oversees financial management for the organisation.Dominique manages royalty reports and film income from domestic and international distributors, sales agents and collection agencies. 

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  Raewyn Young

  Finance Manager

  Raewyn manages the financial information systems for the New Zealand Film Commission.  She also manages the film income account and distributes collected royalties to investors and filmmakers. Raewyn’s vast experience is predominately in the public sector in infrastructure, health and education.  Raewyn is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and a member of CA ANZ.  

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  Dominique Fromont

  Film Income Manager

  Dominique is responsible for the collection of royalties, including monitoring reports and income from international collection agencies.  Dominique previously worked at various arts and film organisations including Three Foot Six Ltd, Film New Zealand, Wingnut Films and the New Zealand International Arts Festival.  

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  Carol Wang

  Accountant

  Carol assists the Finance Manager with the management of the financial information for the New Zealand Film Commission.  Carol has previous experience in both the commercial and public sector.  Carol is an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) and a member of CA ANZ.  

• Linda Travers

  Finance Administrator

  Linda provides financial administration for the New Zealand Film Commission, which includes processing all invoices to be paid.  Linda’s last role was at Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency Ltd (WellingtonNZ). 

Resources

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  Rowan Aitken

  System Administrator

  Rowan has responsibility for ensuring the NZFC IT runs smoothly. Rowan has a 30+ year career in IT, working in New Zealand, the UK and Australia in a range of industries as diverse as Customs, wholesale food distribution, life insurance and policing. Prior to NZFC he was responsible for IT at the New Zealand Festival. 

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  Virginia Ng

  People and Culture Manager

  Virginia looks after the human resources function at NZFC supporting the CEO and Leadership team as well as the staff. She has over 20 years' experience in HR Management, Recruitment, Resource Management, HR Reporting and Performance Management. 

• Jayden Te Haara

  Project Delivery Lead

  Jayden is dedicated to project delivery and is currently focused on two large change projects to upgrade the NZFC's systems. These projects will help the NZFC meet its document management obligations while also creating opportunities to introduce efficiencies in our processes. Jayden has worked in IT teams across large organisations in both the private and public sectors. He also has a strong background in data and analytics so a key focus for him is making sure information is captured accurately and is accessible to staff. 

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  Varna Varghese

  Systems Support Analyst: Business Applications

  Varna is the go-to person for all Tahua and Klevr Grants queries. Varna has been at the NZFC since November 2022 and is working closely with the project space. She can also provide support for SharePoint and general queries. 

• Natalie Aitken

  Systems Support Analyst: SharePoint and M365

  Natalie is the go-to person for all things SharePoint, T:Drive migration, and Teams. Natalie recently joined from a government agency where she did things and acquired excellent knowledge in both SharePoint and Information Management. 

• Sam Bell

  IT Operations Manager

  Sam is part of BTS and supports the team, as well as doing process, policy, continuous improvement and planning. Sam has been in IT for over 30 years and started with the NZFC in January 2023