Diana Marsh

Diana has been leading local, national and international arts organisations over the last 25 years, providing an excellent platform for her to lead Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington and support it to continue to play an essential role celebrating arts and culture and connecting communities across Pōneke.

She was Chief Executive Tumu Whakarae of SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music for eight years and previously General Manager of Orchestra Wellington, Manager of the New Zealand String Quartet, and Manager of the Composing Women’s Festival. Diana was also the first person from outside Europe and the UK to be appointed as President of the International Association of Music Centres, an organisation that has 35 members representing around 39 countries.

Diana has spent most of her life in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and is passionate about our city.

Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive

Tānemahuta Gray (Ngāi Tahu, Rangitāne, Tainui)

Tānemahuta brings 30 years of professional experience in the performing arts industry, excelling as a chief executive, director, producer, choreographer, and performer.  He is adept in both project-based contracts and long-term organisational work, demonstrating a strong aptitude for cultural relations, long-term relationship building, and strategic development. His diverse portfolio includes successful events, projects, and experiences across theatre, dance, festivals, international touring, arts markets, and large-scale performance and community events.

He served as Kahukura / Kaiarataki Toi - CEO / Artistic Director of Taki Rua Theatre and Kairautaki Māori – Māori Strategic Advisor at Tāwhiri – Festival & Experiences including the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts. He also works with the World of Wearable Art Awards (WOW) and the Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ). He created and directed major contemporary bi-cultural large-scale productions Māui – One Man Against The Gods, Tiki Taane Mahuta and Hatupatu | Kurungaituku : A Forbidden Love which opened the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts.

Tānemahuta holds a Diploma in Dance Studies from The New Zealand School of Dance and is conversant in te reo Māori and Spanish. Tānemahuta has spent his life in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and has strong relationships with mana whenua.

Kaihautū | Director Māori Strategy

Carolyn Mettrick

Carolyn has a strong background in fundraising, marketing and business development and is a firm believer that relationships are everything.

Joining Experience Wellington in November 2019, Carolyn is no stranger to the not-for-profit sector, previously working for Plunket as Head of Fundraising, Partnerships and Brand. Carolyn developed a diverse funding portfolio and established successful partnerships with well-known organisations.

Prior to 2012, Carolyn worked in the private sector and spent several years at Loyalty New Zealand (Fly Buys). She is strategic, thinks big and is results-driven. A collaborator and connector, Carolyn is committed to championing the cultural assets Experience Wellington has on offer.

Te Tuarā Pākihi | Director Fundraising, Marketing and Communications

Judith Cooke

Judith brings a strong background in arts and cultural project delivery. She has worked with prestigious institutions including, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Melbourne Museum, National Gallery of Australia and was Director of an Australian regional gallery.  Judith prides herself in working behind the scenes to seamlessly deliver projects that educate, inform, entertain, and delight audiences.

She has helped manage Australian representation at the Venice and Sao Paolo Biennales and the Guggenheim Museum. At Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki she oversaw delivery for The 4th Auckland Triennial and Walters Prizes and supported its $121m redevelopment.  As Operations Manager at City Gallery, Judith, has overseen delivery of major exhibits such as Hilma af Klint; The Secret Paintings. She holds a BA Hons from the University of Sydney.

Ringatohu Titohuranga | Director Exhibitions

Alicia Harris

Alicia’s career has been in visitor experience and customer service focused organisations, and she has a background in the private sector and community organisations where she has held leadership, visitor experience, and partnership roles.  

Alicia studied Anthropology, Gender Studies and Education at Otago University before moving into leadership roles in retail and sales.  Her experience in the cultural sector includes, Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, Wellington Zoo and Experiences Manager at Wētā Workshop, in addition to being part of the operations team at Wētā Workshop Unleashed.  

Alicia is passionate about improving organisational effectiveness, and bringing the stories of our organisation to life in our spaces, to deliver world class and unique experiences.

Ringatohu Wheako Manuhiri | Director Visitor Experience

Delyse Diack

Delyse has a strong background in the not-for-profit sector, working in marketing and leadership positions and supporting organisations to have a positive audience impact.

Before arriving in Wellington, Delyse worked in Auckland at Stardome Planetarium and Observatory. Delyse moved to Wellington in 2017 bringing her marketing and fundraising experience to the Marketing and Communications Manager position at Capital E. Working with the Capital E team she built campaigns that drove successful outcomes for the organisation and Capital E’s young audience.  

Since then, Delyse has lead the Experience Wellington Marketing Team to support the organisation’s success. Along with a passion for supporting creative exploration for children and young people, Delyse brings strategic planning and relationships building experience to her role along with an ability to deliver thoughtful and well-executed plans.

Ringatohu Kāhuarau | Director Capital E Transition

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Clare Helm

Clare has a strong public sector background, as a former Director with Audit New Zealand and as Head of Corporate Services for NZ On Air. She has extensive experience in audit, probity, risk management, processes, and policies.

Clare is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She holds a BA Hons from the London Institute of Archaeology.  

Clare is passionate about having systems in place to support and enable people and teams to deliver effectively. She is committed to creating a sustainable, diverse and healthy working environment.

Kaihautu Matua | Chief Operating Officer Corporate Services

Charlotte Davy

Charlotte’s expertise is in creative direction and facilitation, arts strategy, and exhibition programming and development.

As Head of Art at Te Papa, she led the high-profile redevelopment of New Zealand’s national art gallery Toi Art in 2018. Charlotte was previously Head of Exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She currently sits on the Steering Committee of the International Exhibition Organizers (IEO) and is a trustee of the Colin McCahon Trust.

Charlotte has taught both museum ethics and exhibition development for the University of Sydney Master of Museum Studies programme, and continues to guest lecture for the Institute of Art and Law in the UK.  She holds a degree in Art History from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University, and an Advanced Diploma in Design from Massey University.  She has lived in Te Whanganui-a-Tara for much of her life and is passionate about the role the arts play in our city.

Ringatohu Toi | Director Art and City Gallery Wellington 

Brent Fafeita

Brent brings extensive experience in museum management and operation, having held several roles at Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington including Acting Director of Museums Wellington. As Manager Strategic Projects, Brent was responsible for the development of the vision and management for the planned redevelopment of Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum and the key lead over the continuing exhibition renewal at Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi Space Place.  

Brent holds a Master of Arts, Museum Studies from Te Kunenga Ki Pūrehuroa Massey University and a Bachelor of Science from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. He is extremely passionate about both of these fields and holds an interest in many more.

He is always open to new thinking, as we continue to deliver exceptional experiences that enrich the city that we love.

Ringatohu Kura Huna I Director History and Science

Address

Level 8, 342 Lambton Quay, PO Box 893, Wellington, New Zealand

Contact

+64 4 471 0919
experiencewellington@experiencewellington.org.nz 
PO Box 893, Wellington 6140

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CC22571
© Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington 2024

Principal Funder