Executive Chair

Dame Kerry Prendergast DNZM, CNZM is the former Mayor of Wellington and former Vice-President of Local Government New Zealand and holds an MBA from Victoria University. She is a distinguished Alumna of Victoria University of Wellington.

Kerry is Chair of Wellington Free Ambulance, Wellington Opera, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and the Victoria Foundation. She formerly chaired the New Zealand Film Commission, Tourism New Zealand, the Environmental Protection Agency and the New Zealand Festival.

She is a Director of Oceania Healthcare, Fish Serve and a Trustee of the Wellington International Arts Foundation, and the New Zealand Community Trust.  Kerry has filled many other roles over the last ten years.

In January 2019 Kerry became a Dame Companion (DNZM) for services to governance and the community, after being awarded a CNZM in 2011 for her services to local government. In July 2016 Kerry was also awarded a Lifetime Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Government.