ABOUT THE BOARD

DAME KERRY PRENDERGAST, DNZM, CNZM
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

MARY SLATER
DEPUTY CHAIR

Mary has a 15 year background in central government work and prior to that worked in public sector unions. She is passionate about supporting the RNZB’s contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural life. Mary is a member of the Institute of Directors and holds several not-for-profit board roles including the Institute of Public Administration of New Zealand, and the Tauranga Moana Restorative Justice Trust. She is the Executive Chair of Oranga Tamariki’s Chief Executive’s Complaints Advisory Panel. Mary was appointed to the Board in January 2019.

JOHN AVERY
TRUSTEE

John returned to the RNZB Board in 2019 having served as a Trustee in the 1990s. He was previously Managing Partner then Chair of Hesketh Henry and has been a director of a number of companies and organisations including The Warehouse Group and Regional Facilities Auckland. He is currently an independent director of Strategic Pay Limited and the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency.

TOBY BEHAN
TRUSTEE

Toby lives in Christchurch and joined the Board in 2018.

Toby has been active in the dance world, as General Manager of Southern Ballet Theatre (2003 – 4), as the chair of the Dance and Physical Theatre Trust in Christchurch (2005 – 8) and as a Trustee of the Christchurch Dance Education Bursary Trust (2003 – 15). From 2005 – 13 he acted as a strategic assessor for dance funding applications to Creative New Zealand, and since 2015 has served as a Chair for Arts Grants funding rounds for Creative New Zealand.

LILIAS BELL
TRUSTEE

Lilias lives in Wellington and joined the Board in 2018, prior to which she was a supporter and donor.

Lilias led her own HR Recruitment business for many years and now undertakes a variety of governance and HR consulting roles.

DORIAN DEVERS
TRUSTEE

Dorian lives in Wellington and joined the Board in 2021.

He is also currently the Chief Financial Officer of Contact Energy and prior to that he has worked internationally in both executive and governance roles.

Dorian enjoys attending the ballet with his family.

ISAAC HIKAKA
TRUSTEE

A lawyer by profession, Isaac joined the Board in 2016 after many years as a passionate supporter of the RNZB.  Isaac lives in Auckland, and is also a trustee of the Auckland Theatre Company and a trustee of the Theatre Foundation.  His iwi are Ngaruahine, Ngati Ruanui, Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Tuwharetoa

Isaac is a member of the RNZB Audit and Risk Committee.

LOUISE MARSDEN
TRUSTEE

An accountant by profession, Louise is employed by ACC’s Investment Fund to invest in infrastructure across New Zealand.  She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and holds a number of Board roles on large infrastructure projects.

Louise is a passionate supporter of the Performing Arts and welcomes the opportunity to contribute in the RNZB in a meaningful way.

NUWANTHIE SAMARAKONE
TRUSTEE

Nuwanthie is an experienced international business owner and company director. She stands for values-based impact that creates better lives. Her founding business, ICE, is an early in careers people consultancy firm specialising in designing, delivering and developing schemes for organisations looking to build early talent pipelines for the future. Nuwanthie believes that young and aspiring individuals represent the future of our communities, our values and our culture.

She built a team around her and grew the business from Aotearoa over a decade ago to 6 countries covering off 24 markets across Asia Pacific. Some of the clients ICE partner with are FTSE 500, Forbes top 100 brands and Government Agencies in the Asia Pacific region. In 2020, she successfully exited as Managing Partner at ICE, to focus on her next adventures. She remains as the Founding Director and the company continues to operate and scale successfully, continuing to make an impact.  

Nuwanthie is a ballet enthusiast having taken ballet lessons when young.