Arts Funders convening
 
Simon Bowden
The Arts Foundation
Simon has been leading the Arts Foundation since 2002. Prior to this, he was the Director of the Wellington Jazz Festival. Simon studied at the Wellington Conservatorium of Music in the late 90s and he is still actively involved in music. His band C.L.Bob, won Jazz album of the year in 2002. At the Arts Foundation, Simon has raised over $10 million in donations, non-government grants and sponsorship. He has also negotiated legacy promises of $30 million. The donation based crowdfunding website that he conceived, Boosted, has raised over $4 million for arts projects.
 
Cath Cardiff
Creative New Zealand
Cath joined Creative New Zealand in 2000. She has been involved in the performing arts since she was five when she pestered her parents to send her to ballet lessons. This led to a career in dance that spanned 20 years and included periods as Artistic Director for LIMBS Dance Company and Resident Choreographer at the Mercury Theatre in Auckland.  

Cath moved into producing, working with many companies and artists including Douglas Wright Dance Company and Shona McCullagh’s The Human Garden. Cath’s highlight from this period was producing the critically acclaimed 1995 season of Think of Garden by Samoan playwright John Kneubuhl which won four Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. Before joining Creative New Zealand, Cath also worked at Auckland Live as a programmer for theatre, dance and contemporary music. 

Cath joined Creative New Zealand as Adviser, Dance and Theatre and has moved on to hold a number of senior managerial roles within the agency, including in the audience and market development, capability building and international programmes. 
 
Georgie Ferrari
Wellington Community Trust
Georgie has more than 25 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, working in the areas of youth, health, housing, disability, education and violence prevention in New Zealand, New South Wales and Victoria, Australia. Georgie has lived and worked in Melbourne for the last 15 years, and served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria for 14 years. Georgie holds a masters degree in policy and human service management from RMIT.
 
Amanda Hereaka
Wellington City Council
Amanda has been a Funding Advisor at Wellington City Council since 2017. Previously Amanda has worked in fundraising and sponsorship roles for numerous arts organisations in Wellington and New Zealand including Capital E, Taki Rua Productions, as well as the Fringe, Comedy and Jazz Festivals. She is mother to 3 school-aged children, and in her spare time she is busy volunteering for Kahurangi School and producing large scale community events on the Miramar Peninsula.
 
Tony Paine
Philanthropy New Zealand
Tony has over 30 years’ experience in not-for-profit leadership and management working in the health, social service and cultural sectors in New Zealand. Tony’s career began as a psychiatric social worker and includes work with the NZ AIDS Foundation, the Christchurch Methodist Mission, and as CEO of the Comcare Trust, the Christchurch Arts Centre and Victim Support NZ. He took up the role of Secretary General (CEO) New Zealand Red Cross in September 2013. Tony served on the Board of Housing New Zealand Corporation for five years and has a Masters in Management Studies from Waikato University. He is married with two daughters.
 
Anne Rodda
James Wallace Arts Trust
Anne is a sought-after not-for-profit leader in New Zealand. Alongside her role as Executive Director of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition which she developed in 2001, she is the inaugural CEO of the James Wallace Arts Trust. Anne started her career as a professional cellist and successfully combined a career in performance, education and arts administration in the Boston area until immigrating to New Zealand over 20 years ago. She has served in the role of General Manager at The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Auckland Writers & Readers Festival and NZ Sculpture OnShore and as Executive Officer of the Cognition Education Trust. She lectures in arts management; and is a member of the NZ Institute of Directors and the Project Management Institute.