Dr Benjamin Pitman – Chair
An artist and designer, Benjamin has also been involved in education, training and development since 1970, teaching at senior secondary, industry and university level.
Returned to Northland in 2013 after thirty-four years in Sydney and two in Kaua’i, Hawai’i. His other home is a 1762 stone village house in the south of France, deep in Cathar country where he teaches French and English and maintains a studio.
Benjamin spent many years as a Māori community leader in Sydney and was foundation secretary of Sydney Marae Incorporated and leader, Māori Satellite group, Rotary Club of Sydney CBD, serving also on the Sydney CBD Board as Community Services and International Director. He was made a Paul Harris Fellow in 2009.
He is active in Te Tiriti o Waitangi claims for Te Parawhau and Ngāti Hau. A great-great grandson of the Ngāti Hao o Ngāpuhi chief, Patuone, older brother of Tamati Waka Nene.
Graduate of the University of Auckland; Auckland Secondary Teachers’ College; University of NSW; University of Technology, Sydney; and, Catholic Institute of Sydney.
Iwi & Hapū Affiliations – Ngāpuhi: Ngāti Hao – Te Popoto; Te Parawhau; Ngāti Hau
Current Positions: Chairman, Te Parawhau ki Tai (Te Pouwhenua o Tiakiriri Kukupa Trust); Secretary and Leader, Business Development Unit, Akerama Marae; Member, Wairau Māori Art Gallery Charitable Trust Board and Trustee; Member, Haerewa Māori Advisory Board, Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tamaki; Trustee, Te Mana Toi o Hikurangi – Hikurangi Art Station; Member, Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery Project Control Group and, Project Action Team; Chairman, Creative Northland.
Sharon Morgan – Trustee (WDC Representative)
As Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Maungatapere/ Mangakahia Ward, Sharon feels it is a privilege to be appointed the Whangarei District Council representative on Creative Northland Board in this term of office. Since first entering Council in 2007, Sharon has focused considerable energy on working collaboratively to strengthen relationships within Whangarei’s culture, heritage and arts sector, and between Council, the sector and funding agencies. This has assisted in the presentation of many iconic Whangarei events, such as the Sculpture Symposium and Artbeat, as well as a range of new initiatives and exhibitions involving people from throughout the district.
Her guiding philosophy is built around expectation: expecting great things to happen, expecting better than mediocrity, expecting to receive great ideas, expecting to make a difference to the district’s culture, heritage and arts sector, and expecting others to support her vision and to act upon it.
Phone: (09) 430 0710 | Email: shazzmorgan7@hotmail.com
Hayley MacDonald – Trustee
Although she started her working life in Wellington, the sunny north is now well and truly home for Hayley and her family.
Hayley welcomes new challenges and recently transferred from private legal practice to a role as In-house Counsel for a former client organisation.
She advises the Board of any legal issues which may affect it or its stakeholders and ensures that the organisation follows best practice.
Hayley’s particular creative sector interests are dance and other performing arts but she has always had an interest in creative industries generally.
She views creative pursuits as an essential part of a healthy, thriving community and is pleased to be able to contribute support through her role on the Board.
Email: hayleymacolsen@gmail.com
