President
Annette Thomson
Nō Shetland Islands, Nō Sunderland ōku tīpuna
Kei Ōtautahi tōku kāinga
Ko Thomson tōku whānau
Ko Annette tōku ingoa
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BIO
Annette Annette is an experienced and passionate drama educator who completed her Master’s in Education in 2022. Her thesis was on Drama spaces: Voice, Body, Movement, Space: Perspectives and Pedagogical Endeavours of Three NZ Secondary Drama Teachers in their New Build Spaces”. Annette is currently working for Tātai Aho Rau – Core Education as a facilitator and the University of Canterbury as a Professional Practice Lecturer. Annette enjoys the creative and collaborative nature of the arts and is committed to supporting kaiako throughout Aotearoa.
Regional Rep
Cory Hare
Ko Toronteau te wao
Ko Micicaquean te awa, Nō Canada ōku tīpuna
Ko Hare tōku whānau
Ko Cory tōku ingoa
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BIO
Cory
Ko tēnei taku mihi ki ngā tāngata whenua o te rohe nei
Ka mihi hoki au ki ngā tohu o te rohe nei
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoaCory is the Head of Drama & Dance at Rosehill College. Hailing from the Great White North, Canada, Cory moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2014 and has worked throughout the motu. Having begun his passion and career in performing from an early age, Cory brings with him a vibrant background both on and off screen and stage. He is an enthusiastic and motivated kaiako devoted to his ākonga and to our taitamariki, and delivers a fresh perspective to Arts education in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Executive
Bridget Crooks
Ko Pokaka te maunga e rū nei taku ngakau
Ko Waipapa te awa e mahea nei aku māharahara
Nō Ingarihi ahau
E mihi ana ki ngātohu o nehe, o Kerikeri e noho nei au
Ko Bridget Crooks tōku ingoa
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BIO
Embracing the principles of āko, manākitanga, and kotahitanga, Bridget's journey began in Tamaki Makaurau and has led her to her current role as the Head of Department at Kerikeri High School in Tai Tokerau. With nearly three decades of experience, she is an experienced Educator of Drama and Entertainment and Event Technologies. Bridget's commitment to Drama shines through her substantial involvement in revising EET standards, driven by her passion for seamlessly integrating these awesome learning opportunities into senior Drama classrooms. Over the past two years, Bridget has been part of the Level One Drama pilot program, affording her a unique perspective on evolving standards and the lively discussions that propel change. As an advocate for enhancing the teaching and learning experience, Bridget is also a Microsoft Education Fellow. Her dedication to championing cutting-edge technologies and their potential to transform the Drama classroom is a hallmark of her work with ākonga. Collaboration and community-building are at the core of Bridget's professional ethos. Her journey with Drama NZ, which began in the 1990s under the name NZADIE, continues to this day. As a new member of the Drama NZ Executive, Bridget champions the power of unity and the endless possibilities that arise when likeminded individuals come together.
Vice President
Judy Norton
Nō Ateria, Poroni me Ingarangi ōku tipuna
Kei te noho au ki Tāmaki Makaurau
Ko Saint Kentigern Girls’ School tōku kura
Ko Judy Norton tōku ingoa
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BIO
Judy is Head of Drama at Saint Kentigern Primary schools. She has been a Specialist Primary Drama Teacher at Saint Kentigern Girls’ School for the past 23 years, teaching Year 1 – 8 classes and itinerant Speech and Drama lessons. She also owns and operates ‘Voice Activated’, a Speech and Drama studio. She is on Drama NZ’s National Executive as Primary Liaison. She has also been on the Auckland Regional Drama NZ Committee for the past five years. She is a trained primary school teacher with a Bachelor of Education and an LTCL in Speech and Drama.
Primary Rep
Samantha Bates
Nō Kōtarania Nō Airangi Nō wīwī ōku tipuna
Kei te noho au ki Ōtautahi
Ko Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo tōku kura
Ko Sam Bates tōku ingoa
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BIO
Samantha Sam is based in Christchurch. She is a trained Primary School teacher with 14 years teaching experience. For the last 9 years, Sam has specialised in teaching Performing Arts in Primary Schools. Prior to her teacher training at the New Zealand Graduate School of Education, Sam studied Art History at the University of Canterbury. She also has a background in Dance and Music. Sam has been on Drama NZ’s National Executive as a committee member for the past 2 years.
Executive
Kimberley Fridd
Ko Taranaki te māunga
Ko Hangatahua te awa
Ko Kurahaupō te waka
Ko Etahi Taputai tōku tīpuna
Ko Taranaki tōku iwi
Ko Ngā Māhanga tōku hapū
Ko Oākura tōku marae
Kei Ōtepoti tōku kāinga
Ko Michael, Georgia, Matilda tōku whānau
He whakaari kaiako ahau i te Kāreti o John McGlashan
Ko Kimberley Fridd tōku ingoa
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BIO
Kimberley Kimberley has been head of Drama at John McGlashan College in Ōtepoti since 2011 (teaching Yrs 7-13), before that, she was TiC Drama at Tauranga Boys’ College for 3.5 years, before going on maternity leave to have her two daughters. She is Curriculum Fellow (Secondary Drama programme MTchgL) at the University of Otago, and co-founder of the Health & Wellbeing for Arts Education Collective. She was Drama NZ Otago-Southland Regional Rep/Chairperson for 8 years, before coming back on the Executive. She has a GradDip Tchg Ed (Sec), DipGrad, Adv Cert. TV Prod, and a B.A (Theatre Studies).
Treasurer
Samantha Wehipeihana
Nō Aotearoa tōku tipuna
Kei te noho au ki Taitoko (Levin)
Ko Horowhenua College tōku kura
Ko Samantha Wehipeihana tōku ingoa
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BIO
Samantha is the Assistant Principal of Horowhenua College. She is a passionate Drama teacher who has trained in both Primary and Secondary education. Throughout her 13-year teaching career, Sam has worked in New Zealand, England and Brunei. Whilst abroad, she worked for the Ministry of Education in Brunei to revamp and develop their national Drama Curriculum. The Arts have always been a part of her life having been in shows from a young age; this inspired her to want to share her experiences with students. Her teaching inspiration is seeing the students grow in confidence and develop their own self-belief.
Executive
Anna Turner
Nō Wēra, nō Carlise, nō Kent ōku tipuna
Kei te noho au ki Ōtautahi
Ko St Margarets College tōku kura
Ko Anna Richardson tōku ingoa
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BIO
Anna started her career at Rotorua Girls’ High School as TIC Drama, contributing to the co-curricular space directing scenes for the Sheliah Winn Shakespeare Festival, supporting Stage Challenge, choreographing, and eventually directing the school musical, in conjunction with Rotorua Boys’ High School. In 2013 she moved to Epsom Girls’ Grammar School, where she worked as the Head of Department, the Arts and Cultural Coordinator and the Director of musicals in conjunction with Auckland Grammar School. She is a SGCNZ alumna, has been a contractor for NZQA, is a trained Speech and Drama Teacher, as well as dancing semi-professionally with AMJAZZ Creative in Rotorua. She is an educational content creator and writer, collaborating with Auckland Live, Nightsong, New Zealand Dance Company, Massive Theatre Company and most recently with Auckland Theatre Company and The Court Theatre. Throughout 2023 Anna was the NCEA Implementation Facilitator for Dance and Drama at the Ministry of Education, supporting kaiako across the motu with the implementation of NCEA Level One. At the beginning of 2024 she joined the staff of St Margaret’s College as the Director of Co-curricular Arts.
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.
Albert Einstein
