Staff
Janet Bayly—Director, Curator: Janet has been director curator of Toi MAHARA since 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (1976) and a Master of Fine Arts (1979) in photography, film and art history from Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, and has worked for numerous galleries and museums around New Zealand.
Victoria Robson—Curator, Collections Manager: Victoria is an independent curator and researcher with specialist interests in European fine prints and modern British art. Formerly curator of European and International Art at Te Papa, Victoria has a long standing relationship with Toi MAHARA, especially with regard to Frances Hodgkins and the Field Collection.
Kohai Grace—Curator Toi Māori: Kohai Grace’s iwi affiliations include Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Porou. She has a Masters of Māori Visual Arts (MMVA) from Massey University. She is an established artist and toi educator with many years experience exhibiting and curating toi (Māori art) exhibitions.
Vicki Jackways—Business Manager: Vicki comes from a long career in the film, TV and post production industry, with a broad range of marketing, production and administration skills and experience. Her role as Business Manager is to support the Gallery team in all aspects of the functionality of the building and operational processes and systems and having grown up on the Kapiti Coast, lived and worked all over New Zealand and overseas, she is loving the short commute to work in such a creative and beautiful environment.
Monica Turner—Marketing and Public Programmes Manager: Monica has worked in arts administration, marketing, and event management in New Zealand and overseas for more than 20 years. Monica was the director of the Arts and Culture programme at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, an assessor for Creative New Zealand, and a board member for the Wellington Japan Festival.
Libby Richardson—Accounts Administrator: Libby brings with her strong organisational skills and over 20 years of experience across a varied range of financial administration roles. She has worked across education, banking, share broking, auditing and small business management.
Trustees
Gordon Shroff (Chairperson) is a former senior civil servant with an interest in the arts. He graduated in History from Auckland University in 1967 and joined the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, serving in New York, London and Samoa during his career. In the mid-1980s he headed the New Zealand Immigration Service. He was President of the Friends of Te Papa from 2012 to 2015 and served on the Friends’ Board for eight years. He was admitted as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2004.
Glen Wiggs has a background in law and marketing and has been a leader in regulation of advertising for over 28 years. He was Executive Director of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in New Zealand for more than 14 years before establishing the Foundation for Advertising Research (FAR). He was for seven years an Adjunct Professor of Advertising Regulation at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. He was admitted as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2009.
David Shand (Treasurer) worked for the World Bank, IMF, and OECD before returning to New Zealand in 2006. He is a graduate in economics and accountancy from Victoria University of Wellington. He is currently an independent director of Auckland City Mission Housing Ltd. He was formerly chair of the Tertiary Education Commission, a member of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, chair of the 2007 Rates Inquiry and a director of Meridian Energy. He was a board member of the NZ Portrait Gallery for eight years. He has held a financial advisory role in his iwi, Ngai Tahu.
Andrew Sexton BArch (Hon) joined the board in late 2022, as an independent Director. A member of the NZ Institute of Architects, Andrew owns and manages his own award-winning architectural practice—Andrew Sexton Architects, established in Wellington in 2004—and now more recently based in Mahara Place, Waikanae.
Dr Warren Young joined the board in 2024. Dr Young brings his previous experience as Chair of Arts Access Aotearoa to Toi MAHARA. He has spent 30 years working in, and studying, aspects of the criminal justice system. He has been an academic, senior civil servant, law reformer and most recently General Manager of the Independent Police Conduct Authority. In 2015 he was appointed a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for services to the law.
BOARD MEMBERS
Ann-Maree Ellison is the Te Āti Awa representative on the board of trustees, Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Tahu. With expertise in Education and Environmental management, her personal goal is to lift the educational achievements of Iwi/Māori. She currently holds positions as Whakarongotai Marae Trustee, Raukawa Foundation, Te Āti Awa Charitable Trust, Cultural Heritage Liaison Group M2PP, Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti, To Ohu Taiao, Town Centre Working Group, ART Forum, Māori Economic Development Board, Ara Tahi, Te Upoko Taiao, and is an accredited Environmental Commissioner.
Liz Koh is an active Rotarian, former Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, founding Chair of Kāpiti Economic Development Association (KEDA) and Trustee of Creative Kāpiti Charitable Trust. For nine years Liz Koh served as the Deputy Chair of the Nikau Foundation and established the Nikau Kāpiti Fund and Creative Kāpiti Fund.
Tonchi Begovich (Waikanae Community Board Representative) is a Registered Quantity Surveyor, a member of the Waikanae Community Board and Co-Owner of Diamond Residential Ltd a local Waikanae residential home builder. Tonchi also works as NZ Construction Manager for Bode. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the commercial and residential construction and build environment. Tonchi is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors and New Zealand Institute of Building.