16 August 2007
Creative New Zealand announces appointment of new Chief Executive
Christopher Doig, Chair of the Arts Council of Creative New Zealand, announced today that the Council has appointed
Stephen Wainwright as the new Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand, this country’s leading arts development agency.
Stephen Wainwright has worked for Creative New Zealand since 1990. He has been Manager of Arts Infrastructure Services
since 2002 and was acting Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand earlier this year.
“The Arts Council is very pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Wainwright to this pivotal position for the
arts in this country. Stephen has previously led an important team within Creative New Zealand and impressed all the
Council members with his strong future vision for the organisation,” Christopher Doig said.
“In his previous positions within Creative New Zealand, Stephen has already demonstrated that he has the intellectual
rigour for the position and a well proven passion for, and understanding of, the sector. The Council has great faith
that these strengths, coupled with his sound strategic ability and warm personality, will be an ideal combination to
provide the strong leadership the Council is seeking to continue, following the excellent work of Elizabeth Kerr,”
Christopher Doig continues.
Stephen Wainwright has been involved with the strategic and business planning of Creative New Zealand for many years
and, more recently, has contributed to its organisational direction as a member of the Senior Management Team. He has
worked with the organisation’s many stakeholders and has provided strategic advice about the arts sector to Creative New
Zealand’s Council and Arts Board. As Manager of Arts Infrastructure Services, Stephen has also worked closely with the
36 arts organisations which receive regular Creative New Zealand funding to help develop their capability.
“I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to be Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand,” says Stephen. “The
organisation employs a tremendously dedicated group of people, who are committed to achieving great things for the arts
of this country, and I am proud to have been given the chance to lead them.
“I am extremely ambitious for the artists and arts organisations of New Zealand and am looking forward to working with
new Chair, Christopher Doig, to build on the legacy of progress of our predecessors Elizabeth Kerr and Peter Biggs,”
Stephen continues.
“My vision for Creative New Zealand is for it to be a strategic arts development agency which has the trust of all its
stakeholders and which focuses its investment on those areas where it can make the most difference for the long term
health and success of the New Zealand arts sector,” says Stephen.
“To achieve this vision, the organisation will engage in free and frank dialogue with the arts sector regarding our
mutual future priorities. Such dialogue will take place in a variety of ways and will include consultation with the
sector as Creative New Zealand develops its new strategic plan for the next three years.”
Stephen Wainwright will take up the position of Chief Executive on 21 August this year.
ENDS