Back row, left to right: Trevor Snookes, Val O’Reilly, Deputy Chairperson Emme Stols, Wenmiao Bian, Taryn Ramsay, Jake Officer // Front: Karen Gardiner, Chairperson Chris Cooper, General Manager Clint Taniguchi (Trustee Kathie Boyd not in photo)
Board of Trustees
The Mairangi Arts Centre is a Charitable Trust which employs a small team dedicated to the day-to-day running of the Centre. MAC’s overarching governance is administered by a Trust Board. Board members serve on a three-year, voluntary basis and are responsible for achieving the centre’s long term vision and strategic objectives, and for ensuring that we continue to serve the needs of the local community
Trustees’ Profiles
Chris Cooper, Chairperson
Chris has been a Mairangi Bay resident for the past 22 years. He retired from a career in commerce and industry, as Head of Finance for the NZ operation of a multinational business. Retirement has allowed Chris to rekindle his interest in painting as he attends weekly classes at MAC. Chris states that he has a certain amount of spare time in retirement and see that as an opportunity to give something back to the Mairangi Bay Community.
Emme Stols, Treasurer
Emme relocated to the beautiful Bays almost 4 years ago, and settled in Mairangi Bay in 2021. She has been in the art supply industry for over 30 years and she has a passion for sculpture, pottery, and mosaic. Emme holds a Business Management Degree and intends to pursue further studies this year. The Mairangi Arts Garden and its continual evolution is a project that is of particular interest to Emme. She is looking forward to contributing to the growth and community inclusion at the Mairangi Arts Centre.
Karen Gardiner
Karen Gardiner is a local resident, teacher and trustee of The Chartwell Trust, a privately managed charitable trust whose mission is to support and articulate the value and impact of the visual arts. She is co-Director of the Chartwell outreach project called Squiggla, which encourages everyone to understand themselves as creative thinkers through the power of mark making. She hopes to enable a deeper engagement by the local community in the processes of thinking, seeing, doing and being through art and creative visual thinking for all.
Wenmiao Bian
Wenmiao is a resident of Torbay and was a corporate lawyer of multinational companies in Beijing, China before her family moved to New Zealand in 2015. Since coming to New Zealand, Wenmiao has continued her service in the legal and education fields and has been deeply involved in the local community as a volunteer. She is one of the founders and the project manager of the Families Growth and Thrive Charitable Trust, a non-profit organization based in North Shore providing cultural and educational support to new migrant families. Wenmiao is dedicated to promoting opportunities for new immigrants to learn about, engage with and participate in local New Zealand arts and culture.
Dr Val O’Reilly
Dr Val O’Reilly (Kāi Tahu) is from Te Wai Pounamu/the South Island and has lived on the North Shore for over 30 years. Val believes creative practice is an important expression of, and outlet for, individual and community identity. Although her first love is painting, Val has studied raranga (traditional Māori weaving), toi ataata (Māori visual arts), and recently started a journey in ceramics with the Mairangi Arts Centre. In her mahi with colleagues at The Career Development Company, Val works with individuals and organisations across New Zealand to support their career journeys.
Jake Officer
Jake is a full-time Law and Commerce student, majoring in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He has lived in Abu Dhabi for 11 years and in Mairangi Bay for the past 7 years. Jake spent years at the Mairangi Tennis Club and enjoys being part of an axe-throwing league. He is committed to using the skills from his studies in a practical way to give back and positively impact his community.
Trevor Snookes
Trevor has been involved in education all his life. Serving as a school principal for many years , Trevor’s career has transitioned to now currently as an Evaluative Lecturer at AUT. Always been interested in art, he is a talented artist who gives his artworks away. Trevor look s forward to contributing to the MAC as a Trustee.
Management Staff
Proudly supported by
