Secondment from Wintec brings new leadership for Creative Waikato

Wintec academic and researcher Dr Jeremy Mayall will join Creative Waikato on an industry secondment as interim Acting Chief Executive.

A collaboration with a view to furthering arts pathways for the Waikato community will see Wintec Research Leader, Dr Jeremy Mayall seconded as Acting Chief Executive to Creative Waikato.

From August until December this year, Jeremy will share his time between the two organisations, as Acting Chief Executive of Creative Waikato and Research Leader and Postgraduate Supervisor for Wintec School of Media Arts.

Head of the School of Media Arts at Wintec, Sam Cunnane says the industry secondment is a partnership that’s useful for both organisations and a new lens for Wintec.

“This is a leadership development opportunity for Jeremy and a partnership that gives both organisations greater collective impact. It’s an exciting catalyst for new creative leadership in the Waikato region.”

Jeremy, a researcher, composer, producer and performer has a holistic view of art for the Waikato region. Alongside his role at Wintec as a Research Leader, he has been working professionally in the industry for a number of years. This has included working in musical performance, installation, musical theatre, recording and film scores and collaborating with people across many arts disciplines.

His projects through Wintec and with Creative Waikato have included Piano and Eggs, Tasty Tunes, Te Ruru Light Festival, and the New Works Incubator, a regional performing arts development programme. He says a focus for the next six months at Creative Waikato will be working with the team to continue to connect with local authorities to support and strengthen arts and culture in the wider Waikato region.

"I am thrilled to have been offered this interim acting chief executive role. This industry secondment strengthens the connection between Wintec and Creative Waikato and can enhance our collective impact in the region. This is an opportunity to be involved in the great work that Creative Waikato does, as well as providing an avenue to explore capability building through developing further arts pathways for our community.

“This secondment allows for a broader strategic view of the arts, and its relationship to our ongoing vision for research,” says Jeremy.

Sarah Nathan, the previous Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Creative Waikato recently left to take up a role in London and Creative Waikato have searched for a replacement. Creative Waikato Chair Amanda Hema says that despite optimism, the Creative Waikato board did not find the right person to effectively serve the region in a CEO capacity.

“We decided to explore an interim solution that would result in local arts expertise and leadership, and we believe the opportunity to draw on Jeremy’s expertise and skillset is going to be very beneficial for the arts across the Waikato region."

“Jeremy has been actively engaged with Creative Waikato on numerous creative projects and we believe this partnership between Wintec School of Media Arts and Creative Waikato will provide an avenue to develop further arts pathways for our community. We look forward to what this new chapter holds for Creative Waikato and our wider community.” 

The Creative Waikato board will consider sourcing candidates for the CEO position later in 2019.

Read Dr Jeremy Mayall’s bio here. 

Find out more about Wintec School of Media Arts.

Read more:

The curious, the creative and the unexpected will converge at Ramp Festival
International artist join line-up for Ramp Festival launch
Scholarship winner is mining his musical talent