Mahara Gallery Board strengthened for new post-rebuild era

An international civil servant and the deputy chair of the Waikanae Community Board have joined the Mahara Gallery Trust Board.

Board Chairman Gordon Shroff says the appointments reflect the need to add new skills and experience to the board as the Gallery prepares for the future that will follow completion of the planned rebuild scheduled for late 2022.

David Shand worked for the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and OECD before returning to New Zealand in 2006.

He was also 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 and chaired its finance committee. He has held a financial advisory role in his iwi, Ngai Tahu.

Margaret Stevenson-Wright, who is currently deputy-chair of the Waikanae Community Board, held a range of key roles within the education sector including at AIT (now the Auckland University of Technology), director of executive development at Victoria University of Wellington and key roles within the Public Sector.   

Within NZQA she managed the development of art, craft and design qualifications and with the Department for Courts, the development of the first qualification for Court Registrars.  

She served for five and a half years on Massey’s HUHEC Ethics Committee and is a Justice of the Peace.

“Margaret strengthens our links with the Waikanae Community Board which has been a loyal supporter of the Gallery and the Redevelopment Project,” said Gordon Shroff. “She also brings valuable experience in the education and public sectors.

“Apart from his academic qualifications in economics and accountancy, David brings skills in governance as well as experience in arts administration.

“The experience of both new board members will be valuable as we work through the Gallery rebuild and the development of the post-rebuild gallery model.”

One current member of the Board, Emeritus Professor Les Holborow is stepping down after serving as both a board member and Chair but maintaining his interest in the redevelopment project.