Dee Paranihi

General Manager

Dee has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector in fundraising and events, and she has also owned her own business and worked extensively overseas. Previously as National Partnership Manager for the Graeme Dingle Foundation, Dee oversaw the national strategy for fundraising and was extensively involved in some exciting events. 

Her professional focus is working for an organisation that allows her to do more than just have a job, giving back to the community and doing something really worthwhile.

Dee says “This role really ticks so many boxes for me, it is supporting Women’s Refuge New Zealand while also showcasing amazing art. I love the fact that it has a growing schools programme which engages the local community by working with schools at all levels.”

In her personal life, Dee is the busy mum of 4 children, she loves sport and the outdoors. In the weekends you will find her on the sidelines cheering her kids on while coaching or managing most of their team sports. Growing up on a farm, Dee has a 'roll up your sleeves and get involved' attitude, she doesn’t sit around much. 
 

Sally Lush

Curator

For 30 years Sally Lush has been creating, managing and curating creative spaces for artists to enable them to pursue their creative dreams. These ventures have included co-owning 2 art galleries, Art by the Sea and Art Of This World, both in Devonport, project managing (2007) the set up and curating the annual exhibitions at Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens for 10 years until 2018 and in 2012, 2014 and 2016 curating the sculpture exhibitions at Harbourview Sculpture Trail, Te Atatu Peninsula. In 2015, 2016 and 2017 she curated the Parnell street event for White Night as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Lush has also mentored artists in the ArtsLab programme at The Depot Artspace, organised the education programme at Lake House Arts Centre and managed the Helensville and Quarry Art Centres.
As a practicing artist since 1999, Lush explores a sense of place, belonging and personal discovery through her paintings, sculptures and sculptural installations.

“I am delighted to be able to use my skills, experience and passion for sculpture to curate this exhibition to raise the profile and funds for the valuable work the Women’s Refuge New Zealand does in supporting women who find themselves and their families in very difficult situations and in need of refuge.”
 

Peter Allen

Events Operations Manager

Peter has been running his own event management company for the last 12 years working with clients such as The Warehouse Group (The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming and Torpedo7), Paperplus, Pernod Ricard, New Zealand Red Cross and Sealord. Previous to this he was an Internal Communications Project Manager for one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains.

Peter is also a newly elected member of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.

He says: “You cannot beat a live event, and over the last 12 years, I have been lucky enough to produce corporate and community events/activations as well as public facing events. This has allowed me to work with some amazing suppliers, people, local council departments and community groups from many different cultures and regions around New Zealand.

NZ Sculpture OnShore has an amazing history. It showcases New Zealand art, raises money for Women’s Refuge New Zealand and is set at Operetu Fort Takapuna, one of the North Shore’s most beautiful spots. 

I was disappointed that we could not go ahead with the live event in 2021, so I am excited to be on the team again for the 2023 event!”

Tatjana Ratsdorf

Artist and Systems Co-ordinator

Tatjana is an event & arts manager specialising in working with not-for-profits and social enterprises. She has been a member of the NZ Sculpture OnShore artistic team since 2018. 

Tatjana has an arts, design and event management background. She also enjoyed a number of years lecturing on events at AUT University and has always been passionate about the arts, community and the environment.

Tatjana loves working on events and the spaces in between. After a long stint of working in business events, she has shifted her focus toward dedicating her time to event and project management in the arts and community sector.

When not eventing, Tatjana loves to spend time on her rural block with her family and menagerie of furry and feathered friends. She loves exploring nature on foot and horseback, and you can often find her taking the plunge off a springboard into the water.

The Board

Back Row (left to right): Trisha Whiting, Paul Walsh, John Bierre, Kim Boyd

Front Row: Kathryn Todd, Sally Dewar (Chair), Sandra Smedhäll, Rose Evans

FOWR Trustees

Back row (left to right): Fiona White, Emma Algie, Jo Eve, Janet Hird, Jo Kitteridge, Victoria Holtelius and Ruth McGill.

Learn more about Friends of Women's Refuges Trust here