Our team

Gerry Paul

General Manager

Gerry has recently moved to Te Tai Tokerau from Pōneke Wellington where he was Festival Director of CubaDupa, which in 2021 was touted as the largest post-lockdown festival in the world! He has also programmed the music for many of Wellington’s favourite events including Beers at the Basin, Beervana and Wellington Wine & Food. As a touring musician, Gerry has played music at over 500 festivals in over thirty countries with some of the biggest names in folk music.

Gerry comes to Kerikeri with his wife and daughter and as well as having a love for all things arts and entertainment – he is a keen spearfisherman and can be spotted chasing snapper and kingfish around the Cavalli Islands at the weekends.

Ginny Pearson

Event Coordinator

Originally from the UK, Ginny spent her early career as a private chef aboard luxury superyachts that took her around the world & back again. Since settling in New Zealand, her career as progressed to event management which fulfils her love of organising & attention to detail.

She is a busy mother to 2 nearly teenage girls and when time permits, she loves exercising, exploring the outdoors, cooking, entertaining & anything arty.

Iris Klapwijk

Operations & Finance Coordinator

Iris makes sure all aspects of the business run smoothly. She liaises with hirers about our Health and Safety requirements, drafts agreements, is responsible for our financial administration and she makes sure all our systems and departments work together.
Originally from the Netherlands, she’s now calls Kerikeri home. In her free time you can find her camping around Northland, hanging out with her young family or having dinner with friends.

Mariona Wesselo-Comas

Art Director & Communications Manager

Born in Barcelona and now based in Kerikeri, Mariona brings her creative experience from years as a Creative Art Director at top global ad agencies. With a background in Advertising, Fine Arts, and Computing in the Arts, she’s passionate about using creativity and design to connect people and spark ideas.

Mariona loves working on projects that engage and excite, whether they’re big productions, small moments of magic, or initiatives that bring communities together. Her journey has taken her from crafting campaigns for international brands to contributing to local arts and events here in Te Tai Tokerau.
Outside of work, she juggles life as a mum of three with training for half marathons, capturing moments through her camera lens, and sneaking in time to explore Northland’s trails and beaches.

Merv Pinny

Theatre & Studio Technician 

Merv has spent many years in the entertainment business as a performer and songwriter. 2013 he formed M Music Ltd a live production company and recording studio in Kerikeri. Working with many of New Zealand’s top artist as a sound engineer and has worked many local theatre productions. Merv is also the coordinator for the Local Launch Pad a new innovation to bring song writers in front of their local audiences.

Janette Walker

Visitor Experience Manager

Janette, originally from the UK, has lived in New Zealand for 21 years, the last 9 in Kerikeri. Janette brings a wealth of administration skills to the team, where her previous roles included working for various government departments.

Janette is our Visitor Experience Manager, which includes managing all our wonderful volunteers and casual staff here at the Turner Centre.

Janette is a passionate local photographer and loves nothing more than getting up close to nature, and capturing what the eye doesn’t always see. Janette exhibits her work in the Turner Centre exhibitions and the yearly Art Trails around Kerikeri and surrounding areas. Janette is a member of Kerikeri Theatre Company, and has been in lots of productions including Macbeth, Social Climbers and Calendar Girls, which was staged here at the Turner Centre back in 2019.

Cinna Smith

Funding & Community Engagement

Cinna engages with the community to identify opportunities for the Turner Centre to support our diverse communities to experience arts and culture. Born in Whangārei, Cinna returned to the north a decade ago after working across Aotearoa, Asia and the UK as a researcher and writer in the arts, media and television production. She is passionate about community arts, removing barriers to access, and using the arts to tell our stories.

Carol White

Chair

Carol currently works part time for Continence NZ and spent the last nine years working in the not for profit sector as Trust Manager of the Wilson Home Trust and Executive Director of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre. Prior to moving into the not for profit sector, Carol worked in management, marketing and finance roles in the television and internet industries.

Carol and her husband moved from Auckland to Kerikeri in February 2021, having spent many years boating in the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa Harbour. Carol enjoys the theatre and live performance and has been a volunteer ticket scanner at the Turner Centre since she arrived. She is delighted to now be able to use more of her skills and experience to help the Turner Centre in the next stage of its growth.

Joanne Roberts

Trustee

Joanne has lived in Kerikeri for the last few years with her husband and three sons, having moved up from the North Waikato where she lived all her life. Joanne has been an accountant for 16 years, working in public practice and is a chartered accountant with BDO Kerikeri. Joanne has a passion for the arts, and if she didn’t become an accountant was going to be an arts teacher. Joanne has been involved with community art organisations in the North Waikato, and the running of a ski lodge on Mount Ruapehu.

Joanne is excited to be a board member, and share her skills with the Turner Centre.

Mariao Tehuranga Hohaia

Trustee

Mariao graduated in 1992 from Northland Polytechnic Applied Arts Drama course working in NZ, and the UK, in writing, directing, acting, and theatre production.

Returning to Kerikeri in 2005, Mariao has worked for Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi for nearly a decade in both youth development and hapu development. He also serves on the Bay of Islands Arts Festival Trust (Upsurge).

Mariao is currently the Executive Manager of Tapuaetahi Incorporation and with him brings  manawhenua representation to the board on behalf of his hapu, Ngati Rehia.

Cara Pinny

Trustee

Cara has a real enthusiasm and dedication to helping businesses’ create great teams and get the most out of their people and has a Bachelor’s degree in Business majoring HR. She works fulltime as an Employment Relations and Health and Safety Consultant and Advisor and is looking forward to bringing these skills and experience to the Turner Centre.

Being a keen runner you will no doubt see her running around some of our great tracks in the Far North.

Kylie Mooney

Trustee

Kylie has worked in the professional services industry for most of her career with her last role as CEO for law firm Meredith Connell.

Kylie and her husband moved to Kerikeri in 2022 where they are enjoying boating, gardening and learning to play golf.  While they initially got involved with the Turner Centre volunteering behind the bar, Kylie is pleased to now be able to help the Turner Centre using her other skills and experience.

Babe Kapa

FNDC Council Observer

Babe’s experience extends; Stationmaster Railway Kaikohe, pioneering BOT member Green Park school Tauranga, qualified primary trained teacher, Principal, Special Education Facilitator/MOE Advisor, HOD Tikanga & Reo Mäori TV and currently Team Leader Attendance Services for Ngäpuhi Iwi Social Services Te Taitokerau.

Babe  is excited to be a part of the transformational opportunities that are on the horizon for the Turner Centre, especially in the ways that our wider communities can access, contribute to, and benefit from its potential.

Rachel Smith

Trustee
Rachel brings over two decades of governance experience and a passion for community empowerment. As an elected member of the Far North District Council for six years, she drove initiatives addressing climate change and digital inequities. Rachel’s national leadership includes advocating for diverse representation in governance and resourcing shifts in the arts sector.
Currently, as a Systems and Strategic Lead in a social innovation unit, she focuses on intergenerational health prevention through data-driven approaches. Rachel believes in the critical role of the arts in celebrating identity and promoting social cohesion. With her background in governance and dedication to community well-being, she brings valuable experience to the Turner Centre.

Jenni Prisk

Trustee

Jenni has coached hundreds of individuals and corporate teams in the United States and internationally in leadership and public speaking and is the author of Stand in Your Spotlight: An Ode to Living Fully.

Jenni founded Voices of Women a non-profit organisation that presented 80+ educational events and raised funds for  nonprofit organisations that support women and girls globally. For three years, Jenni chaired the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and then was appointed the President of the Association of California Commissions. She is a member of the San Diego Rotary Club where she founded the Peace Committee and is a member of Global Women New Zealand.

Locally, Jenni has directed productions of Macbeth and Blithe Spirit for the Kerikeri Theatre Company where she serves as a committee member.  Jenni and her husband have lived in San Diego for 40 years and now divide their time between California and the Bay of Islands!

David Clendon

Trustee
David has lived in Kerikeri for only 12 years, but has had a life-long association with the North. He has had a varied career, including time as a politician, an academic, a business adviser, a truck driver and a security guard. He has been on the governing body of a trust focused on enabling access to the arts, especially for young people, for over a decade.
His current part-time role in the heritage sector allows him time to enjoy volunteer work, and to indulge his passion for motorcycling.

Caroline Wells

Trustee
Caroline brings broad experience to the team with a career spanning Corporate Banking, Economic Development, Advertising, Recruitment, Small Business, and Environmental Advocacy. While in Advertising, Caroline produced award winning film, radio and photo campaigns cementing her love of all things creative.
Caroline is part of the Kerikeri/Waipapa civil defence team. At home, Caroline is mum to an awesome eight year old, a maine coon cat called Willis, and many flowering plants. Music is a constant feature in her home.

Andrew Burden

Trustee

With extensive experience in site management, construction management, and general management, Andrew has also owned construction companies and explored development projects. These experiences form the foundation of his current role as a Project Director, where he represents clients and oversees all aspects of their projects, from concept to handover.

Having purchased land in Kerikeri with his wife 20 years ago, Andrew and his family made their dream of relocating to Northland a reality earlier this year. His role at the Turner Centre marks an exciting new chapter, where he is keen to contribute his construction expertise to the facility’s development and apply his management skills to support the board’s work.