Our presenters

Austin, proudly from Ōtautahi/Christchurch, is a professional theatre-maker based in Wellington. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in theatre from Victoria University of Wellington and regularly performs with Playshop, The Improvisers, FIDKarts and produces independent work. He co-founded VUW’s dedicated improv club mmmpop Improv and created the interactive crime-thriller phenomenon Magnus Steele (nominated Most Promising Emerging Artist, NZ Fringe 2020). Austin performs and produces work all over Aotearoa. He recently established On the Spot Studios, hosting improvisation, dance and drama classes for young people.

Novae7: Leading the Way in Comprehensive Training Solutions 

Novae7 are dedicated to providing top-tier training solutions across various domains, including employment, sales, and education. As part of this commitment to addressing the evolving needs of people, we are excited to announce the development of a new course focused on men’s well-being and ageing.

This initiative comes in response to a growing market demand for support and guidance for men navigating the challenges associated with aging. 

Presenter, Brendon Harris, brings a wealth of skills and experience - from having created and then sold his own successful digital marketing company - through to having worked in fitness clubs and as a sports radio DJ.

These days Brendan creates and delivers workshops in subjects as diverse as employment, through to education and men's health. His engaging manner, matched with his love of helping people to realise their own potential, sees Brendon offering this course to help you understand your own health and aging.

Cat Connor is a crime thriller author, New Zealander, and instigator of trouble. By day she’s a warm body in Writers Plot Bookshop in Upper Hutt, NZ where she spends time answering questions from authors (budding, new, and established) and sharing the joy of kiwi authors with kiwi readers, she also teaches writing classes via the book shop. By night she writes crime novels; wrangles teenagers; enjoys the company of Bucky Barnes & Timmy the guinea pigs and wrestles Patrick the kitten. She flourishes on coffee, tequila, travel, knitting, reading, binge watching Netflix series, and a lot of music - not necessarily in that order and usually not all at once.

For the last fifteen years Cat has been writing The Byte Series: Which follows FBI Special Agent Ellie Conway on her journey as a member of an elite FBI team that functions on dark humor, close relationships, and strong coffee. Each book is a standalone story with the same core characters. 

Cat was published by Rebel ePublishers in the USA for 10 years and her short stories appeared in many ezines, journals, and magazines in the UK and USA. In late 2018 her publisher closed and she (with two other Rebels) formed 9mm Press.
Cat hosted a large writing workshop every fortnight at Upper Hutt City Library from 2012-2015 - that group produced three collections of short stories that were published via Writers Plot Bookshop.

 www.catconnor.com

 and

 www.writersplot.org.nz

Catherine Anderton has been sewing for the past 40 years and has worked in costume departments for film, opera, TV and theatre.

Catherine spent two years working for Sally Eagle Bridal and has two years experience tutoring sewing for Whitecliff Fashion Tech.  She is qualified to certificate level in Adult and Tertiary Teaching.

Catherine loves to create a warm and friendly class environment, embracing what learners bring to the classroom and helping them to achieve their best results!

Chris Dunn loves working with clay, using colour and design to create images and impressions inspired by New Zealand’s natural and lived environment. The decoration on his work reflects the energetic, diverse and changing climate and culture of Wellington city, its harbour and country side.  

Chris has been the selector for the Hutt Art Society Potters exhibition and for Ceramicus, the Wellington Potters’ exhibition. He has also been the resident potter at the Wellington and Canberra Potters Societies, and a mentor to developing ceramic artists at the Otaki Pottery Group on the Kapiti Coast.

Daniel knows pretty much all there is to know about boning and using meat products. He is passionate about teaching others to have the skills he has spent a lifetime learning and using. He believes if people learn to bone out their own meat then they'll learn how to save money, make healthy food and use these skills for themselves.

Daniel has trained apprentices, owned his own business and has been working as a butcher for his whole life.

Dr Debra Fraser PhD is a Mindbody therapist, supervisor, group facilitator and researcher (previously a Health Psychologist).

Join Debra on this workshop exploring the most up-to-date models and practices for living a more present, resilient, thriving life. With more than 35 years’ experience in the health, pain, and trauma field she offers a wealth of information and practical knowledge. This workshop provides the theory, tools, and strategies needed to begin to address and change some of what stops you leading a more fulfilling life.

Affiliations - PGDipPsychPrac, MA (Psych), MNZ Psych Society, MNZ InstHealth Psych, MNZ Pain Society, Assoc Mber Waka Oranga (National Collective of Mãori Psychotherapy Practitioners).

Donna Banicevich Gera is a Wellington-based writer.

She has a BA (Hons) in English, Theatre, Film & Media Studies, an Advanced Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing, a Certificate in Writing for Documentary, a Certificate in International Theatre Directing, and an MA in Creative Writing (Scriptwriting) from the International Institute of Modern Letters, Victoria University of Wellington.

Donna’s work has been produced for radio, page, stage, and screen, with her stage plays being presented in New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Austria, and USA. Her main area of interest is writing of other cultures, telling migrant stories, exploring themes of lost identity, and developing work with a strong multi-cultural feel.

She has had several overseas artists’ residencies, and attended many offshore workshops, seminars and conferences, enabling her to acquire knowledge and write outside of her native homeland.

In addition to her own writing, Donna teaches writing workshops and is experienced in motivating others to achieve their goals - creative, academic, and professional. She is inspired by her students exploring the creative power of the imagination.

 ‘One never goes as far when one knows where one is going’ - Christopher Columbus