Who We Are

Glenn was appointed a Foundation trustee in 2015 and chair in 2022. He is the joint founder and chairman of Avanti Finance. Glenn’s interest and passion for the visual arts led to him and his wife Sonja founding MyART, a local provider of interest-free loans with the purpose of making owning art more accessible.

Along with fellow trustee, Jonty Edgar, Glenn is responsible for the

foundation’s investment portfolio, with external financial advice from JBWere.

Glenn says “I consider Auckland Art Gallery to be an integral part of Auckland’s creative culture. Working alongside my fellow trustees to fully support our Gallery is a very rewarding experience.”

Jonty joined the Foundation in 2016. He is deputy chair and sits on the investment committee managing the Foundation’s endowment fund.

Jonty joined Forsyth Barr in 2015 and is co-head of markets / executive director, Asia. He has over 20 years of experience in Asian equity capital markets, most recently as a managing director, country head of Hong Kong and China and head of sales – Asia, at Religare Capital Markets.

Jonty was the founder of Aviate Global. Prior to that, he was with Credit Suisse for 12 years where he had roles in London and Hong Kong focused on Asia and the Hedge Fund product.

Sue is chair of the Chartwell Charitable Trust, a New Zealand philanthropic Trust started by her father, Rob Gardiner CNZM, which supports the visual arts and strengthens knowledge about the creative process. She is a director of Squiggla, Chartwell’s participatory project to encourage more of us to understand ourselves as creative people. She is co-director of the Chartwell Collection, a major public art collection which is on long-term loan to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

Sue’s focus within the visual arts extends to access and education, engagement through writing and art tours, philanthropy, fundraising, arts governance and research. She was a board member of Artspace Aotearoa for 12 years and is currently a member of the CAST (Centre for Arts and Social Transformation) advisory board at the University of Auckland. She is also a board member of the McCahon House Trust in Auckland. Sue was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the arts in 2019. Sue has been a Foundation trustee since 2013.

With extensive experience advising private collectors and acting as a consultant to corporate collections, museums and public institutions, John Gow is an expert in New Zealand art. Along with Gary Langsford, John is a founding director of Gow Langsford Gallery and was director of John Leech Gallery.

Now with over thirty years in the industry, John has specialist expertise in historical New Zealand art and indigenous artefacts and a personal interest in collecting 19th and early 20th-century photography, contemporary New Zealand paintings and sculpture, and post-contact Maori objects.

Currently a member of the Northern Club Art Committee, John is also a member of the Mackelvie Trust Board which manages the bequest of the Mackelvie Estate to the Auckland Art Gallery. He also sits on the Spark Art Trust which owns and oversees the Spark art collection and the Britomart Arts Trust.

John joined the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation in 2022.

Susannah joined the Foundation as a trustee in 2019 and is passionate about growing private philanthropy in New Zealand.

After completing degrees in Law and Political Science at Victoria University of Wellington in 1997, Susannah started her career in London working in financial institutions where she gained a broad range of experience.

From 2008 to 2018 Susannah worked in the not-for-profit sector in New York City on a voluntary basis.  Along with membership of three other arts or women’s health boards, she was the Executive Director of the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust, 2011-2016.

Susannah has lived and worked in Asia, England and the United States for most of her life, returning to New Zealand in 2018 with her husband Paul and two daughters.

Auckland Art Gallery is a beloved part of her life in Auckland. Susannah says “It is a privilege to help grow Auckland Art Gallery’s impact through the Foundation.”

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Since becoming a trustee in 2013, Simon has provided or obtained invaluable legal advice to the Foundation. He was instrumental in the development of the Foundation’s repurposed trust deed after it raised $20 million for the capital redevelopment project. The new deed allows the Foundation to support Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in broader ways beyond the original capital redevelopment project. He is a senior consultant at the law firm Buddle Findlay, having been a corporate partner in the firm for over 20 years.

As part of their personal passion for collecting contemporary New Zealand art, Simon and his wife Lynn Whitfield established Lemonbone, an art leasing business providing an opportunity for others to enjoy contemporary art without owning it. Simon has also helped Buddle Findlay acquire a significant collection of primarily contemporary New Zealand art and Lynn has been a volunteer guide at Auckland Art Gallery for many years.

Simon says “Being part of Auckland Art Gallery Foundation has given Lynn, and me and a number of our friends, a lot of joy over the years. For us, it’s been a wonderful opportunity to learn more about art and to meet artists, curators, and other like-minded people who support Auckland Art Gallery as New Zealand’s leading visual arts institution.”

Sarah Hopkinson has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Art (Art History) from the University of Auckland (2005). Since graduating, Sarah has gained extensive experience working in the field of contemporary art, initially in academic institutions, as a curator of artist-run spaces, and more recently in leadership roles in commercial galleries. Sarah is based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, where she is founding director of the gallery Coastal Signs, and works as an independent art advisor.

Sarah became a trustee of the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation in 2021.

Paul Blackwell left school early and commenced work in retail immediately. He worked for Farmers trading Company, achieving management positions, before purchasing a bookshop in 1987. This was followed by two more before buying Matamata New World in 1993, and then moving on to open Albany PaknSave in 1998. This was sold in 2021.

Paul is now a Director and shareholder of Starbucks NZ, Burger King NZ, Ngahuia Group (which owns Number 1 Shoes and Hannahs),  and Milkbooks, an online photographic books business.

Paul has been married to Liz for 32 years and they have four children.

Jeremy is a barrister at Bankside Chambers, Auckland.  He is an experienced litigator and dispute resolution specialist, with particular expertise in commercial, insolvency, equity and trust law.

He is a fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand for arbitration, and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Jeremy serves as deputy legal advisor to the Primates of New Zealand and is Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch, where he acts as legal advisor to the Bishop and Synod. He is also a member of the board of the New Zealand String Quartet Trust, and an Old Boy and past president of the Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association.

Jeremy became a trustee of the Foundation in 2022.

Kriselle Baker splits her time between Waiheke and Auckland, where she works as an arts writer, editor, and publisher. She has a Ph.D. in Art History from The University of Auckland with an undergraduate degree in languages.

Kriselle was a founding member of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Contemporary Benefactors and has served on the Board of Te Tuhi and The Hotere Foundation.

Kriselle became a trustee of the Foundation in 2023.

Dayle, Lady Mace has been a long-standing patron of the arts and has for many years had a very close association with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

Dayle and her husband, Sir Christopher Mace, have been generous donors to the Gallery, from giving to the capital redevelopment project, to their long-term support of the Gallery’s patrons group and of the Foundation.

Dayle has given a substantial amount of time and energy in support of Auckland Art Gallery. She was one of the original trustees of the Foundation when it was formed in 2005 to raise funds for the capital redevelopment project and has continued as a trustee since then. Dayle took over the chair of the Patrons of Auckland Art Gallery from Dame Jenny Gibbs in 2002 and held this position until 2018. Since 2002 she has been a major donor to the Walters Prize, Aotearoa’s leading contemporary art award. She is also a long-standing trustee and current chair of the Edmiston Trust which partners with Auckland Art Gallery to acquire significant artworks for the collection, such as the George Rickey kinetic sculpture at the north entrance and the Reuben Paterson sculpture over the Gallery’s forecourt pool.

“It is a privilege to have been involved with Auckland Art Gallery and the Foundation in such a meaningful way over a long period of time. The Foundation is an important fundraising body assisting Auckland Art Gallery’s growth and development, and helping in its role to strengthen our communities through art,” says Dayle.

Dayle’s term as a trustee ended in February 2022. In recognition of her exceptional service and achievement on behalf of Auckland Art Gallery and the Foundation, she has been made trustee emeritus ensuring her continued involvement in growing support for the Gallery.

Andrew was Managing Director of the family business, Smith and Smith Limited, until 1987 and was Co-founder/Director of Metropolitan Glass from 1987 until it sold in 2006.

Andrew and his wife Jenny have a passion for the arts, driven by a deep understanding of the value of a public art gallery. They have given generous support to Auckland Art Gallery, including toward the redevelopment project of 2011, to help establish the Foundation’s endowment fund in 2016, transporting children from low-decile schools to enjoy special exhibitions at Auckland Art Gallery, for visual arts specialist staff’s professional development and for supporting education programmes at the Gallery.

Andrew joined Auckland Art Gallery Foundation board as a trustee in 2009 and served as chair from 2016 to 2020.  He has been on the Mackelvie Trust Board since 2009 and has served as chair since 2011. He also helped establish the Mackelvie Society in 2019 in order to support ongoing acquisitions for, and knowledge of, the Mackelvie collection.  Both Andrew and Jenny shared a long association with the Friends of Auckland Art Gallery and have been long-time supporters of the Patrons group.

In 2021 Andrew and Jenny were invited to become Life Benefactors of the Foundation.  They joined a distinguished group of philanthropists who have given generously, both financially and personally, in order to see Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki flourish in its role as the leading art gallery of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.

Andrew was made trustee emeritus in recognition of his exceptional service and achievement on behalf of Auckland Art Gallery and the Foundation, ensuring his continued involvement in growing support for the Gallery.

Suzanne is a dedicated philanthropist. Originally from North Carolina, Suzanne was travelling as a flight attendant and teaching. In the 1970s she moved to California where she had a successful real estate career in West Los Angeles.

As the chairperson of the Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation, Suzanne oversees Kayne Scholars, a holistic program dedicated to advancing the potential of low-income, first-generation college students to graduate from either California State University or the University of California. Suzanne has served on the board of directors for the Kayne Eras Center which provides special education for students with learning, emotional or developmental challenges. She arranged a merger with the Exceptional Children’s Foundation to provide support for children and adults with developmental challenges.

Suzanne is a member of the board of directors of the Garden Conservancy USA and supports a number of arts organisations around the United States, including serving on the board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (LACMA).

Suzanne has been married to her loving husband Ric for almost forty years. Together they have three daughters – an interior and fashion designer, an art gallerist, and a cultural anthropologist –  and five grandchildren.

Suzanne and Ric have a shared love of New Zealand. They have invested significantly to establish the country as a world-class golfing destination, including developing the globally-recognised Tara Iti and Te Arai golf courses north of Auckland.

Peter brings a wealth of experience to his role as independent chair of the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation investment committee. He has over 35 years of commercial experience across several organisations and countries. He spent 16 years working for Deutsche Bank/Bankers Trust, the last 10 of those in Singapore where he was a Managing Director within Deutsche’s Global Markets division. 

Peter is a trustee of Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation New Zealand, and he serves on the board of the King’s College Foundation and chairs the Foundation’s investment committee.  He is a Director of AF Capital, a private credit fund based in Auckland.  

The Foundation’s endowment fund is managed by JBWere financial consultants. As independent chair of the Foundation’s investment committee, Peter works closely with JBWere to ensure the endowment fund is managed effectively and responsibly.

Penny Dever has worked in arts and philanthropy since the 1990s when she managed the British Council’s Link Year celebrations with an extensive national arts programme, and later as the Manager Arts. She was responsible for the development of the McCahon House restoration and residency project until it opened in 2007.

Penny has been the manager of the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation since 2017.

Penny says “It’s a pleasure working with such a dedicated group of trustees who want to grow a strong Foundation that is integral to Auckland Art Gallery’s success and reputation as the leading visual art gallery in Aotearoa New Zealand.”