Our People

Peter Burn

Chairman

Peter’s professional roles include senior management positions at Air New Zealand including representing the company for 14 years in North America and Europe.

He has worked as a consultant to Auckland Local Government for several years and has owned his own aviation services business.

Peter grew up in Milford and was a foundation pupil at Westlake High School. He has previously been a city councilor, community board chair and is involved with several community organisations on the North Shore in governance roles.

Fiona McMillan

Deputy Chair

Fiona is the Employment Law Partner at Lane Neave, Auckland. She has been practicing law since December 2007. Lane Neave is a full service law firm with offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.

Fiona is on the Board of Lane Neave and has a keen interest in the arts. She is proud to be on the Board of the North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust and looks forward to being a part of the growth of the PumpHouse Theatre.

Brenda Magee

Treasurer

Brenda was a member of the New Zealand Institute of Accountants from 1970 until she retired in 1999. Her working life was mainly with Inland Revenue in the audit division.

Brenda coordinates the Milford Combined Probus Travel Club and volunteers with Hospice North Shore, and in The PumpHouse box office. She is an intrepid traveller, regularly heading off to exotic locations such as Cuba, Iran, and India.

Brenda hails from the Falkland Islands and moved to New Zealand in 1958.

Jeff Philp

Secretary

Jeff is an IT professional with an extensive background in volunteer community theatre where he has a particular interest in lighting and sound.

He has held governance roles on a variety of theatre committees and boards around Auckland’s North Shore.

Margie Hart

Margie is an enthusiastic supporter of all the arts, and especially The PumpHouse.

Experienced as a performer, musical director and judge she is a life member of North Shore Music Theatre.

Her working career was at the ASB Trusts (now Foundation North) for 20 years as Secretary/Property Manager and events organiser.

Margie was also a member of the Community Grants Committee of the former North Shore Council and is Secretary of Friends of Takapuna Library.

Peter Baird

Most of Peter’s working life was in accounting and office administration roles.

He particularly enjoys the musical side of the arts, and in the mid 1970’s was club treasurer for the North Shore Operatic Society (now the North Shore Music Theatre) and was in the chorus line for a number of their shows.

Peter is also Treasurer of Friends of Takapuna Library.

Michelle Atkinson

Michelle is an experienced governor, serving over five years as board member at Auckland District Health Board where she was Deputy Chair of statutory committees and a Trustee of Starship Foundation. Michelle has also served on governance groups at every level of District Health Boards and some community health initiatives.

Michelle has been involved in community and independent theatre on the Shore for over a decade, including performing and directing many times at the PumpHouse. She is a committee member of Shoreside Theatre.

Michelle currently contracts as a healthcare evaluator and researcher.

Jill Thomas

Jill has over 30 years in consumer marketing, making a significant contribution across organisations by increasing profitability and market share through innovative traffic generating campaigns.

She has worked in strategic marketing roles with Auckland Council, and owned and operated her own art galley.

Jill has had a long-standing interest in arts, culture and community and leapt at the opportunity to join the North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust in 2012.

Teresa Sokolich

Teresa Sokolich has extensive experience in the Auckland professional theatre community.

She was a founding member of Auckland Theatre Company where she also worked as the production manager and associate producer and has worked at venues around Auckland including Mercury Theatre, Aotea Centre, Sky City, and Artworks Theatre on Waiheke Island.

She is currently working as a freelance production manager and stage manager and training the next generation of backstage professionals.

James Bell

Business Manager (Kaiwhakahaere Whare Tapere)

James is a Milford local with over 32 years’ experience in grassroots theatre as a producer, award-winning director, and lighting designer both at The PumpHouse and other venues in Auckland.

Before joining The PumpHouse James worked in the IT industry and with the Ministry of Social Development in management and communications roles.

At the PumpHouse he leads our team of paid staff, works with hirers and community groups to develop our theatre program and provides advice and support to our Trust Board.

James co-founded Foolish Wit Theatre in 2015, and consults with a number of theatre companies on producing, marketing and funding.

Meg Andrews

Ticketing & Marketing Coordinator (Tīkiti and Kairuruku Hokohoko)

Meg is our Ticketing and Marketing coordinator. She is a professional actor and has worked in senior customer service and retail roles.

She looks after everything to do with selling tickets and letting people know what’s on at The PumpHouse and she leads our team of box office casuals.

Meg is passionate about every aspect of theatre, culture and the arts in our community and strives to keep creativity alive and thriving!

She is an award-winning actor and director appearing in both professional and community theatre and in TV and film roles. She is a lover of the abstract and absurdist theatre, plus wāhine-led stories.

Mags Delaney-Moffatt

Community Engagement Coordinator (Urunga Hapori)

Mags heads up our Community Engagement programme.

This involves looking after The Friends of The PumpHouse, recruiting volunteers, curating and hosting the Creative Talk Series, convening and being part of the Christmas Community Choir, submitting funding applications and her big love – running Shakespeare workshops for young people.

Mags is an experienced stage manager, director, and drama teacher. She has a background in Education where she developed a wide range of transferrable communication skills which she uses in her daily role which brings her into contact with all the patrons, young and old, who come to The PumpHouse.

Mark Wilson

Venue Operations Coordinator (Kaitiaki Tapere)

Mark co-ordinates the Venue Operations for The PumpHouse Theatre, a job with many hats that he wears proudly. Some days he will be our on hand handy man, others he will be spearheading the health and safety of the venue.

His expertise in customer service and sales has translated well to his role at the PumpHouse, these disciplines aiding in his day to day with hirers and patrons alike. Mark recently finished studying Software Engineering and often irons out our I.T. problems too.

In his spare time he likes to flex his multi-disciplinary muscles in the theatre. For over a decade he has acted in stage and theatre, earning many award nominations over the years (Never winning though) Recently he has challenged himself to step out of his comfort zone and try his hand at writing.

Helena Easey

Administrator (Whakahaerenga)

Helena is an experienced administrator with past experience in the education and engineering sectors. At The PumpHouse she’s responsible for accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and supports our business manager with funding applications and reporting.

She loves any chance to go to the theatre – especially musicals, and has appeared as a background actor in Power Rangers, Shortland Street, and numerous TV commercials. She also loves a good boogie at regular Zumba classes.

Originally from South London, Helena and her family moved to New Zealand in 2004.

Casual Staff and Volunteers

Our team of enthuastic and dedicated casual staff and volunteers support events at The PumpHouse with their skills and expertise.

They all have a passion for theatre, and a diverse range of backgrounds from childcare and retail to costume design and stage management.

Covering theatre tech, ushering and health and safety our team are here to make sure every event is a success.