President

Leanne Beard

Leanne's commitment to the growth and professional development and recognition of the design profession in New Zealand is paramount in her contribution to the industry. Leanne has previously served on Council actively contributing to the growth and advancement of the membership. Leanne is and has been active in the CPD initiatives facilitating the spatial sector rumbles and representing DINZ with the Ministry of Economic Development in the formation of the Licenced Building Practitioners (LBP) Scheme. As a result the LBP committee was formed to ensure spatial designers were adequately represented at Government level to which Leanne has been a significant contributor on behalf of DINZ.

Leanne has represented DINZ in the Building Code Review panel and has been involved in the New Zealand Green Building Council workshops and seminars. Leanne has been a Judge for the Best Design Awards and the IES Lighting Design Awards.

Vice-President

Sean McGarry

I believe that a professional body is vitally important for the continued success and development of the design industry within New Zealand. It is not only a regulator of professional standards but also a voice for the industry as a whole. The fostering and development of networks within the design and creative community in general is something which is very important. The creative community in Wellington appears to be functioning in isolation from one another and I would like to help invigorate the design community within Wellington and New Zealand and feel that being part of the DINZ council is a positive way forward. I have always been a motivated and creatively passionate individual and thrive on new challenges. I believe that it is also vital to DINZ to have council members who are energetic, pragmatic and realistic in their outlook. People who are not adverse to hard work or change and realise that changing perceptions and changing behaviours is an ever evolving process. The bottom line is I want to add value and help to effect change when and where necessary in order to benefit both DINZ, its members and the wider New Zealand design community in general.

Secretary/Treasurer

Dave Clark

Dave Clark has been a practising designer and design principal for more than 20 years. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, twice past president of the Design Institute of New Zealand and has been a convenor of the Best Design Awards three times.

Chief Executive Officer

Cathy Veninga

Cathy Veninga is the Chief Executive Officer of the Designers' Institute of New Zealand. Cathy was the first woman President of the Designers' Institute (2003-2004) since its inception in 1991. She has worked as a designer with her own own residential interior design practice until becoming the Chief Executive Officer. She joined Council in 1998 so that she could help advance the understanding of the value that design brings to business and the community. She believes any designer who values themselves as professionals should be members of the Designers Institute to strengthen the voice of design. Cathy says she has a life outside of the Institute sailing (to windward preferably in 20+ knots), yoga and would be (if she could afford it) a race car driver.

Davis Smith

I'm keen to have input into the, soon to be mandatory, requirements of becoming a Licensed Building Practitioner. I believe this to be a unique opportunity to cement the role of the Designer within the Building Industry and to elevate our image in the public mind. I have recently chaired a sub committee of the Designers Institute looking at a review of The Code of Ethics document. The review was put on hold pending the release of the new Building Act, however it is now timely to continue this work. I would hope to be able to complete this review and produce a revised & updated version during my term as Councillor.

Leah Burns

I am 39 years old and have a long history in the interiors and construction industry. Starting as a colour consultant I went overseas and spent time as a quantity surveyor. Back in New Zealand I set up a new furniture division in a quality furniture business, and became technical architectural consultant for Tile Warehouse dealing with many large commercial projects and studying along the way. I have been operating my own Interior Design business for 7 years in the Wairarapa and employ two staff. We work in Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Wellington and Wairarapa doing a variety of commercial and residential work including many award winning homes, large hotel refurbishments, retail design, hospitality, kitchen design and simple colour schemes.

As a member of the Registered Master Builders, Dinz, Retail Interiors association and Site Safe and past member of many other associations I think its important to support industry groups to effect change and safe guard its members interests. Especially now with the new Building licensing to take effect I feel Dinz role in the spatial industry especially important and I would like to assist in this area.

Neville Parker

I've been designing spaces and things since 1980 and I still really enjoy doing it. My first 14 years in the design business was spent working for others - mostly Inscape design in Wellington. I spent a year on my own before joining forces with Paul de Lisle, a project manager, to form Inside. We've been building the business for 5 years and now have a diverse staff qualified in architecture, interior design, construction management and CAD design. It is because of this knowledge of the skills of people from other disciplines that I feel the time is right to DINZ develop the skills and standing within the design community of our members. I am particularly interested in ensuring our spatial members are well positioned to become recognised Licensed Building Practitioners, should they want to, when the concept becomes law in a few years time.

Reuben Woods

Three years ago my wife and I started a brand development company called Woods Creative based in Papamoa, Tauranga. As passionate surfers, it was our goal to build a successful nationally recognised business located in a city where we could enjoy a beach lifestyle. Woods Creative is now a dynamic company with national and international clients and we are experiencing huge growth. All staff are passionate about creativity, design and living a full, healthy life.

We believe the level of design in the smaller regions in New Zealand needs more recognition and encouragement, we would like to be the voice to make this happen. As a DINZ Graphic Design council representative my main objective is to raise the profile of design companies and designers operating in smaller regions. I also believe it is important to educate businesses within these regions to view design as an essential professional service and business investment that will generate business growth and increase profit.

Steve Martin

Steve has been in the design industry for 12 years with the majority of that time focusing within the online/interactive sector. Currently residing as Creative Director at Terabyte, Steve has a wide range of experience including working as Online Art Director for Condé Nast Publications in the UK, responsible for the online strategy and visual direction of British Vogue, GQ, Glamour and other publications.

Steve has gain recognition in Traditional Animation, Graphic Design and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Communication Design from Central St Martins College or Art & Design in London. Whilst my current specialisation is within Interactive I wish to be involved with the wider NZ creative industry, as I am still interested in all aspects of design - it is with this kind of exposure that all of us grow and create better work. Collaboration within our individual disciplines could produce even bigger things.

David Lovegrove

David brings bring a broad product design experience spanning 15 years both nationally and internationally. This experience covers design within his own consultancy, various leading international consultancies, and also from within a corporate environment. He is passionate about design, and has a firm belief that the majority of New Zealand organisations still need to wake up to the importance of design, have yet to understand it, and embrace it as a mechanism for business success.

David began his design career with Fisher and Paykel Range and Dishwasher division. Following a short stint in cooking products he moved to the then small core team developing the Dishdrawer. With the product nearing production implementation he headed off on his OE - and worked in various consultancies (PSD Associates - now Fitch and Pearson Matthews Associates) designing telecoms products, medical products and consumer electronics products. David also had a stint designing and engineering Formula 1 racing cars. Upon his return to New Zealand he founded 4ormfunction in 1999 - which has grown into a multi-disciplinary design consultancy. Outside of work David is a keen cyclist, and enjoys just being a Dad to his young family.

Martin Sidoruk

Martin has been involved with Design Management and design innovation on a number of levels in business, government and education. With increasing requirements and need for better management of design and innovation across business and new ventures he is keen to see DINZ play a greater role in driving uptake and recognition for the value design management, design thinking and innovation can bring to businesses and organisations.

Martin is a design strategist engaged with building businesses design capabilities and offerings for market success. He currently involved with setting-up a strategic design capability for Inland Revenue in service design, and consults to AUT's Design Masters Programme. His interests in NZ's economic future led him to get involved with the Governments GIF strategies where he was instrumental in getting the Better by Design programmes and the Urban Design Protocol off the ground, as well as participating on the Tertiary Education Commission's panel for the Growth and Innovation Pilot programmes. He is a strong advocate for sustainable design and PSS and is the NZ liaison for the 02 Global Network of Sustainable Designers.

Martin has degrees in Architecture and Building Science from Victoria University and lives in Wellington. He blogs occasionally at www.sidoruk.com/blog

Tony Parker

Professor Tony Parker is the Head of Massey University's Institute of Design for Industry and Environment. His academic and professional career spans over 20 years. A graduate of the Royal College of Art (London) his portfolio includes award-winning products designed for international markets. He has practised with leading industrial design consultants in London, (UK), Seymour Powell, Satherley Design and LA (London Associates UK). In his academic role Tony has championed and encouraged staff and students to pursue excellence in design and research that is recognised, acknowledged and respected internationally.

David Trubridge

David Trubridge graduated as a Naval Architect from Newcastle University Britain, but since then he has worked as a furniture designer/maker and architect. His design process combines innate craft knowledge, sculptural abstraction and computer design technology. He is New Zealand's best known furniture designer and regularly exhibits overseas in Australia, North America, Europe and Japan. In New Zealand he has set up his own manufacturing workshop and an incubator for design graduates.