The PSNZ Council is a group of volunteers elected by the membership. The official tenure for the President and Vice President is two years, although the President may do an additional year, but no more than three. The Immediate Past President has a tenure of one year. All Councillors can stand for re-election each year. The President and Vice President allocate portfolios of responsibility for each Councillor which is based on the Councillor having a particular skill set or expertise to enable the smooth running of the organisation.
Council appoints the positions of Treasurer and Secretary.
The current PSNZ Council members are:
President
Paul Whitham APSNZ
Upper Hutt
e: president@photography.org.nz
The President is responsible for the Governance and is seen as the ‘face’ of the Society or the ‘go to person’. In reality the President is the person who ensures the Society is moving forward, setting and meeting its objectives as defined in the Strategic Plan. He is also responsible for maintaining harmony among members and affiliated clubs. As President, Paul has overall responsibility of guiding the Councillors through the myriad of tasks and activities in each portfolio to ensure the Society delivers the services and benefits to members in each calendar year.
Paul joined PSNZ in 2013 and was elected to council in 2015 initially holding the Partnership portfolio. He was previously the Councillor for Publications as well as the editor and designer of CameraTalk. In this latter role he has overseen the transition from an eight-page print newsletter to be 60+ page digital edition now produced.
Paul is a qualified accountant, although at present not working full time in that field. He has also run his own web-design firm developing applications used around the world.
Vice President
Toya Heatley FPSNZ, AFIAP
Upper Hutt
e: vicepresident@photography.org.nz
As well as assisting the President with management of strategy and policy issues, Toya is the Councillor for Events which includes Regional and National Conventions.
Toya is self-employed as an IT Manager for a nationwide company, remote IT support specialist and website designer. She was previously on the PSNZ Council from 2015 to 2019 and has been the PSNZ website administrator since 2015. Toya is a PSNZ accredited judge in both Open and Nature categories and was a member of the editorial team for the 2020, 2021 & 2022 New Zealand Camera publications.
Along with her experience in Information and Technology, Event Organisation, Website Design and Administration skills Toya also has a great passion for photography.
Treasurer
Maartje Morton
Whanganui
e: treasurer@photography.org.nz
Maartje has recently joined Council as Treasurer. In this capacity Maartje is responsible for all number related activities for the Society. This role constitutes part of the Executive Officer team and in this capacity Maartje will contribute to the development of strategy and governance for the Society.
Maartje’s combined professional qualifications and teaching experience will allow her to fill the role of Treasurer admirably. She will work closely with the newly appointed Bookkeeper who handles the day to day transactional requirements.
Maartje will budgeting and financial advice for all PSNZ hosted events including the conventions and the Workshop Series. She will be responsible for producing the Society’s Annual Financial Report as well as lodging all financial reports with the Charity Services.
Now retired, Maartje’s teaching career spanned over 30 years with 16 of those as a Deputy Principal at a local secondary girl’s college. Her main teaching subjects were Accounting, Economics and ESOL. She is well versed in people management, administration, and preparation of accounts and financial reports.
Secretary
Chryseis Phillips
Taranaki
e: secretary@photography.org.nz
The Secretary’s role is appointed by Council. Chryseis is our ‘right hand’ woman of the Council. She ably assists the President, Vice President and all Councillors with the administrative and reporting activities. Chryseis manages the preparation and documentation for each Annual General Meeting and ensures that all members are communicated with according to our legal requirements. She is often the eyes and ears for Society activities and ensures nothing falls through the cracks when Council activities are running hot.
Sandy Odell
Upper Hutt
e: sandy.odell@outlook.com
Sandy joins Council taking on the role of Councillor for Club Liaison. In this capacity, she will be the ‘go to’ person from Council who will work specifically with affiliated clubs. Sandy will work with one member of each affiliated club as their PSNZ liaison person, keeping them up to date with everything that is going on within PSNZ. Working with clubs is vital for the ongoing growth and success of the Society and our affiliated clubs and through Sandy, it is her intention to ensure that all member benefits and opportunities are known to the clubs.
Sandy comes from a defence background as a civilian staff member and has served on several committees - the last being Hutt Camera Club as membership secretary. Sandy is enthusiastic about joining PSNZ Council and giving back to the Society by helping the PSNZ achieve its goals for the members.
Aston Moss LPSNZ
Auckland
e: aston.t.moss@gmail.com
Aston is the Councillor for Partnerships. This will see him continue in developing and managing the existing relationships with the Society’s valued trade partners, as well as developing opportunities for growth in this area.
Aston’s professional career as a human resources professional and being based in Auckland makes him the perfect Councillor to continue the Society’s excellent relationship with our trade partners.
He has a strong understanding of Governance and is currently on the Council of the Auckland Justice of the Peace Association (AJPA). He also serves as a Ministerial Trainer for the AJPA party due to his knowledge of adult education.
Simon Forsyth
Christchurch
e: simonforsyth@outlook.com
Simon assumes the role of Councillor for Membership. In this capacity Simon looks after all facets of membership retention as well as developing initiatives to grow the membership. He will be the first port of call for all members and will be looking at ways of developing new online benefits.
Simon will work closely with the Database Coordinators and be responsible for the distribution of PSNZ bulk emails.
He is a past President and Life member of the Kapiti Coast Camera Club, a PSNZ accredited judge and a current mentor to a few members.
Richard Laing
Christchurch
e: rlaing@mac.com
Richard assumes the role of Councillor for Publications. This portfolio will see him taking a strategic overview of our two flagship publications – NZ CameraTalk and NZ Camera. He will work closely with the off Council teams that work hard to produce outstanding publications.
Richard has over 30 years’ experience in software engineering both in technical and management roles. In 2007 Richard joined the Kaiapoi Photographic Club and is a current committee member, having previously been club President and competition secretary (not together).
Karen Moffatt-McLeod APSNZ
Whitianga
e: workshops@photography.org.nz
Karen has joined Council to take up the newly created role of Councillor for Workshops. In this capacity, Karen will work closely with the existing Workshop Series committee to develop and implement a new series of workshops from 2022 and beyond. Karen has extensive experience in governance through various Board positions as well as in event organisation and administration.
Karen’s passion for photography began in her college days when her Art teacher was an avid photographer. Transforming from photography being a hobby to taking it more seriously, in 2017 Karen set up her own company and specialises in Creative Portraiture, but maintains an interest in landscape and nature.
Caroline Ludford LPSNZ LRPS
Kapiti Coast
e: caroline_ludford@hotmail.com
Caroline has joined Council to take the role of Councillor for Salons. She will be responsible for the PSNZ Salons, National & Regional Exhibitions, Interclubs and International Salons. Caroline has been accredited as a PSNZ Judge since 2017, in both open and nature categories. Until taking up the Council role she acted as chair of the Judge Accreditation Panel and assisted in the PSNZ Judge Training Weekends (now held on zoom).
Whilst living in the Auckland area Caroline was a member of both the Hibiscus Coast Photographic Society and the North Shore Photographic Society. During that time she assisted in the running of the hugely successful North Shore Salon. Caroline now lives on the Kapiti Coast and is a member of the Kapiti Coast Photographic Society.
Lee-Stuart Boddington
Auckland
e: leestuartcreations@gmail.com
Lee was born in Zimbabwe and grew up moving from safari lodge to safari lodge throughout his childhood. His parents were in the tourism industry, running, managing, and owning safari lodges all over southern and western Zimbabwe. He has been in New Zealand for just over twelve years and has made it home.
Earlier this year, Lee felt prompted to start his own business (Lee-Stuart Creations), doing web design and photography. He found photography when about 15 but only dived into it more seriously in the last ten years. Lee currently shoots with a Canon R6, having recently upgraded from a 7D and 50D pairing. He loves photographing animals and birds but they, unfortunately, don't pay him anything yet. He shoots portraits, families, weddings and product photography to fund his passion.
Lee only joined PSNZ in November 2021 but is prepared to step up and help the organisation. Lee will be assisting where needed within the current portfolios.
Brian Rowe LPSNZ
Whitby
e: dev@photography.org.nz
Brian has joined Council to take up the newly created role of Councillor for Development. In this newly created portfolio Brian’s professional experience and extensive background makes him the perfect person for it. He will work with Council to develop the strategic plan initially focusing on the next 12-month period, but ultimately a five-year plan. Brian will also develop a rigorous Health and Safety plan which will cover the Society for all the events and activities implemented. Obviously Covid-19 has impacted everyone and it is imperative the Society develops mandates and policies around this as part of our Health and Safety.
Within his career of more than 30 years Brian strategic alignment and planning has been a major component of his projects as well as Governance, customer focus, transformation and change management.
He is adept at project management, delivery and support; quality and risk assurance in a broad range of industries.
Brian is a member of both Kapiti Camera Porirua) and Kapiti Coast Camera Clubs.
Being outdoors is a favourite pastime and Brian enjoys getting out in the bush or beach and capturing sunrise and sunsets with the Mount Cook area being his ‘current favourite.
Our Patron
Our Patron is Wellington based member, John Boyd, Hon FPSNZ Hon PSNZ APSNZ. John has been a member of PSNZ for 54 years which stands him in good stead to fulfil this distinguished role.
There have been many milestones during his membership tenure, some of which include:
- Joined PSNZ 1962
- PSNZ Councillor from 1971 - 1975
- Awarded APSNZ 1973
- Member, Honours Board 1989 – 1992
- Awarded Hon.Life Member of Wellington Photographic Society, 1995
- Secretary, PSNZ Honours Board 1995 – 2001
- Awarded (jointly with Val) PSNZ Service Medal, 2001
- Elected PSNZ Council 2001
- PSNZ Vice President 2002-2003
- PSNZ President 2004-2005
- Awarded Hon PSNZ 2008
- Joint co-ordinator, Honours Board, 2012 – 2019
- Received Hon FPSNZ 2012
- Member, Judge Accreditation Panel 2014-2020
- Appointed Patron 2015.