Anthony Butler [Diploma in Supervision AUT]
Anthony is the founder of Tech Pacific (NZ Ltd), one of New Zealand's top one hundred companies and the largest computer products distributor, and since November 2004 managing director of Ingram Micro New Zealand, part of the world's largest distributor of computer products. His early career was in sales and marketing in publishing, notably with Penguin, later with consumer electronics distribution. He is also involved with Puhoi Valley Cheese and the Caspex Group of companies. (2005-). Antony has been a Storylines Trustee since the establishment of the Trust Board.
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Joy Cowley [OBE, Hon. D.Lit. Massey University]
Joy is the internationally acclaimed author of about 600 early reading books, fifty picture books and many novels for young readers. She has also published a considerable body of fiction for adults. Her many awards include the Margaret Mahy Medal and the 2004 AW Reed Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been co-patron of the Foundation (with Margaret Mahy) since its inception, and has been a Storylines Trustee since the establishment of the Trust Board. See also Joy's author profile.
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Peter Dowling [MA (Hons), MBA]
Peter Dowling is the director of independent publisher Oratia Media, based in Waitakere CIty. He has worked in publishing for many years both in New Zealand and overseas, and was formerly publishing manager of Reed Publishing (NZ), responsible for both trade and educational books. Among other roles he is kaihautu of Te Potiki National Trust, a not-for-profit venture documenting marae; chair of the Oratia District School board of trustees; and the revising editor of Place Names of New Zealand. Peter became a Storylines Trustee in 2008.
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Dr Tessa Duder [OBE, Hon. Doc. (University of Waikato)]
Tessa Duder was a founding member of Storylines’ forerunner, the Children’s Book Foundation begun in 1989, and has loved watching the organisation grow in confidence and mana. Her 35 books for both adults and children include novels, non-fiction, plays and anthologies. She is a past president of the NZ Society of Authors (PEN Inc), and has served on the Board of the Spirit of Adventure Trust since 1993. Among her awards are the Margaret Mahy Medal, the Meridian Energy Katherine Mansfield Fellowship 2003, the Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book 2005 and the 2007 Artists in Antarctic fellowship. Tessa has been a Storylines Trustee since the inception of the Trust Board. See also Tessa's author profile.
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Dr Libby Limbrick
Libby Limbrick has worked in teacher education for the past 18 years. For the past six years she was Head of the School of Arts, Languages and Literacies at the Faculty of Education, University of Auckland but is now the member of the School of Curriculum and Pedagogy. Most of her teaching is with postgraduate qualifications for teachers, and she coordinates and teaches the Postgraduate Diploma of Education (literacy), a qualification for teachers who want to specialise in literacy education. Libby is a strong advocate for the place of literature in teaching children to read and write. She has been a member of Storylines and its predecessors, the Children’s Book Foundation and then Children’s Literature Foundation of New Zealand, since 1992. One of her great delights in recent years is buying books for her grandchildren.
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Frances Plumpton [NZLA Cert., ANZLA]
Frances is an early childhood literature consultant (Vital Years Ltd), now working for Richards Literary Agency, representing over 40 New Zealand children’s writers and illustrators. She is the New Zealand contact for the Australian/New Zealand chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). For many years she was a specialist children’s librarian for Waitakere Libraries and has been a reviewer for Quote Unquote, Magpies, Family Times and the specialist early childhood magazine Littlies.
Winner of a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 1989 and the Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for services to children's literature in 2006, she has been both convenor and judge for both the LIANZA Esther Glen and Russell Clark awards, and New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. She was a long-standing member of the CLA and served on the Storylines Foundation management committee from 1990 to 2005 and Storylines Festival committee from 1993-2005, including many years as Story Tour coordinator. Frances has been a Storylines Trustee since the trust’s inception. See also, Frances' Storylines Betty Gilderdale award winner profile.
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Tony Sissons [MEd, Dip PE, Dip Ed, Dip Tchg]
Tony Sissons is currently Headmaster at King's School, Auckland. Educated at Saint Kentigern College, where in 1976 he was Head Prefect and Dux Ludorum, he went on to complete a Diploma of Physical Education, a Diploma in Teaching, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education. He also holds a Master of Educational Administration from Auckland University. He spent four years as Principal of Victoria Avenue School and after nine years as Headmaster of Southwell School in Hamilton, he joined King's School in 2003. Previously he has sat on the Board of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce, on the Executive Committee of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools in New Zealand and on the Perry Foundation Trust. In 2008 Tony attended Harvard University on a Woolf Fisher Fellowship. Tony became a Storylines Trustee in 2010.
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Tim Tipene
(Papa Tim), Ngati Kuri, Te Rarawa, holds a graduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health from Unitec, a certificate in Community Studies from Unitec and is an award-winning author of children’s books. A qualified martial arts instructor with a 5th Dan Black Belt, he is founder and chief instructor of Warrior Kids, a holistic life-skills programme for children, and of Kura Toa Warrior School, a charitable trust providing Warrior Kids and other holistic programmes to schools and the community. Tim has also been a self-defence instructor for women, an advocate for intellectually challenged adults, and a facilitator of Anger Management and Living Without Violence programmes for men.
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Rosemary Tisdall [BA Education, Dip. Teaching]
Rosemary has been involved with children’s books through her teaching, then motherhood, and more recently as a school librarian for eight years. Her years as a children’s librarian were times she remembers fondly – working with kids and helping them find just the right book to read. She is now a children’s literature consultant, freelancing through her company, Getting Kids Into Books. Currently, she works part time as a Curriculum Services Librarian at National Library, as well as working with Wheelers in their E-book division. She also writes teacher's resource guides for a children's theatre company, Tim Bray Productions. Rosemary was a judge for the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 2009 and 2010. As a committee member of the Children's Literature Association, Rosemary served on the Transition Committee which merged the CLA and the Children's Book Foundation in 2000. She has been a member of the Storylines Foundation management committee and Storylines Festival committee since 2000. Rosemary is currently a member of the management committee and a Storylines Trustee.
Vicki Cunningham
Ko Kahuranaki toku maunga
Ko Ngaruroro toku awa
Ko Ngati Poporo toku hapu
Ko Korongata Nukunoa toku marae
Ko Ngati Kahungunu me Ngapuhi oku iwi
Ko Vicki Cunningham toku ingoa
Vicki is Storylines part-time Events Manager and administrator who is proud of her Mâori heritage and she would like to continue with her studies of Te Reo Mâori. Vicki has a background in Human Resources and the vocational training arena, where she has worked for several years. She has returned to Aotearoa after being overseas for a number of years and has rediscovered the wonderful taonga of home again – all the things that make NZ unique. Vicki is also rediscovering her childhood (and love of NZ book characters) with her pre-schooler.
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