StarJam’s CEO is a NEXT Woman of the Year finalist

25 September 2012

StarJam’s CEO is in the limelight as a NEXT Woman of the Year finalist

The award-winning founder and CEO of super-charity StarJam is celebrating yet another success having been named as one of 30 finalists in the NEXT Woman of the Year Awards.

Aucklander Julie Bartlett, who has introduced the world of performance to hundreds of disabled young people, is one of five finalists in the Arts & Culture category.

“It is such an honour to be up for this award in a category with such a remarkable pool of talent,” Bartlett says. “The finalists are all highly talented individuals whose initiatives and skills have helped define New Zealand’s blossoming arts and culture scene.”

Bartlett founded StarJam 10 years ago to provide performance opportunities for young people with disabilities, creating and directing spectacular stage shows from scratch, with limited budget, and no previous experience in events.

Over the years Bartlett has drawn on A-listers such as Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift to help transform the lives of young New Zealanders.

Since 2002, StarJam has given more than 1000 disabled young New Zealanders the chance to showcase their talent in a non-competitive and supportive environment.

Under Bartlett’s direction StarJam has gone from strength to strength. In August, StarJam launched four performance workshop programmes in Christchurch, in addition to the successful programmes already running in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington.

StarJam will celebrate its 10 year anniversary milestone in a first-of-its-kind webcast ‘LiveJam’ on November 25.

Julie and her husband Roy Bartlett, with whom she co-founded the organisation, and StarJam itself were acknowledged in twelve different awards programmes since 2007, including New Zealander of the Year Awards.

“Being a finalist in the NEXT Woman of the Year Awards confirms what our families tell us every day; that StarJam is making a major impact by providing a platform where their children can stand proudly in the limelight; and where others can enjoy their talents and be inspired by what they have achieved,” says Bartlett.

Bartlett intended to step aside as CEO on StarJam’s 10th anniversary however a new CEO has not as yet been found. She has agreed to remain as CEO for at least another 12 months.

Other finalists in the Arts & Culture category are Gaye Wards (Costume Designer, Royal New Zealand Ballet), Roseanne Liang (Film Director), Suzanne Prentice (Entertainer) and Shona McCullagh (Choreographer)

Other categories in the awards are Business; Health & Science; Education; Community; and Sport. The overall NEXT Woman of the Year, in association with Pandora, will be announced at a glitzy awards event in Auckland on October 11.

About StarJam - www.starjam.org

StarJam is a super-charity which creates national and international limelight opportunities for young people with disabilities. Known as “Jammers”, StarJam kids gain respect, confidence, empowerment, new friends, new hope and new purpose within a fun and inclusive atmosphere. Our belief is that “wildly positive change” affects not just them and their families but their peer groups and the wider “able-bodied” community in their perception of kids with disabilities.

ENDS

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