New trustees for Michael King Writers’ Centre

New trustees for Michael King Writers’ Centre

Three new trustees who are prominent in the fields of literature, heritage and education have been appointed to the Michael King Writers’ Studio Trust.

The new trustees are:
• Rosalind Ali, a teacher of English and creative writing;
• Rose Evans, who has extensive experience in museums, conservation and heritage;
• Iain Sharp, a prominent writer, reviewer and librarian.
Trust chairman Sam Elworthy said he was delighted with the new trustees, who would bring new energy and expertise to the centre.

“Ours is a working trust and trustees make a big contribution to the centre. These new trustees have enormous talents and experience in the worlds of education, heritage and literature, and we look forward to them joining the trust team. A strong trust enables the centre to focus on its core business of supporting great New Zealand writing. We have some exciting plans to grow the centre’s reach over the next few years and Ros, Rose and Iain will play a big part in that. ”

Ros Ali instituted the Writing Programme at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School, and more recently at St Cuthbert’s College, where she teaches a creative and media course for senior students. Her students have won and been placed in many local, national and international competitions. Together with the late Dame Chris Cole Catley and poet Jo Emeney, she has been involved with Michael King Writers’ Centre workshops for young writers since 2008.

Rose Evans has worked in exhibition development, collection management, materials conservation and research in a variety of major international museums and galleries including Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, Auckland Museum, the Australian War Memorial Museum and the British Museum. She is of Te Atiawa and European descent and was recently appointed by the Ministers of Maori Affairs and Arts and Culture to the Board of Te Maori Trust, which overseas and funds programmes for the care of Taonga Maori in New Zealand museums , galleries and cultural centres.

Iain Sharp is a prominent book reviewer and interviewer, who has written articles for many publications and literary journals. He has a PhD in English literature from the University of Auckland. His 2008 biography of the nineteenth-century artist and explorer Charles Heaphy was a finalist in the Montana New Zealand Book Awards. He is currently one the manuscripts librarians in Sir George Grey Special Collections.

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