PACIFIC DANCE - Key Persons
Annah Pickering has been involved with not for profit community organisation NewZealand Prostitutes Collective for 20 years, served on different advisory roles within government organisations, not for profit sector, a member of Auckland Rough SleepersInitiative, NZ Coalition to End Homelessness, a member of Global Network of Sex WorkProjects.
A journalist at the Pacific Media Network, Ioane Fa'avae-Aleke brings media smarts and many other skills to trustee leadership at Pacific Islands Dance Fono Trust. Gifted translator for his homeland Niue communities, his part-Tongan background also includes work as a choreographer, composer, educator, author, researcher, and actor.
She is currently the Associate Curator (Pacific) at Auckland Museum.
JulianaSatchell-Deo finds ways to reconnect back to her culture through her role as associatecurator of Pacific at Auckland War Memorial Museum. She works to bring the museum'sPacific collection to life through exhibitions and access to archived objects for Pacific Island communities, researchers.
Reverend Neli Alo was born and raised in West Auckland. A graduate of University of Auckland, he also lived in Samoa where he graduated from Malua Theological College. Neli is a strong advocate for Pacific Health and is currently employed by Vaka Tautua, a national "by Pacific for Pacific" health and social service provider. He is a National ambassador for the A-OK Suicide Prevention Programme.
Dr Tania Kopytko is based in Palmerston North and works freelance in dance and arts, developing community projects and collaborations as well as lecturing and writing on dance. She has a PhD in Dance Anthropology from the Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her key interest is the role and significance of dance in our communities and societies. Tania was the Executive Director of DANZ.