These are the folks behind your favourite inner-city celebration.
Kim is excited to rejoin the Creative Capital Arts Trust as the Chief Executive. Kim has worked in Theatre Management throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Previous roles have included Regional Site Manager (Stage School Australia), Venue Manager (Turner Centre, Kerikeri), Box Office Manager (Assembly Rooms- Edinburgh Fringe). Kim currently produces for Primarily Dance and Kim Bailey Productions and since returning to New Zealand in 2020 has produced Grooves! mini tour (2020), The Nutcracker (2020 & 2021), Grooves! South Island Tour (2021), Comedy of Errors (2021), Macbeth (2021 & 2022), Pointe Shoes and ShowBiz (2022), Melodrama (2022) and premiered Mens Rea at NZ Fringe 2023. Kim was also a founding member of The Stage Door Community Theatre. Kim is an expert in harnessing the power of people to motivate, drive positive change and strategic direction, and inspires teams to exceed expectations while maintaining a happy, safe and supportive work environment.
Abby Lyons is a performer, producer and creative based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She completed her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in theatre and film from Te Herenga Waka / Victoria University of Wellington in 2020. Abby has received high recognition for excellence in dramatic arts. Her previous roles include Production Assistant at Wētā FX, Film Tutor at Victoria University of Wellington and was previously the Artist Liaison for CubaDupa 2023 and Festival Coordinator in 2024. Outside of CCAT, Abby is a co-founder of Heartbreaker Productions, a production company that create works that show genuine connections between women and non-binary people that exist outside of the male gaze. Abby is excited to return to the role of Festival Coordinator for Cubadupa 2025.
Freelance publicity & marketing consultant, working mainly across the music, arts and events industries. After working extensively in promotions, publicity and marketing in both the Australian and New Zealand markets, its such an honour to work with so many independent arts practitioners and organisations back in NZ. After spending nearly a decade in Australia working in the record industry, I returned to New Zealand in 2013 determined to work closely and collaboratively with my varied clients, ensuring each got the tailored and dedicated work they deserved from a publicist or marketing consultant. I work across all areas of media in New Zealand both on a national and regional scale and love the close relationships this allows me to form with both my clients and the industry. Working with the Wonderful team at the Creative Capital Arts Trust on their incredible events, is both an honour and a pleasure! Being given the chance to, allow the public to find out about, experience and enjoy Joy, through such a huge range of arts and culture, much of which is free or incredibly affordable, is amazing and is something I’m very passionate about.
Cathy is an event professional with over 20 years’ experience managing production, operations, and logistics for events, with a passion for large outdoor events. Cathy’s primary focus is always to deliver events that are safe and healthy for workers, participants, and attendees. Cathy is a HASANZ registered health and safety professional, with a Diploma in Health and Safety Management and runs a consultancy business (HiViz Event Management) specialising in health and safety for the arts, entertainment, and events sectors. Cathy has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Crowd Safety and Risk Analysis and sits on the Board of Directors for the Global Crowd Management Alliance (GCMA).
As we prepare for another exciting edition of the street festival, we are thrilled to welcome our first female director, Bianca Bailey, to lead our festival into its next chapter of vibrancy, community, and celebration.
Bianca brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, having been a part of the CubaDupa team since 2020, with a deep passion for the arts and the Cuba Street community. With her dynamic style and innovative approach, we are confident that she will continue to elevate CubaDupa as a cornerstone of Wellington’s vibrant cultural arts landscape.
Bianca has an extensive background in the arts and event management, having previously held key roles at Stroma, Performance Arcade, Eyegum Music Collective & Ignite Pōneke. We are particularly proud to note that she comes from within our own organisation, exemplifying our commitment to supporting and elevating practitioners who have worked with us before. Meanwhile, she also fosters her own music career with projects such as Wiri Donna, F.A.I.R.Y & Lilith. She has been instrumental in fostering community engagement, curating diverse artistic programs, and driving audience growth. Her dedication to inclusivity and sustainability aligns perfectly with the values of Creative Capital Arts Trust and CubaDupa.
Huia (she/her) joins the CCAT team as Marketing Coordinator after beginning her Wellington festival journey in 2023. Born and bred on the Pōneke art scenes, she has interests in music, film, theatre, and visual art. She uses her background in piano and singing to perform live synth and backing vocals for artist Eli Superflyy and her degree in film to work at the New Zealand International Film Festival in the CCAT off-season.
Barrie has spent the last 30 years creating spaces where performers can reach their full potential in a ‘live' environment. From a background as a professional musician in NZ & overseas, his experience & technical knowledge allows him to assist each artist, whatever their genre, to perform to the highest possible standard. By equally understanding the disciplines of Performance and Stage production, his goal is to seamlessly bring together the specific infrastructure & crew required to make a live show a success from both the artist & audience perspective.
Vanessa Stacey is a Wellington-based Māori artist, producer, writer and director with over twenty years of experience in creative arts and education. She has worked extensively in the theatre, film, music, and television as an actor, singer, producer and director in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. She has previously been the coordinator and director of Whitireia's Screen Acting Course, Short Film Director of Film at National Youth Drama School for 8yrs, and guest tutor at UCOL, Whitireia and Massey. Vanessa has worked as an artist and tour manager with many well-known New Zealand bands, Vanessa produced stages for Home Grown, produced the TORA TORA TORA Festival, and has also performed at many festivals as a guest vocalist. She has also worked as an artist and festival publicist for festivals and events including NZ Fringe.
Catarina Gutierrez (she/her) is a silly goose who lives in Wellington. She is an experienced freelance marketing / community manager with an obsession for books and films. She enjoys a good board game and puzzle when not out at the cinema or the library. As a keen advocate of Wellington, she loves working in the creative sector and enjoys seeing people smile and laugh on the streets on Pōneke. Catarina also likes her coffee slow while practicing her film photography and painting in her home studio.
Oscar Alty (he/him) is a graphic designer, musician & all around creative based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Danielle Burns was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and immigrated to New Zealand in 2013. She holds a Level 7 Honours Diploma in Art and Creativity and a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. As a visual artist as well as a strategic thinker she steps into the management of creative planning seamlessly. She is efficiency driven and organised and her years of experience in event planning and management provide her with the knowledge to tackle complex issues, build relationships and create positive team experiences. Danielle is passionate about creativity and is keen to further the development of creative opportunities in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Kelsi is new to the CubaDupa team and is excited to help deliver an amazing 2025 festival. She is also a musician and has a passion for the arts and the community surrounding it. She also works as the Regional Director of To the Front Pōneke, providing music based programs to young woman, trans and gender-diverse youth.
Will Hanlon (he/him) is a musician, composer, and creative from Ōtautahi, now living, loving, and learning in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Marrying his passions for being immersed in Aotearoa’s plentiful arts scene and nurturing those arts through organising magical events and moments, he is overjoyed to join the CubaDupa team as Artist Liaison. Outside of CCAT, he performs regularly on saxophone, clarinet and flute with Groove Council, Caught Inside, NYO and Fruit Loops, among other local acts and projects. Looking forward to bringing a unique perspective to the Artist Liaison role and CCAT team, Will is abundantly excited for CubaDupa 2025!
Creative Capital Arts Trust Board