Trustees

The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival is produced and presented by a charitable trust called Dunedin Midwinter Celebrations. Established in 2003 the Trust works to support seasonal celebrations of relevance to our local community and environment.

The Trust has a strong focus on supporting the arts and the work of our talented arts community. Each year the Trust brings together a team to produce the Midwinter Carnival and other events. To carry out this work, the Trust relies on the generosity of our funders and sponsors as well as donations from the public. 

Interested in becoming a trustee?

We’re always seeking passionate individuals with fresh perspectives to join the Trust and help us bring our vision to life. Whether you have experience in business, marketing, fundraising, or simply a deep love for the Carnival, we welcome you to share your talents and make a real difference.

If you are keen to get involved, send an email to dunedin.midwinter@gmail.com with your CV and cover letter. Together, we can light the way for an even brighter future for the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival. 

Trustees

Paul Smith, Chairperson

Paul has worked in the arts and event management for many years. Paul is currently director of Artsenta, an art studio for people in the mental health community.

Leisa de Klerk, Secretary

Leisa is a strong supporter and connector for not-for-profits and has spent the last decade working towards strengthening communities through volunteering and participation.

Aashima Yadav

Aashima is a Marketing Specialist at Otago Polytechnic and a recent graduate of the University of Otago. She has previously worked in public relations and communications roles in India.

Iris Li, Treasurer

Iris is a final year PhD student in Finance at the University of Otago and currently works for the university as a part time teaching fellow. She and her husband had their first date at the Midwinter Carnival in 2018.

Richard Knights

Richard is a real estate agent who has called Ōtepoti Dunedin home since 2010 and loves being a part of the best little big city in the world. In his downtime, he runs the online Facebook community What’s News Dunedin? and enjoys promoting the amazing city we all share.

Jett Groshinski

Jett is a Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Finance student and currently works as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Otago. Jett is also currently serving as the Chairperson for Young Labour in the Southern Region.