Anatole has had a distinguished career with MFAT, the Auckland Business Chamber, and in higher education management. He has served on the boards of Westlake Girls High School and various international business councils, including Japan, China, Korea, and India. He was Head of Higher Education for Kaplan Australia and recently concluded ten years as CFO, COO, and VP at a graduate college in San Francisco. Holding a PhD in Politics from Glasgow University, Anatole now lives in Red Beach with his wife Margaret, both active EAC volunteers. He is passionate about the creative arts and supporting EAC’s success.

Qualifications:

PhD in Politics – Glasgow University

Kitaj is a lawyer currently working in the public sector. She brings over 16 years’ experience in the law, with a focus on litigation, regulatory matters, and risk management, having spent time at large law firms and FTSE100 companies in NZ and the UK. Kitaj hails from an arts-loving family and has had whānau in Ōrewa for over 20 years. Now living locally with her partner and son, she joined the Trust Board to support and contribute to EAC’s community.

Ingrid is a local resident of Orewa and has been working as a figurative artist for more than 20 years. After completing a one-year art foundation course at Westminster University in London, she went on to earn a three-year Illustration degree from De Montfort University in 1994. She moved to New Zealand in 2000 and has since built a successful art career, selling her work in galleries and exhibitions throughout the country.

Her achievements include being a finalist in the Paint and Printmaking Awards in 2006, winner of the KG Fraser Award in 2008, winner of the Peters Doig Marlborough Art Awards in 2018, and receiving 2nd place in the 2019 Royal Easter Show Art Awards. Deeply passionate about art, she loves encouraging others to gain confidence in their own creative journeys.

She has been an art tutor at the Estuary Arts Centre for over a year, teaching the intermediate to advanced oils and acrylics class. Prior to this, she taught art at Evelyn Page Retirement Village for more than 12 years and also ran art sessions and workshops from her home studio.

Gail has a background in organisational and leadership development, running her own business for nearly 30 years. She began her career in chartered accounting, working in New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S. A long-time member of Estuary Arts Centre, she has supported volunteer workshops and fundraising initiatives. Now semi-retired, she rejoined the Trust Board to contribute further. Gail’s art practice has evolved from acrylics to mixed media and, more recently, aquarelle pencils and ink. She enjoys cycling, gardening, and environmental restoration projects in Orewa.

Heritage: Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki, Scottish, Irish, English

After 15 years in Blenheim, she and her husband moved their family to Manly to embrace a new coastal lifestyle. They are an active family who love spending time outdoors, especially sailing and fishing, and they have quickly settled into their new community.

She brings extensive experience in the hospitality and wine industries, having managed hotels and restaurants and worked in winemaking both in New Zealand and internationally. Her career has allowed her to collaborate across cultures, explore global wine regions, and develop a deep understanding of customer experience and brand building. Together with her husband, she now co-owns and operates their own wine brand, and she has recently established a catering company that delivers tailored, high-quality dining experiences.

Creativity and innovation have always guided her work—values she credits to growing up with two artistic parents. Outside of business, she enjoys pottery, gardening, fitness, and time on the water. She is passionate about community, sustainability, and creating meaningful connections through food, wine, and shared experiences.