Your occupation, job title, artistic discipline (or very brief description of what you do):

Administration and Operations for The Jam Factory. Basically, I book the bands for The Jam Factory plus coordinate the staff and volunteers.

What cities/towns have you lived in (or spent more than a few months in) beginning with the place of your birth?

Tauranga, Wellington, London, Sydney, Christchurch, Whakatane then back to Tauranga.

What’s your favourite Bay of Plenty landscape, park, building, location, suburb, or side street? Why?

Two places I frequent often (for exercise and dog-walking) are Pemberton Park, where I started playing hockey as a 10 year old, and Yatton park. I grew up in Merivale and the kids of the neighbourhood would ride our bikes through Yatton park doing jumps and wheelstands. We would slide down the massive sawdust pile that came from the mill that used to be next to the park. Not a hint of health and safety to be seen anywhere.

What’s an average day in your life at present?

Being a gentleman of advanced years, the day often starts with walking, often with Jax, the wonder-dog in tow. I work across the day, then evenings vary with a blend of band practice, singing workshops, poetry sessions, hockey practice, helping at a gig and occasionally a night in.

What’s the one object from your home you would save from a fire?

A family photo.

What music was present and still memorable from your youth/adolescence? 

David Bowie was the real start of my musical journey. His music was mind-blowing to a ten year old me. Plus he showed that you could break rules and be brave, and creative. The exciting stuff is outside the limits. Creatively and socially.

For you as a creative person, who are three influential artists or thinkers?  

David Bowie, Echo & The Bunnymen and David Lynch.

Looking back at your teen-age self: what one sentence describes that person?

To paraphrase Ian Curtis (from Joy Division)…”I’ve been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand.” I had no idea of what I could or should do with my days.

What are you planning for 2026 that nobody knows about yet?

Seriously contemplating putting an advertisement somewhere for the position of ‘Girlfriend.’

In one sentence, can you define creativity?

It is the ability or desire to make something that doesn’t yet exist. An unheard song, for example.

Where would you like to live, but have yet to?

If there were no logical barriers, I would like to live somewhere in the Southern Alps. Possibly Fiordland, surrounded by mountains, rivers and bush (With internet and a good music collection).

What word of advice would you offer an aspiring creative person?

Start now.

Has there been a particular moment where you surprised yourself by using creativity to solve, express, or connect? 

Not sure I surprised myself, but I did surprise a senior reserve hockey team in Christchurch once by trying to explain team unity using David Byrne lyrics and the notion that singing by yourself looks silly but in a group it is powerful. They managed a win despite my ill-focused attempt at inspiration.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself/your organisation?

The Jam Factory is a wonderful physical building. People warm up, relax and/or get excited when they walk in. We are blessed with a great team of staff and volunteers. Our very simple ethos is that we want anyone who leaves the venue, does so having had a great time. Bands, audience, visitors who just pop in for a look… their experience should be one of joy.

We are blessed in that people involved, in whatever aspect, are full of passion so that joy and excitement should be shared and embellished. The Jam Factory is under the umbrella of The Incubator, and as such, looks to incubate talent and ideas.

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