Jennifer Ward-Lealand

Since training at Auckland's Theatre Corporate, Jennifer has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio for over 40 years. She is also a trained Intimacy Coordinator for stage and screen. Jennifer was a founding board member of the Watershed Theatre and a co-founder of the drama school, The Actors' Program. She is President of Equity New Zealand (since 2008), Patron of Q Theatre, Theatre New Zealand and Te Manu Tioriori Trust and serves as a trust board member of the Actors Benevolent Fund. In the 2007 New Year's Honours List, she was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to theatre and the community. In 2018 she was named SPADA Industry Champion and in 2019 New Year's Honours List, she was named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to theatre, film and television and presented with a Woman of Influence Award (for arts and culture) Most recently, Jennifer was honoured as the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2020.