Mark Hutchins-Pond

Mark Hutchins-Pond joined Webb’s Wellington, as a Senior Art Specialist in September 2022 after a decade as the lead curator, contemporary art, at the Pātaka Art+Museum in Porirua. Mark’s extensive art sector expertise has been acquired over three decades of studying, writing, presenting, critiquing, and championing the best contemporary fine art in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Before leading Pātaka’s curatorial team, Mark established and successfully directed his own dealer gallery for nine years in upper Willis Street, Wellington, where he represented several senior artists who continue to achieve record prices in the secondary market to this day.  

He has written for and edited various art publications, both independently and as a part of his lead curator role within the museum sector, and is a popular and respected speaker on New Zealand art and artists. 

Mark has years of experience judging art competitions for Pātaka Art+Museum, Mahara Gallery, Hutt Art Society, and Wellington Sculpture Trust and, after the enjoyable time he had being part of the judging panel for last year’s IHC Art Awards, was pleased to be invited back to help judge the awards again this year.

Elizabeth Caldwell

Elizabeth Caldwell has been working in the culture sector in Aotearoa for more than 30 years and received an ONZM for her services to the arts in the 2022 King’s New Year Honours.

She is currently heading up a new division of Napier City Council as Manager Arts, Culture and Heritage. Prior to taking up the role earlier this year, she was Te Ringa Auaha | Director Art and Heritage at Experience Wellington, with responsibility for the oversight of the conceptual content of the exhibitions at all its sites, including City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi and Wellington Museum.

Professional roles prior to this include Director City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi, Director at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Head of Art at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Visual Arts Manager at Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, and Curator of Contemporary Art at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.

Tim Walker

Tim Walker is an Auckland-based arts and culture consultant. After playing leadership roles in the museum sector for three decades – including as senior art curator through the development of Te Papa, and director of The New Dowse – he set up his own company.

As a consultant Tim works with arts, culture and heritage organisations, iwi and hapu, tourism businesses, and government and local government throughout New Zealand.

Tim is chair of Toi Whakaari – the New Zealand Drama School. He has an MA in Art History and was awarded an Honorary Degree in Creative Technologies by the Council of the Wellington Institute of Technology.

Michel Tuffery

The Holdsworth Charitable Trust Award Judge

Michel Tuffery is a New Zealand born artist of Samoan, Rarotongan and Tahitian Ma‘ohi heritage.

A keen historian and active participant in contemporary culture leads to his art being curated into major international exhibitions and programmes, and public and private collections globally.

At the core of his art practice, he ingeniously works across all traditional mediums and multimedia. Renowned as a sculptor, painter, printmaker and for his architectural media artworks, he is a connector of people and places by focusing a fresh lens on community, environmental, cultural and historical divides.

In 2008, Michel was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to art, but for him the real reward comes from enriching communities through his art.