President

Susanne Rawson

president.nzccm@gmail.com

My journey in cultural heritage preservation, material culture, and archaeology has taken me through various roles in non-profits, education, and private practice. I earned a BA in anthropology from the University of West Florida, focusing on conservation and archaeology. During my studies, I completed a Nautical Archaeology Society certificate in Foreshore Archaeology at Flinders University. After my undergraduate degree, I interned with the HL Hunley project, honing my skills in organic materials and conservation science. I then pursued a master’s degree in conservation at University College London and worked as a Senior Conservator at The Mariners’ Museum in Virginia on the USS Monitor project.

My work has taken me to fascinating locations from the Arctic to the Antarctic, South America, the Near East, and Africa, working with a variety of materials. I am a fellow of the American Institute of Conservation and a member of the New Zealand Archaeological Association and International Council of Museums. I have conducted numerous workshops, courses, research projects, and published on various topics.

Before becoming president, I served as a Co-Convenor of the Special Interest Group for Conservators in Private Practice (NZCCM) and as Vice Chair for Heritage Taranaki Inc. Recently, I completed a doctorate at Victoria University Wellington Te Herenga Waka, exploring community relationships with underwater and near-water heritage. Currently, I am a Director for Heritage Preservation and Field Support Solutions (HPFS Solutions) based in New Plymouth, Taranaki, where I live with my partner from Hāwera and our son.

Vice President

Emily Fryer

Emily is an objects conservator currently working at Canterbury Museum in Christchurch. She has a Masters in the Conservation of Historic Objects from Durham University and a degree in Geology. Emily has worked in conservation for over 20 years both in institutions and privately through her own business on large conservation projects in Christchurch including many related to earthquake recovery. She has also worked as an objects conservator for the Tate Gallery in London and the Antarctic Heritage Trust in Antarctica. Her current research interests are canned food preservation and adhesive methods for temporary earthquake display restraint. 

Emily has been a member of the New Zealand Conservators of Cultural Materials for over 15  years and has served a number of years as Canterbury Rep and recently on Membership committee.  She is excited to take on this new role and looks forward to supporting NZCCM members.  

Catalina 

I am originally from Chile, where I studied Art History and Photography, and later earned a Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration of Objects and Heritage. I have worked in museums, galleries, and archives for over 13 years. As a freelancer, I focus mostly on the conservation of paintings, photography, and paper, as well as preventive conservation, digitisation, training, mentoring, and advisory roles. My passion lies in photography and audiovisual materials, and I have also collaborated on cultural projects and training with native communities back in my homeland.

I am a member of R.E.A.L, the Latin American Archives Women Entrepreneurs Network and waiting to be member of SEAPAAVA, the Southeast Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Archive Association. Currently, I am a Senior Archivist Repository at Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. My role includes logistics and transport of collections, care and handling of collection materials, training, inventory, preventive conservation, and creating best practices and procedures.

In my free time, I love going for walks with my partner and our beagle dog, and enjoying arts and crafts. You can also visit me on Instagram, where I share my personal photography and memorabilia archive: instagram.com/spectrum_photoarchive

Kate Blair

Kate is Kaitiaki Taonga Conservator Textiles at the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Kate has a BSc majoring in textile science from the University of Otago and an MPhil in textile conservation from the University of Glasgow.

She has been a full NZCCM member since graduating in 2013, and has been practicing conservation in New Zealand since 2016. Kate likes spreadsheets and gardening in her spare time.

photo currently unavailable

Prayash

Ko wai au?

Nō Nepal tōku motu.Nō Tahoon tōku papatipu. I tipu ake ahau kei te Nepal me India. Ināianei, e noho ana ahau rāua ko tōku wahine kei te whenua o Taranaki Whānui rāua ko Te Ātiawa. Ko kaimahi ahau kei Te Kano Kohinga Kupu Pōneke.

Tahoon, Nepal is my ancestral land. I grew up in both Nepal and India. I graduated from Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Poutuarongo Puna Maumahara in 2023. I am a kaimahi at Wellington City Archives and prior to that I worked at galleries and libraries. Photography is my area of interest and I love to make photos and learn about the decolonisation of camera - what does it look like is what I am trying to figure it out at the moment?

Newsletter Editor

Lisa Imamura

Lisa grew up in Southeast Alaska, studied geology in Upstate New York and Christchurch, and studied objects conservation in Canada. She holds a Master of Art Conservation degree from Queen's University. Lisa has enjoyed working in a variety of settings in the United States, Canada, and Aotearoa, including an academic archaeology department, a regional conservation centre, and museums small to very large. Lisa lives in Invercargill.