Pilot Episode

Our first interview is with one of our hosts, Dr Sandy Callister. Sandy graduated in 2023 with a Masters in Law Masters 1st Class Honours in Human Rights from Auckland University. Her work as a community activist with tamariki through the Painga Project in high deprivation communities in South Auckland was the catalyst for further study.

From 2003 to 2017 Sandy was a founder director of PROVIDENCE GROUP, an ‘insights driven’ strategic consultancy business. She previously worked for TVNZ, Saatchi and Saatchi in New York, Unilever in London, and was Managing Director of Colmar Brunton in Wellington.

Sandy holds a BA from Victoria University; a PhD in History from the University of Auckland and has studied women and leadership at the Harvard Business School. Her book The Face of War: New Zealand’s Great War Photography was published by Auckland University Press in 2008.

Sandy is a foundation member of Aotea Ora Community Trust — Aotea/Great Barrier Island’s first social enterprise trust. She established and runs the AoteaOra Artist Residency programme. From 2010 to 2023 Sandy served as a trustee of Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery Victoria University of Wellington.