About us
The Centre for Arts and Social Transformation (CAST) was established as the result of a generous gift from the Chartwell Trust in 2019. The Centre researches how the arts have the potential to make a more socially just and equitable world through improving the quality of life of all citizens. The Centre is outwards focused and builds relationships with educators, artists, activists, policy makers and communities to research the power of the arts for social transformation. The Centre reaches out to the public through the Creative Thinking Project.
The Centre hosts the Creative Thinking Project, the Creative School Index, Te Rito Toi, Arts Beyond Borders and The Artist*Academics.
| CAST Team | Role |
|---|---|
| Professor Peter O’Connor | Centre Director |
| Tahnee Vo | Centre Manager |
| Dr Moema Gregorzewski |
Research Fellow |
| Dr Joanna Chu | Research Fellow |
| Dr Jean M Uasike Allen | Research Fellow |
| Dr Ying (Ingrid) Wang | Post-Doctoral Fellow |
| Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh | Research Affiliate |
| Professor Helen Sword | Research Affiliate |
| Shirley Ikkala | Pouarataki |
| Carine Umutoniwase | Research Assistant |
| Amanda Wallace | Centre Manager (secondment until April 2024) |
| Dr Laura Chubb | Research Fellow |
| Honorary Associate Professor Jackie Kauli | Research Affiliate |
| Naomi Pears-Scown | Research Assistant |
Contact us: cast@auckland.ac.nz
| Expert Advisory Board |
|---|
| Professor Anna Abrahams, University of Georgia |
| Professor Robyn Ewing AM, The University of Sydney |
| Dr. Jackie Kauli, Queensland University of Technology |
| Professor Persephone Sextou, Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Professor Marina Henriques Coutinho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro |
| Dr. Te Oti Rakena, University of Auckland |
| Professor Vivianne Juguero, University of Stavanger |
| Dr. Pala Molisa, Manukau Institute of Technology |
| Oversight Board |
|---|
| Professor Mark Barrow (Chair), Faculty of Education and Social Work |
| Professor Andrew Barrie, Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries |
| Associate Professor Aaron Wilson, Faculty of Education and Social Work |
| Associate Professor Vivienne Elizabeth, Faculty of Arts |
| Dr. Jacinta Oldehaver, Faculty of Education and Social Work |
| Dr. Helene Connor, Faculty of Education and Social Work |
| Amy Malcolm, Office of the Vice-Chancellor |
| Bevan Iles, Faculty of Education and Social Work |
| Sue Gardiner, Chartwell Trust |