TEAM
An awesome, talented and passionate group of individuals
who believe in what we do and bring the Festival alive.
BOARD of TRUSTEES
GLENN JOHNSTONE
Trust Board Chair
ABBIE BLACKTOPP
Trust Board Member
MIKE REHU
Trust Board Member
ZOEY LAW
Trust Board Secretary
DEBORAH HART
Trust Board Member
CAMERON BAILEY
Trust Board Member
JUDY BAILEY
Doc Edge Ambassador / Champion
Coming to New Zealand from Israel, I co-founded Doc Edge when I saw the need to support and grow appreciation for documentary throughout Aotearoa. I believe documentaries are vital to facilitate and encourage dialogue and build understanding, and Doc Edge proudly supports this throughout the work we do.
DAN SHANAN
Executive Director / Trustee
Alex is a trained filmmaker and lawyer. He has a media law firm and works as an award-winning producer & director. He is passionate about documentary and its role in society to create impact in the world. He has built Doc Edge as NZ’s national documentary organisation and envisions Doc Edge as becoming a leader in factual content in the world
ALEX LEE
Director / Trustee
Team 2020
Kristen has worked in the broadcast media and entertainment industry for longer than she cares to remember. Her previous roles have included Creative Director of TV One, Marketing Manager TV3 and Marketing Manager for RadioLIVE before joining the team at Doc Edge.
KRISTEN CARTMER
Marketing & Biz Development Manager
Leesa is at the helm of a public relations, marketing, production and major event management company in the entertainment industry. She has promoted music shows such as Fleetwood Mac and the Who, created and launched a major reggae music festival, and held various film and TV roles, including the most recent tour for Louis Theroux.
LEESA TILLEY
Festival Producer
With a strong background in digital production, storytelling and education, Matthew now manages Doc Edge Schools, delivering free educational documentary screenings to students and teachers. His experience as a Digital Project Manager / Creative Producer has also placed him in a leading role in transitioning Doc Edge’s film festival to an online experience as a response to COVID19.
MATTHEW DONALDSON
Schools Manager
Justin leads programmes in innovative content creation and digital strategy, working with knowledge and research institutes around the world, and transforming digital publishing projects. Clients have included the Red Cross, World Bank, UNECE, L’Oreal, Westpac, University of Auckland, Stockholm Environment Institute, UN University, 350.org, Ngai Tuhoe and many others.
JUSTIN BENN
Digital & Biz Development Manager
I have worked in and around the theatre, film and TV industries in Australasia, northern Africa and Europe for over 40 years.
Formerly the editor of Screenz and Crewed, and founder of the NZ Web Fest.
KEITH BARCLAY
Industry Producer
Made in Borneo, John’s professional background spanned across Technology, Digital Marketing & Project Management in the last 20 years across Australasia. Currently John is working at PwC Consulting as an Experience Designer while still loving volunteering at Doc Edge a decade later.
JOHN LAU
Web / Creatives Manager
Having a background in International Business and Marketing and Arts study, Linsey’s experience spans from film festival to social enterprise. Having a great passion for films, social business and marketing, her most recent role was an international programme manager for a social enterprise in Korea. Returning to New Zealand, now she is working for Doc Edge as a marketing communications coordinator, and also coordinating the first edition of Good Pitch Aotearoa New Zealand.
LINSEY LEE
Good Pitch / Marketing Coordinator
Alesha (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Whakauē & Samoa, has a background in the arts sector as a Writer, Theatre Practitioner and Producer. She has engaged in many community initiatives aimed towards youth. Her screen experience includes Producing, Directing and Script Advisory. Her screen projects have gained international festival acclaim.
ALESHA AHDAR
Schools Coordinator
I am an Office Management student from The Netherlands doing my graduation internship at Doc Edge. This internship is a great opportunity for me to gain international work experience, I am loving every second of it!
JOY BULLEE
Festival Coordinator
My internship at Doc Edge is going to be my step in the right direction of the Film Industry. Entertainment is the best way to connect people and that’s what I want. Be entertaining. Be different. I can’t tell about an exactly career plan, my life is just as unscripted as the one from Doc Edge.
FELIX WITTHUESER
Marketing Coordinator
Ruben is from the Netherlands. He studies AV- specialist at Media College Amsterdam and is in his third year. While doing his internship in New Zealand, he also pursues his passion for sport, especially rugby.
RUBEN LAMME
Video Creatives Producer
Lucas, a second year French multimedia student, plans to major in documentary films next year to complete his bachelor’s degree. That’s why his internship at Doc Edge is an excellent opportunity for him to bring together both the international industry as well as the documentary film industry.
LUCAS HANDSCHUH
Video Creatives Producer
Corey is an Emmy-nominated producer, exec producer, writer currently focused on international co-productions, Asian-Pacific, LGBTQ, unscripted documentary and narrative film content. He is active in many areas of the industry as filmmaker, festival programmer/director, juror, funding partner, consultant on distribution, sales/acquisitions, publicity, marketing, awards. He is based in California and Hawaii, USA.
COREY TONG
International Program Advisor
Charlie is a student at Takapuna Grammar School, and has been studying coding languages for 2 years. He enjoys coding, documentaries and computer games.
CHARLIE CHEN
Web Ninja
MONTY & MILO
Cheerleaders
MAC & BELLA
Cheerleaders