Kia ora! I am an Ōtepoti / Dunedin Mama, artist, crafter, pattern maker, sewist and 3rd Dan Black belt in Kyokushin Karate! I collect hobbies, magical rocks and love coordinating this amazing Dunedin StarJam Community. My favourite part of my job is seeing new Jammers flourish, make friends and find a sense of place in this magical community of Jammers, Whānau, Tutors and Volunteers.

Talofa lava! Originally from mighty Timaru I am now settled in the lovely Christchurch. I’ve always been singing and dancing through life. I am also a lover of gym classes, bubble tea and nail art. I am blessed to be a blend of Pākehā and Samoan. StarJam is close to my heart as singing, dancing and performing has helped me continually discover myself and made me who I am today. I am thankful to be a part of an organisation that provides young people the opportunity to gain confidence, joy and connection.

Kia ora tātau! I am an artist, a cat-lover and wannabe circus aerialist living in Windy Wellington, though I was raised in Sunny Hawke’s Bay. He taha Māori, taha Pākehā ōku. Kei te Matau a Māui, kei Horowhenua ngā rohe o aku iwi | I’m Māori and also Pākehā, with iwi connections in Hawke’s Bay and Horowhenua. Performing arts has given me nothing but joy, empathy and connection to my inner child. Everyone deserves to experience the transformative power of the arts and I am honoured to be a part of that movement here with StarJam in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

I was born in England and moved to NZ when I was nine. The move was as a family when my dad was offered a 3 year contract in the oil business. We never left. I have one brother, Stuart, and am married to Stephen. We have no children and live in the beautiful Taranaki, under the mountain and near the sea. I am a musician at heart and play piano, clarinet, bassoon and bagpipes. My favourite time is being involved in music, especially orchestras or ensembles. Handcrafts are my other love: cross-stitch, hardanger, diamond dotz and mosaics. I particularly like to make them for other people. My time with StarJam has only just started but I feel like I have found my other family.

As a mother to three young children who keep me on my toes, I'm constantly learning new things from them every day. Crafting is a favourite hobby, and I relish spending time outdoors in the beautiful Bay of Plenty with my family. My prior experience as a secondary school art teacher sparked a passion for the transformative power of creative expression. In my role as a Programme Coordinator for StarJam, I am grateful to have the opportunity to forge meaningful connections within my community. I take great pleasure in witnessing the growth of our Jammers as they develop self-confidence and self-esteem through music and performance.

Kia ora! I’m very fortunate to call Hamilton home. I was initiated into StarJam as a volunteer, and then as the Regional Programme Coordinator for the mighty Waikato. Over that time it’s been wonderful to watch us grow from 6 workshops to 10! Witnessing the joy our Jammers get out of their workshops is the best part of my role. When I’m not coordinating our workshops, discos & gigs; you will find me fishing, woodworking or playing guitar. I would love to hear from you if you would like to get involved with StarJam as a tutor, volunteer or a Jammer!

Initially from the UK, I moved to Aotearoa in 2017 after 8 years as a singer; touring and releasing music around the world. My accent is somewhat of a mixed-breed sounding creature and I prefer to be called a citizen of the world. My roots are engrossed in music, dance, tradition and adventure, using these tools as a foundation to help others find and use their voice and to feel heard. I’ve been a part of StarJam since 2017, I love that it encompasses everything that I believe in to empower and support others to grow and shine their light.

Hi, I’m Emily. I have found my home in Auckland over the last 6 years, although I grew up in Hamilton. Dance has and always will be a big part of my life! I also enjoy reading, baking and lazy Sundays! I am so grateful to be a part of the StarJam whanau and share my love of dance and the arts with an amazing community of people!

Kia Ora, I’m Emma. I’ve lived in Tāmaki Makaurau my whole life, and even stayed around the same suburb! I love cooking, baking, spending time with animals and dancing. My background is in education, I was previously a primary school teacher. I am honoured to be apart of StarJam and share my passions with our amazing Jammers and StarJam community!

I am a champion for StarJam, writer, documentary-maker and child-rights advocate based in Tāmaki Makaurau. I grew up in Napier, in a small place called Greenmeadows, which cemented my love of wine and the outdoors! I am a fifth generation Pākehā New Zealander. I grew up learning dance then started to act which gave me the power to imagine who I could be. I now have two teenage children and I love to watch them perform (on the sports field or stage). Now I have the opportunity through StarJam to spread this love for performance to our wonderful inspiring jammers.

Hello, I'm Michelle! I've spent most of my life in Auckland, working in community organisations both paid and voluntary. My world revolves around four grown children, my husband Peter, our dog Clyde, and the joy of two grandkids. When I'm not busy with family and work, you'll find me happily engrossed in diamond art and jigsaw puzzles – my go-to sources of relaxation and creativity!

Kia ora! My hometown is Tāmaki Makaurau, where I was born and raised with a mix of Japanese and Kiwi roots. I live with my partner, adorable pup Joey, and fluffy ragdoll Mochi out in the wild west of Titirangi. We're all about exploring the fantastic beaches, hiking trails, and indulging in the best local eats. I have a background in Education, having worked as an intermediate school teacher and occasionally teaching violin. StarJam has completely changed my world, and I absolutely love how we all join forces to make StarJam a reality, providing the best possible support for our amazing Jammers to thrive!

Kia ora, I’m delighted and privileged to be part of StarJam. My background is in health – with a strong focus on vulnerable people and communities. My specialty was suicide and designing and developing services for people who are abused, in prisons, care and protection and most recently I managed the health and detox services at Auckland City Mission. I have a strong DNA for the social profit sector (AKA Not for profits) and have spent over 30 years working for Make-A-Wish and a variety of charities over the past years. I have also had the privilege of being the CEO of the Cerebral Palsy Society, Go Baby Go (small electric cars for children who have physical mobility issues) and the Paediatric Oncology Steering Group I have three wonderful kids and three amazing grand kids. I live at the beach- usually with a rescue dog. I love summer, beaches, traveling and family.