Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand CNZM

Since training at Auckland’s Theatre Corporate, Jennifer has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio as an actor, director and teacher for over 40 years. She is also an accredited Intimacy Coordinator (Intimacy on Set, UK) for stage and screen.

Jennifer was a founding board member of the Watershed Theatre and a co-founder of the drama school, The Actors' Program. She is President of Equity New Zealand (since 2008), Patron of Q Theatre, Howick Little Theatre and Theatre New Zealand and serves as a trust board member of the Actors Benevolent Fund and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori

In the 2007 New Year’s Honours List, she was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to theatre and the community.

In 2018 she was named SPADA Industry Champion and in 2019 New Year’s Honours List, she was named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to theatre, film and television and presented with a Woman of Influence Award (for arts and culture). In 2020 Jennifer was honoured as the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.