Barbara George MBA, Dip Bus, BMus, PG Cert Public Management, Cert Lv4 Te Reo, joined The Court Theatre as Chief Executive in October 2018. Before this she was the Chief Executive of the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) and held this position for five years.
Barbara began her career in orchestra management in 1993 and in 1995 was appointed to her first CE role at the Canberra Symphony in Australia. From 1995 to the present day, Barbara has held Chief Executive positions in major performing arts companies in New Zealand, Australia and the United States including the CE role at the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in South Australia immediately before returning to New Zealand in 2013.
As an arts, commercial and entrepreneurial leader, she sees her role as guiding the organisation in an ever changing and challenging context. The major part of her leadership role will see The Court return to the CBD in a new home that is currently being negotiated with the Christchurch City Council.
The Court’s greatest asset is its people who share a common vision of ensuring that high quality professional theatre is available for the people of this community, of Aotearoa, and all who come to our shores.
Barbara’s tūrangawaewae is Taranaki, and she is Ngāti Rāhiri o Te Atiawa.