Stuart Grant Email & Phone Number

Upper Hutt

For Upper Hutt to thrive as a liveable, loveable city of opportunity, we need to build strong connections with a wide range of industry. Developments boosting our local economy over recent years include the craft brewing industry, government departments such as NZDF, Corrections and most recently Kiwirail; then there is NZCIS -an internationally recognised high performance professional sports centre which is home to A-League franchise Wellington Phoenix, Super Rugby's Hurricanes and host base for the Swedish National Football team for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Upper Hutt has attracted a number of film production businesses on the back of the major Screen Production facility and Sound Stage development at Lane Street Studios. Council has been instrumental in supporting these initiatives, to ensure they will energise our local economy, create jobs and deliver sustainable benefits to the city and the wider region. This keeps life interesting, makes for exciting work days and allows me the privilege of being part of the story that our bold little city is creating here at the top end of the Hutt Valley.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

This role works with City Innovation across the whole of the City. The primary function is to create an environment for innovation in Wellington City. Over a number of years, Wellington has built a reputation for creative enterprise and a place to come to get things done: "The Capital City of the Verb". Working with a range of government, corporate, social enterprise and technology partners, this role drives and facilitates the planning and implementation of projects that position Wellington as a Smart City. Ultimately, my success in this role is indicated by the way these innovation partnerships add to the liveability of residents, the experience of city visitors and the sustainability of the economy. And I get to identify , help create and maximise value around amazing new ideas generated in the world's coolest little Capital.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

Capital E is a leading Centre for Creativity in Wellington, New Zealand. It is a nexus linking arts & creative technology industries with the young people of Aotearoa New Zealand, to ensure they have the capability, creativity and confidence to become the architects of their own future. As Director, I led a team of twenty staff and varying numbers of contractors to more than double the commercial income, securing long-term partnerships with key stakeholders in local and central government and a wide range of creative industry companies and creatives. Under my leadership Capital E has built a strong national and international brand. I have represented and advocated for the New Zealand Arts Sector, Artists and Productions in Australia, the US, UK, Singapore and Ireland. Capital E is recognised as a sector-leading organisation with a strong track record of delivering on its strategic goals.My role involved establishing infrastructure from concept to operational success, driving strategy, overseeing business planning and maintaining high performance across the organisation. My leadership style is inclusive, transparent and outcome focussed.The biggest challenge I faced in this role was the major strategic review and subsequent relocation of our organisation, working closely with City stakeholders to work past insurmountable seismic issues in our previous location. After an amazing team effort, the organisation opened the doors to its new home on the Capital's waterfront in 2014, and leveraged external partnership support and funding to grow continuously under my watch.

Bachelor Of Education (B.Ed.), Education, Educational/Instructional Technology, Educational Psychology

Activities and Societies: Football Club Drama Club Specialist areas include Film & Media, Computer Assited Learning and Performing Arts

Bachelor Of Arts (Hons), Arts Marketing And Media Production, First Class Honours

Activities and Societies: Summer Shakespeare Improv Team Football Club Post-Graduate study in the fields of Film, Television and Video.

Postgraduate Certificate Of Strategic Arts & Cultural Leadership, Executive Development

An intensive certificate programme for practising industry professionals delivered through the Victoria University Executive Leadership.