Backstage Preview

Forum North Trust warmly invites you to a behind the scenes preview of their new theatre project in Whangarei.

Event Details

April 22 2026

4:30 PM til 6:30 PM

Manaia Room

Te Iwitahi Civic Centre

9 Rust Ave, Whangarei

RSVP by 17th April 2026

Agenda

Kai & Drinks are available on arrival

4:30 PM	Arrive /Mingle
5:00 PM	Karakia
5:05 PM	Welcome Jeremy Kloet (FNT Chair)
5:10 PM	Mayor Ken Couper
5:15 PM	Trevor Griffiths – Guest
5:25 PM	Clive Pedley – Guest
5:35 PM	Gus Sharp – Guest
5:45 PM	Karakia

Trevor Griffiths

Trevor is construction and delivery expert with a 49 year career in delivering over $3bn worth of projects in his career across the UK, Pacific islands, & NZ. Projects include Civic theatre Auckland, Hundertwasser HQ Whangarei, Te Matau pohe Bascule bridge Whangarei, Lindvart park community centre Kaikohe. His expertise is motivating teams to dream big and deliver patiently, especially when delivering community assets that require a multi split funding model, ensuring funding ‘just in time’

Clive Pedley

Clive Pedley, CEO of Giving Architects, is one of Australasia’s most experienced fundraising advisors, with over 25 years supporting not-for-profit organisations. He works with groups across New Zealand and Australia, including major arts organisations, to design sustainable fundraising programmes, assess campaign readiness, strengthen governance for effective fundraising, and lead major philanthropic capital initiatives—embedding philanthropy as a core strategic strength.

Gus Sharp

Gus Sharp works where ambition is most likely to fail: the transition from vision to delivery. With 15 years working in the live performance industry, building and running major live-performance venues across Aotearoa New Zealand, he brings operator credibility and practiced expertise to high-stakes decisions involving councils, funders, and commercial partners. His role is simple: make sure what gets approved can actually be built, operated, and sustained for future generations.