Being human.

Anna had several years experience in magazine and newspaper publishing before moving into agency work in 1995. With over twenty years experience in the industry she has worked for Nova Models and Talent and Odd Management before joining The Human Agency. In her spare time, Anna works in community theatre, and is the president of Ellerslie Theatrical Society, taking responsibility for marketing and for production management. She is a strong negotiator, with a real appreciation of the needs of both production companies and the people she represents.

Melissa is a multi-faceted actor, circus artist, writer, and director. She holds a BA in Acting for Theatre and Screen, a Master’s in Creative Practice with a focus on devised physical theatre & circus, and completed a masterclass course in Commedia dell’Arte in Italy. Loving all things clown and physical comedy, Melissa is a founding member of ‘A Fool’s Company’, with the shows described as the illegitimate love child of Monty Python and Cirque du Soleil. She loves making people laugh and continues to explore the connections between circus, character archetypes and physical comedy in her creative work. Melissa recently qualified as a Financial Advisor giving her an interest in the ‘business’ of live performance and fuelling her desire to find ways to make art that is financially sustainable for artists.

Liz joined the Agency in late 2005 as a part-time booker. When the Agency decided to prioritise the fast payment of talent, Liz leapt to the Accounts seat where she is responsible for monitoring the money coming in and going out. In between looking after her family (with the recently added demands of Stage Mother), learning tennis, playing recreational sport, indulging her love of wine and food, attending day time movies and her latest passion – working through her never-ending schedule of TV recordings on MY SKY, Liz manages to find the time to come into work 3 days a week to make sure she can pay all our talent as soon as possible.

Shona is well known in NZ as a highly accomplished entrepreneur, dancer, choreographer, director and filmmaker with a strong collaborative work history. She has a great love of working with actors and directors, having choreographed for Peter Jackson, Andrew Adamson, Michael Hurst, Colin McColl, Lucy Lawless, Naomi Watts, Jamie Bell, Sean Astin and Kevin Smith. Alongside her agency work, Shona regularly creates work for theatre, film and live events, identifying strongly with artists of all genres. Shona was awarded an Arts Laureate in 2007 and is the Hynds Art Venture Creative Entrepreneur of the Year and founded The New Zealand Dance Company in 2011, the same year in which she was Head Choreographer on the 2011 Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony.

Amber began ballet + contemporary dance from a young age, and went on to graduate from Unitec’s Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts programme majoring in drama. Amber loves multi-disciplinary art, and digs anything remotely absurdist. She has appeared in or been a creative team member in professional and emerging productions by: Auckland Theatre Company, Pop-Up Globe, Christchurch Body Festival, Auckland Fringe Festival, Tim Bray Productions, Wellington Fringe Festival, Wet Hot Beauties, Hagley Dance Company, and other emerging production companies. Amber is naturally attracted to directorial and choreographic roles as she revels in her Capricorn rites as ‘boss-lady.’ She loves innovative thinking & refining details for anything artsy.

Lara works professionally as an actor, dancer, choreographer, teacher and theatre-maker. She is one-half of the creative brain behind comedy dance crew, Dynamotion and has choreographed contemporary water ballerinas The Wet Hot Beauties since 2012. She brings her experience as performer, facilitator and creative director to her role – not to mention a sense of humour and dedication to delivering high quality original ideas. Lara’s awards include, ‘People’s Choice’ for Swan Song, Auckland Fringe 2013,  ‘Spirit of the Fringe’ award for Wipe Out, Auckland Fringe 2015 and nominations for Most Outstanding Performer and Most Original Concept for her solo theatre show, This Is My Real Job, in the Dunedin Fringe Festival 2014. Lara is a Taurus/Gemini cusp and loves bringing ideas to life.

Carlene joined the Live Events team at the agency in 2013 and arrived with a vast experience in the performing arts. As a dancer and aerial performer she has worked extensively as a choreographer, performer and manager for a range of live entertainment events. She has a tertiary education in dance and psychology and enjoys working with performers from all disciplines. Having lectured in the Dance Studies Programme at the University of Auckland for the past 4 years she recognizes several former students among the talent at The Human Agency. Her passion is in developing performance that is accessible, innovative and of a high quality.