Our Board
-
Sharon Lark - Co-Chair
Sharon is an independent VFX Producer, based in London for 30 years working on major international features: Prince of Persia, The Chronicles of Narnia and Casino Royale, among others. After relocating home to NZ, she has worked on co-productions: Thunderbirds are Go, The Luminaries, Australia's Cleverman TV Series, and A24's Mr Corman as well as many other NZ & Australian productions. She is passionate about advocating for the NZ VFX Industries' future and wahine in the workforce.
-
Steve Dorner - Co-Chair
Steve is Associate Dean and Programme Director for the Bachelor of Art and Design (3D Animation and Visual Effects) at Media Design School, bringing 24 years in filmmaking, CGI, and VFX education. Passionate about nurturing new artists, he aims to strengthen guild-tertiary links, engage government, and drive membership, sponsorships, events.
-
Nik Beachman - Treasurer
Nik is an award-winning producer who founded Thick As Thieves and chaired NZAPG/APA. Currently Executive Producer at Fathom, he’s passionate about VFX. His focus includes nurturing talent, promoting best practices, and pushing industry boundaries. Good governance, creativity, integrity, and trust guide his service on the VFX Guild Board, ensuring success.
-
Anna Middelton - Secretary
Anna is in her 10th year of managing the graduate program at WētāFX and was a founding member of the Women’s Network Committee, established in 2018. Prior to WētāFX, she freelanced in various TV/film production roles, and served as a Company Director at Flying Saucer Films. She’s inspired by the VFXG mission and looks forward to contributing to a robust VFX and animation industry in New Zealand.
-
Rhys Dippie
Rhys Dippie is a VFX artist who has worked on film, TV and commercials for the past 20 years. He enjoys a wide mix of jobs from comp to 3D to development. In his spare time, he likes pretending to be a machinist and electrical engineer.
-
Tanya Geisen
Tanya is a VFX recruitment specialist with 20+ years’ experience on large-scale feature films, including The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Avatar. Currently consulting on Avatar sequels at 880 Productions, she focuses on strengthening industry-tertiary relationships and creating career pathways. She believes the VFXG Board can implement impactful strategies in this area.
-
Yin Wu
Yin is a CG Generalist with five years’ experience in film and TV. He values the VFX Guild’s role in connecting professionals and wants to extend those same opportunities to others. Despite challenging times, he remains dedicated to filmmaking, better working conditions, and fostering community connections.
-
Nicci Lock
Nicci is Strategic Advisor, Producer and Post-Production Producer with 30 years in screen, education, and government. Her expertise spans governance, production, and business development in VFX, post, animation, and tech. For 15 years, she has strengthened industry-education ties, advocated for investment, and expanded exports. She is an investor in genre film company Admit One Entertainment and Terror-Fi Film Festival and owner and CEO of Goldilocks Productions.
-
Matt Holmes
Matt is an independent VFX Supervisor based in Auckland, with credits including “Heart Eyes” (a romcom-slasher), “Sweet Tooth,” and “Evil Dead Rise.” Currently supervising Netflix’s “East of Eden,” he also directs and edits. He is committed to promoting New Zealand for international productions and ensuring sustainable VFX industry working conditions.
-
Lance Lones
Lance is a former NASA rocket scientist and a 20 year veteran of the VFX and entertainment industries. He has built visual effects software tools and technologies for films such as Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and Avatar, and has co-founded a number of technology companies devoted to furthering the art and science of VFX and virtual reality.
-
Frank Rueter
Frank began his VFX career in 1997 as a 3D generalist in Germany, moving to New Zealand in 2003 to join Weta Digital as a compositor and has been focused on 2D workflows since. After a stint at Digital Domain in the US, he founded OHUfx. As an inaugural board member of the NZ VES chapter, he served two terms. His priority is fostering post-production collaboration to strengthen sustainability and agility in the New Zealand film industry.
-
Stan Alley
Stan is a VFX supervisor with over 25 years experience in the film industry and has worked both locally and internationally on some of the most ambitious VFX movies ever created including The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Avatar, The Avengers, Mr Corman as well as What We do in the Shadows.
-
Nicolette Hurnen
Nicolette is a senior On Set VFX Data Wrangler, and has just started her On Set VFX Supervisor career. Being involved with VFXG is important to her because she strongly believes New Zealand’s film industry is world class, and New Zealand’s crew deserves world class representation and support.