Richard Finn is the Programme Director of Whitireia NZ’s Stage and Screen Arts course. He has worked for many years as a professional theatre director, having directed and designed several of Shakespeare’s plays. More recently he has worked as a script-writer, gaining his M.A. in Creative Writing (script) in 2010. He is a passionate believer in the power of performing arts as a training medium, and collaboration as an educational process. He holds degrees and post graduate qualifications from Auckland University, Victoria University and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. Recently he has presented at conferences in China, Barcelona, Athens, Moscow, Hamilton and Porirua. In 2015 he began the Doctorate of Creative Arts, at USC, Australia. In 2017 he began a new adventure, taking time out to work in Australia and become a new dad.