Our Directors and Team

Our team is committed to ensuring visual artists gain recognition and revenue from their resale rights. From artists to lawyers, we are comprised of a talented team of individuals bringing professionalism and dedication to our roles.

Our Directors

Victoria Spackman

Independent Director

Victoria Spackman ONZM holds governance roles across the creative, communications, export, technology and education sectors. Her executive background includes senior executive roles in screen production, visitor experiences, local government and tertiary education. She has contributed legal and financing work to hundreds of hours of screen projects including Miles from Nowhere, NZ Idol, Shortland Street, Whale Rider and Dragons in a Distant Land (produced in Mandarin and Cantonese for Chinese audiences). She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to theatre, film and television in 2016 and holds degrees and graduate qualifications across theatre, film, law, management and linguistics.
Jade Townsend

Independent Director

Jade Townsend was appointed as a Director to the RRA board in November 2024. Jade Townsend is of Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi and British descent. Born and raised in Whanganui, she moved to Liverpool as a teenager before training as an artist at Manchester Metropolitan University. She holds a BA Hons in Fine Art Painting, and has been awarded residencies at Tylee Cottage, Whanganui, BGSU, Ohio, Artspace, Auckland, Slade School of Art, London, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing. She is co-founder and co-director of Season, a commercial gallery in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, where she is currently based. Jade is also a curator experienced in activating “non-gallery” spaces to insert cross-cultural art interventions in unexpected, aspirational locations. Her recent curatorial partnerships and projects include Precinct Properties, Objectspace, Wynn Hamlyn and SALA.
Karun Shenoy

Independent Director

Karun Shenoy was appointed as independent director to the RRA board in September 2024. His professional background has been in the technology industry, with leadership and management roles in major digital transformation programmes. A Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, Karun is also currently board chair at English Language Partners New Zealand, President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and board member at Business Central, and Angel HQ.

Our Team

Sam Irvine

Chief Executive

Mana Whakahaere

Sam is Chief Executive of Resale Royalties Aotearoa with a broad-ranging background which equips him well for the leadership of RRA. An experienced senior leader, Sam was Managing Director of Badger Communications and prior to that, was the Chief Operating Officer of Isthmus Group Ltd. Before this, Sam held senior positions at Freeview New Zealand Ltd, New Zealand’s free-to-air digital television and radio platform.
Jason Kay

Technology and Data Manager

Kaiwhakahaere Hangarau Tatari

Jason leads our technology and data team, bringing over 12 years of Collections Management Operations experience. As our Technology and Data Manager Jason ensures the team have the tools in place to perform effectively and oversees our systems and data across multiple platforms. When he is not monitoring and upgrading systems, you will find Jason swinging a racket or exploring the countryside on two wheels.
Karen Workman

Artist Resale Royalty Educator

Kaiwhakahaere Whakapā

Karen leads the RRA education programme. Karen has years of experience in education and arts-based organisations, and was most recently in Los Angeles, where she was knee-deep in the film industry. Karen has a particular heart for helping creative people on their life journeys. When not in the office, Karen can be found sipping tea with friends and looking for the next plays, exhibitions, books and movies to enjoy.
Daniel Watterson

Contracts and Policy Manager

Kaiwhakahaere Pakihi

Daniel leads our Contracts and Policy Practice. Daniel provides legal direction across all aspects of the RRA service, providing negotiation and contract support, ensuring good policy and legal compliance, and reviewing and developing policy to adhere to the Resale Royalty legislation. Before joining RRA, Daniel was a former Barrister and Crown Prosecutor at a top-tier law firm. As a senior legal advisor and well-regarded stage and screen actor, Daniel blends legal expertise and real-world industry acumen. He is the founder of W.E.L., which provides accessible legal services to the film, television, and gaming industries.
Anna Reynolds

Customer Service Coordinator

Kiritaki Kaitūhono

Anna is our RRA Customer Service Coordinator. She has spent the last 10 years in the Netherlands, most recently working with customers for a non-profit organisation in the internet community. She loves to spend her time reading with a cuppa or outside having adventures in nature with her two small children.
Caroline Carlyle

Accounts & Administration Manager

Tīma Kaitūhono

Sam is Chief Executive of Resale Royalties Aotearoa with a broad-ranging background which equips him well for the leadership of RRA. An experienced senior leader, Sam was Managing Director of Badger Communications and prior to that, was the Chief Operating Officer of Isthmus Group Ltd. Before this, Sam held senior positions at Freeview New Zealand Ltd, New Zealand’s free-to-air digital television and radio platform.
Caroline Stone

Arts Licensing Consultant

Mātanga Hāpai Toi Ataata

Caroline is providing legal consultation to RRA. Caroline was lucky enough to study at Otago University at the same time as a lot of Flying Nun bands were playing, and has been a friend and fan of Flying Nun music ever since. She completed her LLB in Auckland and has since worked in New Zealand, Japan and New York where she is also admitted to practice law. After returning to New Zealand, Caroline has continued practising US immigration law as well as setting up Creative Legal Services in an effort to make legal services more accessible to artists. Caroline was on the board of Artists Alliance for several years, and has chaired the Flying Nun Foundation since 2016.
Natasha Matila-Smith

Communications Advisor

Kaitohutohu Whakatairanga me te Whakapā

Natasha joined RRA in June 2024 in the Communications Advisor role. Her recent experience includes working as an Editor / Project Administration for Arts Makers Aotearoa, and Communications roles for Tautai Pacific Arts Trust, Day One Hāpai te Haeata and The Pantograph Punch. Natasha is a visual artist and writer, and so has an affinity for advocating for makers and the creative industries. On the weekends, she enjoys going to the French bakery on Dominion Road for a macaron and an oat latte.
Rosa Volz

Project Manager

Kaiwhakahaere kaupapa

Rosa is the RRA Project Manager. Her role is to work with RRA vendors and stakeholders to design, build and operationalise the RRA service.
Rosa has a background as a business analyst. designing, building and delivering digital products and services across a broad range of industries, predominantly in media.
When Rosa is not working she is taming a 20 acre lifestyle block where her family farms sheep, pigs and olives.