New blood in SAE Auckland’s film department

Students who have kick-started their year, and their film career journey, by attending SAE Creative Media Institute, will be able to draw on the knowledge and experience that their new film lecturer, Dawn Hutchesson, brings to the table.

Joining the SAE Film Studies Department on a permanent, part-time basis, Hutchesson will be primarily taking care of Bachelor of Film Arts degree students, guiding them towards, and preparing them for jobs within the film industry.

Hutchesson is already a familiar face around SAE, as she spent 2016 teaching at the institute, and students can rest assured that they are in extremely capable hands, as Hutchesson holds a masters degree from Auckland University, a certificate in adult learning and teaching from Wintec, a national diploma in advanced journalism from Massey, as well as certificates in leadership management enhancement and strategic management from AUT.

She was previously the manager of Colab, AUT’s Creative Technologies Research Centre, and prior to that management role, Hutchesson was a programme manager in Unitec’s Performing and Screen Arts Department and a senior lecturer in the Media Arts Department at Wintec.

Dawn has also consulted for various agencies, including Auckland Council and ATEED. She has been a TV director, producer, project manager, and copywriter with agencies in New Zealand, UK, and Ireland. She was also the co-director and producer for the renowned documentary film Sheilas, and producer on the short film Rockpool. 

Dr Suzette Major, campus manager at SAE, says, “We are very fortunate to have Dawn bring her wealth of knowledge and experience to the SAE team, but beyond this, she is a fantastic role model to our female film-making students.”