Mr Romond is a widely recognised industry expert and artist in animation and visual effects. He comes from a senior position at Weta Digital, where he has led teams of artists across numerous film projects, led major software development projects spanning multiple teams, and most recently led a team creating next generation entertainment in the form of special venue projects using real-time game engines, head mounted AR and VR hardware, and fulldome projection. Since 2015 he has also been involved in tertiary outreach for Weta Digital and, as part of this work, has been engaged as an Adjunct Teaching Fellow at the Miramar Creative Centre.

Professor Jennifer Windsor, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education at the University, says that Kevin’s career to date makes him ideally suited to lead the cross-faculty initiative at the Miramar Creative Centre, where both the Master of Design Technology and the Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice)—Film and Music/Sound are taught.

“The Centre brings together students and scholars from our postgraduate Film, Music, and Design programmes with the intention of fostering innovative and interdisciplinary research and practice. Kevin’s experience in leading collaborative projects will be invaluable to the Centre, as will his expertise as a working artist. To have a creative practitioner of Kevin’s calibre working with our students is a real coup for the Centre.”

Professor Ehsan Mesbahi, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Science, Engineering, Architecture and Design Innovation, says that Kevin was an obvious choice for the director role, which involves both strategic leadership and business development, alongside operational oversight.

“One of the goals of the Centre is to enable a pipeline of highly skilled graduates equipped to engage at the cutting edge of creative industries within Wellington, New Zealand, and the world. Kevin’s background working in these industries means he is perfectly placed to increase our connections among the creative companies that surround the Centre, attract inspiring guest lecturers to mentor our students, and expand the commercial possibilities of the Centre.”

Kevin is excited about taking on this new role: “I am looking forward to growing my involvement in this very special place, increasing our engagement with the creative community and further fostering the creative collaboration and cross discipline research happening here.”

Kevin’s role as Miramar Creative Centre director will be part-time alongside a second role as senior lecturer in animation and visual effects in the School of Design Innovation. Kevin will be based five days per week at the Centre, where he will start both roles on 2 November. He can be contacted on kevin.romond@vuw.ac.nz or 021 025 98560.