Passionate about Nature
Tushar Sharma
Founder, Director, Photography Teacher
Tushar Sharma is a nature photographer, teacher, conservationist, author, publisher and curator. IMAgEN8 was born out of his love of nature and his desire to deepen people's love and connection with our natural environment, improve mental wellbeing, foster sustainable living encourage kaitiakitanga, and bring joy. He has published 13 books - six of his photography and writings and seven for IMAgEN8. Tushar is the Principal Educator of IMAgEN8, and has been conducting workshops and publishing books since 2019.
Hina Patel
Photography Teacher
Hina is a photographer who incorporates her love of nature into her work. She also creates all the films for IMAgEN8 and manages our Instagram account. In her spare time she enjoys filming her travels around New Zealand and overseas.
Nagaja Sanatkumar
Founder and Director
Nagaja Sanatkumar is a professional director on the boards of Meridian Energy, Cawthron Institute, NZ Post, UFF, and FSNI. In addition to her work in strategy consulting, she is also a guest teacher for The Mind Lab and a Beachheads Advisor for NZTE. Nagaja is passionate about sustainability (currently pursuing a Master’s degree from Massey U) and loves tramping, hiking and exploring New Zealand with her family.
Mark Ryan
Photography Teacher
Mark is a professional photographer with 40+ years of experience. He is currently a senior tutor for Three Little Wishes photography workshops, and a freelance commercial photographer based in Auckland, New Zealand. Previously he was the program director for Diploma in photography & tutor in photography Photoshop and InDesign in Brisbane, Australia among many other roles he has had.
Julie Bassett
Director
Julie Bassett is an executive leader at Constellation Brands, one of NZ’s leading wine companies. Her current responsibilities include HR, communications, IT, data and PMO across their international division. She is also involved in industry wide activities such as women in wine and on-the-job education. In her spare time Julie enjoys nature walks with her dogs and spending time with family. As an amateur photographer, her favourite subjects are African animals, birds and plants.
David Argue
Photography Teacher
David is a photographer, director and cinematographer.
Donors, Volunteers and Supporters
Vaidya Gupta Family Trust
Philanthropic donor whose early support enabled purchase of cameras and school workshop programs.
Excio
Ana Lyubich (IMAgEN8 magazine editor)
Roscommon School
Support for school workshops.
Whaea Pare Paul (Rumaki Reo unit, Whanau leader), Junaid Rungan (Deputh Princial), Sima Alefaio (Deputy Principal), Deepa Chaturvedi (Associate Principal), Tania Lunjevich
Eastern Bays Songbird Project
Funding of prints of students' photographs, environmental education support on workshops.
Michelle Brinsden, Turfa Chowdhury
St. Heliers Community Centre
Jill Kayser
Forest Bathing Aotearoa
Geoff Handsfield
Orakei Local Board
Funding for the nature reserve workshops in Eastern Bays and the Borrow a camera, Adopt a reserve program
Scott Milne, Margaret Voyce, Sarah Powrie
Epsom Normal Primary School
Significant support for our work enabling school workshops and Borrow a camera, Tell a story programs.
Ateel Sudhakar (Principal), Dillon Rungan (Deputy Principal), Gail Colby (Deputy Principal)
Kaipatiki
Kaipatiki Local Board (grant)
Pest Free Kaipatiki (project partner)
Auckland Council
Joanne Rutherford, Lucia Davis, Mary Stewart
Book and Image Printing
Bookprint.co.nz
Printart.co.nz
Keen2Print
Bookprinting.co.nz
Blurb.com
Friends of Churchill Park
Peter Buchanan
Volunteers
Sonali Patel (Workshop support, videography)
Beverly Winstone (Photography mentor)
Penelope Milner (Photography mentor)
Chris Cullinan (Photography mentor)
Chelsea Samuel (Coordinator)
Veronica Lush (Coordinator)
Zorah Bogdanow (Designer)
Manurewa Local Board
Funding for the nature reserve workshops in the local board area
Constellation Brands
Donation made by the Charities Committee
Advice
Penelop Hansen and Carole Davies (From the Deck - Newmarket stream restoration project)
Anake Goodall (Seed the Change)
Remuera Intermediate School
Support for school workshops and Borrow a camera programs.
Robin Gatfield (Head Year 8), Julie Miller, Anne McDonnell, Mikayla Gulick, Sarah Choat
