Ruth Heath

Ruth Heath is the Director of Te Atamira, the Southern Lakes’ multi-purpose community arts and cultural hub.

With a deep commitment to making creativity accessible to all, Ruth champions diverse creative voices and drives regional cultural development across Aotearoa.

Her extensive leadership background spans both the creative and corporate sectors. Prior to her role at Te Atamira, she served as the Executive Director of the Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust, successfully delivering the celebrated Wānaka Festival of Colour and Aspiring Conversations speaker programme. A strong advocate for arts sector development, Ruth was selected for the inaugural cohort of Creative New Zealand’s New Leaders Programme. She also brings robust governance experience to the sector, serving as a board member for Mount Aspiring College.

Beyond arts administration, Ruth is an active community entrepreneur. She is the co-owner of Wānaka’s artisanal slow-fermentation bakery, The People’s Bread Co., which champions regional sustainable grain networks and community health. Ruth holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canterbury and a Certificate in Creativity from The Learning Connexion.