About Us
Our Committee
President
Dr. Jennifer Hellum
Jennifer Hellum is senior lecturer in Egyptology at the University of Auckland. Her specialties are the hieroglyphic language, Egyptian religion, and Orientalism in Egyptology. She has excavated at Abu Sha’ar (Red Sea coast), the Giza Plateau, Mendes (Egyptian Delta), and Abydos in Middle Egypt. She loves Egypt and the Egyptians, ancient and modern.
Vice-President
Dr. Caleb Hamilton
Caleb Hamilton holds a PhD from Monash University and other degrees from the University of Auckland. His research has focussed on foreign interactions during the Early Dynastic Period, with recent interests in decolonisation in Egyptology and academia. His other interests include New Zealand archaeology, history, and cultural heritage and wider conservation for taonga tuku ihu within Te Ao Māori.
Secretary
Dr. Elizabeth Eltze
Elizabeth Eltze graduated with a PhD in Ancient History, focused on Nubiology, from the University of Auckland in 2019. She is passionate about African history and continues to research and teach ancient Egyptian and ancient Sudanese history, and modern African history, with a focus on northeast Africa. Her other passions are books, cats, and championing equity for traditionally under-represented groups.
Treasurer
Nicola Rawnsley
Nicky has been studying the ancient world since her bachelor’s degree in the 1990s – particularly Greek history. She is currently completing her PhD, working on the description of physical objects and phenomena in the Egyptian logos of Herodotus’ Histories. The use of the senses and the expression of that use in prose history is her main area of interest. She also dabbles in aesthetics and early Greek philosophy.
Membership Secretary
Joseph Main
Joseph Main has been studying Ancient Egypt since his childhood, from doing Classics in college to undergrad and up to his Master's degree at the University of Auckland. He is currently with Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira as the Membership Coordinator and also teaches ancient medical history with the University of Auckland. In his spare time, he likes gaming and seeking out new restaurants and food trucks with his wife.
Equity Officer
Raed Elkabbany
Raed Elkabbany is passionate about connecting the world to modern and ancient Egyptian culture. He facilitates excellent experiences in Egypt through his role as Managing Director (NZ) with Vantage Travel International. Raed supports the local Egyptian community through connection with the Egyptian consulate, locally-based New Zealand organised Egyptian cultural experiences, and any opportunity to promote and strengthen the bond between these two unique cultures.
Social Media and Web Coordinator
Stephanie Morgan
Steph graduated with her Masters in Ancient History from the University of Auckland in 2016, focussing on Ethics in Egyptian texts. She is passionate about Egyptian literature, especially wisdom literature. She is a part-time primary school teacher, and is an Adjunct Fellow with the New Zealand Initiative, where she contributes to developing research-informed policy advice for Education in New Zealand. She is also passionate about food, her growing collection of houseplants, and her puppy Arthur.
Events Coordinator
Anna Chilcott
Anna received a PhD in Ancient History from the University of Auckland in 2022. Her areas of interest include the religious texts and beliefs of the Egyptian Old Kingdom, especially the Pyramid Texts. Her other interests include turning her apartment into a houseplant jungle and falling in love with every dog she meets.
General
Committee Member
Reuben
Hutchinson-Wong
I completed with my Master of Arts in Ancient History in 2019 from at Waipapa Taumata Rau – the University of Auckland. I am interested in Egyptology, geography, nineteenth century New Zealand, and how colonialism and imperialism is interwoven among them. I am currently learning Mandarin Chinese and writing a book about Tararū, a small-town north of my hometown, Thames, while exploring doctoral opportunities.
Our Constitution
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