Amanda left New Zealand as a teenager to pursue a career as a classical ballet dancer, touring Europe extensively before accepting a position with English National Ballet where she met her husband Matz - Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet from 1996 to 2001. Amanda has worked in arts administration for the past 15 years.
She was Education Officer with English National Ballet, the Development Manager at London’s Design Museum, and then the Assistant Director at Central School of Ballet with the late Christopher Gable. She has a post-graduate Diploma in Arts Administration from City University, London. In 1996 Amanda returned to New Zealand when her husband became the Artistic Director of the RNZB, and was appointed Executive Director of Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ).
She was also a member of the Creative New Zealand Dance assessment panel. Returning to the UK six years ago, Amanda was involved in many projects, including running her own company selling New Zealand applied art and working as the Visitor Services Manager at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre. She has two sons, Sam and Louis, and began her role with the Royal New Zealand Ballet in September 2006.