Hon Chris Finlayson QC and Claire Szabó have been appointed as new members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa (NZSO) board for three-year terms, starting 1 August 2021.

Hon Chris Finlayson QC is a lawyer and former Member of Parliament. He has previously been Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Attorney-General and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. Finlayson retired from Parliament in 2019 and currently practices law in arbitration, the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori trusts.

Finlayson is currently a trustee of the Archibald Baxter Trust and a member of the Adam Foundation. He has previously been Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand’s Arts Board from 1998 to 2001.

Claire Szabó has years of executive experience, with a particular focus on not-for-profit organisations. Claire is currently President of the New Zealand Labour Party, and Director Labour Party Properties Ltd. She has previously held roles as CEO of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, and CEO of English Language Partners New Zealand, which saw her working with migrants and refugees. Szabó has a Bachelor of Music in performance cello.

Finlayson is currently a trustee of the Archibald Baxter Trust and a member of the Adam Foundation. He has previously been Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand’s Arts Board from 1998 to 2001.

Claire Szabó has years of executive experience, with a particular focus on not-for-profit organisations. Claire is currently President of the New Zealand Labour Party, and Director Labour Party Properties Ltd. She has previously held roles as CEO of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, and CEO of English Language Partners New Zealand, which saw her working with migrants and refugees. Szabó has a Bachelor of Music in performance cello.