Jacquie Walters is PhD candidate with Te Whāre Wānanga o Awanuiārangi researching Māori interactions with Shakespeare. Jacquie has an MA from the Shakespeare Institute (University of Birmingham) and a BA Hons (first) from the University of Canterbury. Jacquie currently works as Communications and Media Manger for NorthTec but will shortly be taking on the role of Public Relations Consultant for the University of Canterbury. She is the mother of two daughters aged 4 and 2 and a half and was formerly a member of "Pounamu" with Ariana Tikao.