Rebecca Keoghan 

Rebecca loves all disciplines of dance & music and spent 13 years dancing herself in dancing & music competitions across Southland and Otago and as a student with the Royal New Zealand Ballet performances in Invercargill. In addition to the 13 years dancing with Joy Lewis-Benneworth, Rebecca also taught for 5 years in ballet (up to Advanced level), jazz, competition solos & choreography, before leaving to move to Dunedin to study medical science at Otago University. Whilst at University, Rebecca continued her teaching career – teaching RAD ballet with Karen MacLeod at McCay School of Dance in Dunedin.

 

After her study was completed, Rebecca took a break from teaching to pursue her career, International travel and working in Melbourne before meeting her husband Nathan and moving to Westport in 2006, purchasing the family farm and starting a family;

 

The move to Westport also brought about a change in professional career from medical science to cement and then dairying. Rebecca was Operations Manager for Holcim (cement plant) for 8 years while studying for an Advanced Business Management diploma and an International Institute for Management Development (IMD) leadership diploma from Switzerland. After the Holcim plant closed, Rebecca moved to Landcorp where she was Business Manager and then General Manager of the Pamu Academy.

In 2019, Rebecca resigned from her Executive roles to concentrate on governance only whilst taking on Gravity Dance Studio. Rebecca is Chair of Fire & Emergency NZ, Deputy Chair of Timaru District Holdings, Director of Alpine Energy and Director of Keoghan Farm. Rebecca has a passion for business with previous Directorships with Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Buller Holdings, Westland Milk Products, Invercargill City Forests and Forest Growth Holdings. Rebecca has also completed a certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors.

 

In 2016, Rebecca was awarded Dairy Woman of the Year, in 2017 Rebecca received a New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honors for services to business, and in 2018 – Rebecca was awarded the Westpac Woman of Influence Award.

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For 14 years in Westport - Rebecca has loved teaching alongside Beryl, and teaching the BBO ballet and jazz syllabus and running solo & group lessons for those wishing to compete in competitions. Rebecca’s children; Amelie (14) and Spencer (12) also have a great passion for performing arts in music and all dance disciplines.

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Rebecca has for many years had a passion for all performing arts – including music and musical theatre. In 2014 and 2016, Rebecca was selected to represent NZ with the NZ National Brass band on tour in China and Korea. She also tutors percussion students in the Buller and performs professionally with a number of A grade brass bands in NZ and Australia. Rebecca loves playing piano, violin, baritone, euphonium and percussion. Rebecca has a massive passion for dance – especially ballet, jazz & musical theatre and it gives Rebecca great pleasure to be a team with Laura and to be part of carrying on the traditions that are Beryl Collins School of Dance for all Buller students.