Waving NZ Flag at World Press Photo

My project is simple! As the 1st New Zealander to be invited to be on the jury for World Press Photo, Asia Pacific Oceania I am honoured to be part of this globally prestigious photography contest. Its been a career highlight and one that has also put New Zealand photography on the map, and has provided a global connection to a diverse and inclusive platform, for the exchange of ideas, artistic expression, and engagement with photography and visual culture.

For the fundraiser, as part of the once in a lifetime participation would love to attend the World Press Photo Awards event and opening of their 2025 exhibition in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Looking to raise enough for the flight to Amsterdam!

In the 2020 New Year’s Honours List, I was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for contributions to photography.

And have been a portfolio reviewer for festivals across Asia, Europe and Australasia – Kaunas Photo, Lithuania; Pingyao International Photography Festival, China; Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops, Cambodia; Higashikawa International Photography Festival, Japan; Indian Photo Festival, Hyderabad, India; Guatephoto, Guatemala, Obscura Festival of Photography, Malaysia; Chobi Mela, Bangladesh; Tokyo Institute of Photography, Japan 2020 and FORMAT, UK in 2021.

Plus have been on the jury of various prestigious contests including the Nikon Photo Contest, Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards and China International Press Photo. She has also been a nominator for the 2016 Lou Stoumen Prize, 2015 Prix Pictet, and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award from 2022 to 2024. World Press Photo Asia Pacific Oceania jury, 2025.

I have received an official invite as a jury member from World Press Photo to the World Press Photo Awards event and opening of their 2025 exhibition in Amsterdam, but it is self funded invite for travel there and my budgets are shredded as this is unplanned and only known about in early March, a few weeks ago. 

The travel time is in mid May for 7 days, I would be attending the World Press Photo Awards event and opening of their 2025 exhibition in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At this global gathering there will be lots of photography professionals who it would be great to meet and connect with for the future opportunities and collaborations. Simple, I hope you can help me get there.

Who I am -

Julia Durkin MNZM is the Founder and CEO of Auckland Festival of Photography in New Zealand. Founded in 2004, the festival began as Auckland Photo Day, a 24-hour community photography competition. The Auckland Festival of Photography is the longest-running photography festival in Australasia/Oceania, with 21 annual editions curated and directed to date. In 2010, has played a key role in the Auckland Festival of Photography becoming a founding member of the Asia Pacific Photoforum, a network of international photography festivals across New Zealand, Australia, and Asia.

Return economy airfare to Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I can cover my accommodation and daily costs while there.

I have received an official invite as a jury member from World Press Photo to the World Press Photo Awards event and opening of their 2025 exhibition in Amsterdam.

As the 1st New Zealander to be on the regional jury of the Asia Pacific Oceania region of World Press Photo, its historically and culturally significant to attend for 'Waving the NZ Flag'.

As the 1st New Zealander to be invited to be on the regional jury of the Asia Pacific Oceania region of World Press Photo, its historically and culturally significant to attend for 'Waving the NZ Flag', so New Zealand is represented.