Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM
Businesses thrive when they have people like Karyn in their team: diligent, professional, experienced, able to see the big picture, but attentive to the smallest detail, modest, yet full of character.
From Timaru, Karyn is a product of a well rounded upbringing and schooling, with great friends, and spreading her wings she has used the essence of those formative years during a terrific journey on her life path.
Karyn married David in 2004. Her work is vast and varied: communications, client liaisons, marketing, social media, website, and co-hosting owners and friends with David at Te Akau Stud.
Karyn and George Simon were the two inaugural TAB Trackside Television presenters employed when the channel began in 1992. Karyn was appointed as host of the channel’s “First Call” Saturday preview show in June 2010 and remains involved with Trackside as a casual studio presenter for the channel.
Head of Trackside Operations, Richard Ellerington, said: “She’s an amazing person, truly professional and she has grown immensely in the role of the years”.
She has co-hosted the Karaka Premier Sale coverage for the past 10 years and been MC of the Mercedes Thoroughbred Racing Awards on many occasions. She was presented with the Media Award in 2012, an honour that drew praise from respected television broadcaster, TV journalist and media trainer Owen Poland: “The thing with Karyn is that she just continues to become more professional in her broadcasting skills”.
Karyn was also World President of Junior Chamber International (Jaycees) in 2000 and in 1989 was the winner of the World Public Speaking Competition Final in Britain.
Karyn was awarded with an MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) in the 2014 New Year Queen’s Honours’ List for services to the community, to the Arts, and to racing. Her investiture by the Governor General took place Government House, Wellington in March 2014.
She has two daughters: Lydia & Julia-Rose and also loves her 3 dogs.
Karyn can always be contacted [email protected]