Ms. Carla van Zon joined Creative New Zealand, the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa in January 2008 to manage and lead the newly formed international team. In her role as Manager International, she oversaw the development of an international strategy, and from this she developed an international programme, the goal of which is to assist New Zealand artists gain international success. She and her team manage projects as diverse as New Zealand's presence at the Venice Biennale to welcoming international presenters to see work and meet artists in their home context.

Previously, Ms. van Zon was the Artistic Director of New Zealand's biggest cultural event, the New Zealand International Arts Festival. Involved in the Festival since 1989, Ms. van Zon took on the role of Artistic Director, in April 2000 having successfully led the Festival as Executive Director since 1996. The 1996, 1998 and 2000 Festivals thrived with Ms. van Zon in the role of Executive Director, earning the Festival the Dominion Gold Award 2001 for outstanding contribution to the Wellington economy.

Ms. van Zon has an MA in Dance and Arts Administration from George Washington University in the USA and a broad range of professional experience in the arts, including working for a variety of theatre and dance companies, the Aotea Centre, the New Zealand Film Commission, producing new New Zealand work and Co-Directing the New Caledonia New Zealand Season in 2007 for the Government of France.

She has traveled widely throughout the world and is passionate about arts and cultural exchange as a way of gaining greater understanding between people.

Ms. van Zon was made an Officer of the Order of New Zealand for services to the arts in 2001 and Arts Wellingtonian of the Year in 2005.