Waving NZ Flag at World Press Photo

I’m honoured to be the first New Zealander invited to serve on the jury for the World Press Photo, Asia Pacific Oceania – a globally prestigious photography contest. This milestone not only highlights my career but also brings visibility to New Zealand photography on an international stage, promoting diversity, artistic expression, and cultural exchange.

I’ve received an official (self-funded) invitation to attend the World Press Photo Awards and the opening of the 2025 exhibition in Amsterdam this May. The event is a valuable opportunity to connect with global photography professionals and explore future collaborations.

To make this once-in-a-lifetime experience possible, I’m seeking support to help cover travel costs.

I’m honoured to have received an official invitation as a jury member for the World Press Photo Awards 2025 – an incredible milestone not just for me, but for New Zealand photography on the world stage.

This prestigious global event takes place in Amsterdam this May, and I’ve been invited to attend the Awards ceremony and the opening of their 2025 exhibition. It’s a rare opportunity to meet and connect with top photography professionals from around the world, opening the door to future collaborations and global visibility for our region.

However, the invitation is self-funded, and as it was only confirmed in early March, it’s an unexpected cost that I’m currently unable to cover. I’m now seeking support to raise funds for travel to Amsterdam so I can be there in person.

Who I Am

I’m Julia Durkin MNZM, Founder and CEO of the Auckland Festival of Photography, which I established in 2004. What began as Auckland Photo Day, a 24-hour community photo challenge, has grown into the longest-running photography festival in Australasia/Oceania, with 21 annual editions to date.

In 2010, I helped lead the festival to become a founding member of the Asia Pacific Photoforum, a network of international photography festivals across New Zealand, Australia, and Asia.

Over the years, I’ve proudly contributed to the global photography community through jury and portfolio review roles in Asia, Europe, and the Pacific, and was awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020 for my contributions to photography.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent Aotearoa at one of the most respected photography platforms in the world.

If you’re able to support me in: 

• Covering the cost of return flights to Amsterdam, I would be deeply grateful. Every dollar helps!

My Project – A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

I’m incredibly honoured to be the first New Zealander invited to serve on the jury for the World Press Photo, Asia Pacific Oceania — one of the most prestigious photography contests in the world. This milestone has not only been a personal career highlight but has also put New Zealand photography on the global map, connecting us to an inclusive platform that celebrates diversity, artistic expression, and the power of visual storytelling.

As part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I’ve received an official invitation to attend the World Press Photo Awards ceremony and the opening of the 2025 exhibition in Amsterdam, The Netherlands this May.
However, travel is self-funded, and the invitation came unexpectedly in early March, which means I’m now seeking support to cover the cost of flights to Amsterdam.

Over the years, I’ve contributed widely to the photographic arts — named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2020), I’ve served as a portfolio reviewer and jury member for photography festivals and contests across Asia, Europe, and Australasia, including:

• Kaunas Photo (Lithuania)
• Pingyao International Photography Festival (China)
• Angkor Photo Festival (Cambodia)
• Indian Photo Festival (India)
• Obscura Festival (Malaysia)
• GuatePhoto (Guatemala)
• FORMAT (UK), among many others

I’ve also been a juror or nominator for Nikon Photo Contest, Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards, China International Press Photo, Prix Pictet, Leica Oskar Barnack Award, and now proudly, World Press Photo 2025.

This is a rare opportunity to represent Aotearoa on the world stage, connect with leading professionals, and help pave the way for more global recognition of our creative talents.

Any support to help get me to Amsterdam would mean the world.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — not just for me, but for all of New Zealand’s photographic community.

Your support will help ensure New Zealand is represented at this prestigious event. Every contribution towards my airfare helps make that happen.

Ngā mihi nui – thank you for being part of this journey.