Mary Hinsen

Mary Hinsen is a photographer, writer, mentor for young photographers, and has been an integral part of the Cromwell community since the 1990’s. She has held a variety of community-focused roles, including as Chair of WoolOn, working with St John Ambulance as a First Responder, then broadening her community mahi through Connect Cromwell. She joined the Cromwell & Districts Community Trust to help support and shape wider community projects.

Mary’s career has taken her across many fields - adult learning, international business, cross-cultural communication, coaching and mentoring for start-ups and social enterprises, youth development, community reporting, and fine art photography.

She holds a BA in Chinese language and culture, qualifications in adult education, and a number of international photographic honours including a Gold Medal from the International Federation of Art Photographers and a BPSA distinction from the Photographic Society of America.

Her work has also taken her overseas. She designed and managed community food-growing programmes in Samoa, co-developed successful adult learning programmes with Corrections in Aotearoa, and carried out research into learning programmes and outcomes in Chinese communities. During that time she lived in Nanjing with a Chinese family, while studying at Nanjing Normal University - an experience that continues to shape her understanding of culture, connection, and belonging.

At home in Cromwell, Mary brings her passion for sustainable living, good food, local histories, te ao Māori, storytelling, and holistic wellbeing to her mahi on the Trust. Her focus is simple: helping build a community where people feel connected, supported, and proud to call Cromwell home.