Debra has been involved in the New Zealand Film and Television Industry since 1982, when Television New Zealand employed her as a full time Set Designer and Art Director.
She continued her Design Education through a Visual Communication course at UCLA from 1980-1982 and moved to London to attend The Chelsea School of Arts, remaining in London working as an interior Designer until 1991.
Upon returning to New Zealand Debra worked as a Freelance Production Designer for Film and Television and as an Interior Designer for private clients.
Among her many credits and achievements a highlight was the nomination as a finalist in the NZ Film and Television Awards for Sir Peter Jackson's feature film Braindead as Production Designer.
Debra loves the challenge of working in Film and Television, especially in New Zealand.

“The isolation and relative youth of the country enables me to design and construct most production sets from scratch,” she says. “For me this means that any period or fantasy sets especially need to be intensely and thoroughly researched before drawings can be done and the joy of constructing then can begin. This is a particular challenge in the New Zealand Industry because of the relatively small budgets we are given to work with.”