AbaF workshops, lectures and seminars are delivered by AbaF staff and experienced practicing professionals from the arts and business sectors. Our presenters draw on local industry knowledge and case studies to make our workshops engaging and instructive for arts practitioners and professionals of all levels.
“AbaF’s presenters are uniformly of excellent standard and have a positive and enthusing effect on the participants” Shannon Chadwick, Community Development Officer, Townsville City Council
Presenters
Andrew Gaynor
Bea Brickhill
Carol Whish-Wilson
Charlotte Grimshaw
Conny Wilson
Damien Hodgkinson
David Fishel
Edwina Bolger
Elizabeth Raupach
Fiona Lange
Fleur Allen
Frankie Airey
Henry Boston
Ian McDonald
Jane MacFarlane
Janine Collins
Jason Dunstone
Jeremy Smart
Jill Gael
John Godfrey
John Irving
Kathy Knott
Kelly Baker
Kenneth Park
Kerrynne Liddle
Kirsten Matthews
Lyndall Crisp
Melinda Martin
Natasha Cica
Penny Bovell
Robyn Ayres
Ron Layne
Rose Lang
Simone Gabriel
Stephen Clark
Susan Benham Page
Sylvia Langford
Trudi Sheppard
Trudy Johnston
Vanessa Meachen
Andrew Gaynor
Andrew is an independent curator, writer and researcher. He has Fine Art qualifications from the University of Melbourne, and of Western Australia. In Perth, Andrew worked at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, and the artist-run initiative jacksue. In Victoria, he has worked at Gould Galleries and the McClelland Gallery+Sculpture Park.
Andrew’s most recent curatorial project was A Secret Life of Plants for the Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, St Kilda, which toured to the Fremantle Arts Centre in WA. In the last year, Andrew commissioned all artworks for Citadines and the Hilton Hotel, South Wharf, both in Melbourne; and is currently writing a monograph on the Western Australian artist Guy Grey-Smith.
Bea Brickhill
Bea has an extensive background in the performing and visual arts, heritage and education, both nationally and internationally. She has spent much of her professional life as a manager and board member of arts organisations in the Australia and Wales and has raised funds for organisations as varied as the John Curtin School of Medical Research, the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne, and the Melbourne Zoo. Prior to her role as ACT Director, AbaF, she was National Manager, Fundraising & Development for Australian Catholic University where she worked for almost four years. Other roles have included Development Manager of Anglicare Canberra and Goulburn, and Development Manager of the John Curtin School of Medical Research in the ANU.
In the arts sector Bea commenced her career as a Stage Manager in the London West End, and spent six years with Welsh National Opera and Welsh Dance Theatre Trust. She was Assistant Director of the Sydney Opera House's Bennelong Program and established the Friends of the National Library . Bea has been the Development Manager of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and General Manager for TasDance in Launceston. She has been a board member of a number of arts organisations including Stompin (Launceston) and the Theatre Royal (Hobart) and is currently a Director of GreaterGood, the Capital Region Community Foundation.
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Carol Whish-Wilson
Carol commenced her professional life as a barrister and solicitor in Tasmania in 1989 before moving into a variety of State Government policy and legislative positions in health, food and environment. On moving to Western Australia, Carol joined ArtsWA in 1996 in the field of Arts Business Development. Carol became Acting Director ArtsWA in 2004. Since 2006, Carol has been engaged as an independent consultant in the community and creative sectors. The scope of work undertaken has been diverse, with core work including strategic and business planning, governance, good business practice, Indigenous arts business, and policy and strategy development for Local Government, arts and cultural organisations and artists. Carol is a board member of DADAA Inc, Tura New Music Inc and Arts Access Australia.
Charlotte Grimshaw
Charlotte’s company Fundraising Research & Consulting specialises in prospect research, training, and donor development consultancy for not-for-profits in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. She has twenty years’ experience in the voluntary sector in Australasia and the UK, including Marketing and Fundraising Director for Greenpeace UK and Head of Individual Giving for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Charlotte was a Director and Consultant with David Dixon Associates and The Phone Room, Arts fundraising specialists. In Australia she has worked on the development programs of The Australian Bush Heritage Fund, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the Bell Shakespeare Company, Medecins sans Frontieres, and numerous other not-for-profits.
Conny Wilson
Conny has just taken up the position of General Manager at the JamFactory Contemporary Craft & Design. She had spent 8 months as Acting Chief Executive Officer for the 2009 Adelaide Fringe. Prior to that appointment, Conny spent 4 years in the role of General Manager of the SALA (South Australian Living Artists) Festival. Her introduction to the Arts was with national theatre company Windmill Performing Arts in the area of sponsorship and marketing.
Conny is currently Chair of the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival, a board member of Urban Myth Theatre of Youth, Pulteney Grammar School Foundation and the International Musculoskeletal Research Institute Inc. In 2008, she completed the Governors Leadership Foundation program and is a fellow of the Leaders Institute of South Australia. Conny has completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in psychology and politics.
Damien Hodgkinson
Damien, Director AbaF Victoria, has worked in marketing and development with major arts organisations for the past 12 years. Prior to joining AbaF he worked as general manager of Melbourne Fringe – an annual independent arts festival across Melbourne. His professional experience includes senior marketing roles with Bell Shakespeare, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Playbox Theatre and Company B Belvoir. Damien managed the sponsorship and community involvement program for financial services group Norwich Union Australia and he has consulted for Arts Access and Queensland Theatre Company. Damien was also Chair of Polyglot Puppet Theatre prior to joining AbaF.
David Fishel
David is a Director of Brisbane-based Positive Solutions, having co-founded the Company in 1990. He has previously managed arts organisations from small scale touring theatre companies to Battersea Community Arts Centre, London, which he helped establish, and the Liverpool Playhouse (UK). David has been a board member of several cultural organisations, was Chair of Circa/Rock n Roll Circus, and is currently Chair of Creative Enterprise Australia, the entity responsible for operating the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Creative Industries Enterprise Centre.
David is author of The Book of the Board, a handbook for the board members of non-profit organisations, published by Federation Press (2nd edition 2008). David has written a handbook on Arts Sponsorship and assisted with drafting a guide to Arts-Business Partnerships for the Australia Business Arts Foundation. As a consultant many of David’s projects have focused on the planning and development of cultural facilities and precincts, and on program review and organisational planning. David has been involved with Board training and development for nearly 20 years, both in the arts and other sectors. He recently established BoardConnect (www.boardconnect.com.au), a support service for the Board members of arts organisations.
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Edwina Bolger
Edwina holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) with a double major in visual arts and classical studies and a Graduate Diploma of Curatorial Studies from The University of Melbourne as well as a Diploma of Education (Secondary ) from RMIT. Since 1990 Edwina has worked in a number of public and private cultural and visual arts/crafts institutions and galleries in Melbourne. She has worked in areas including administration, project management and curatorship, and has worked with a broad range of local, national and international artists across all major arts practices. In 1999 Edwina established her own knitwear label. She currently combines her time on her own business, working as curator at dianne tanzer gallery and as a freelance lecturer.
Elizabeth Raupach
Elizabeth lives at Coriole Winery and organises art events and sponsorships at the winery. Recently she was the General Manager of Client Services at Common Ground - a supportive housing initiative - as coordinator of the extension and support programs for tenants. She worked for ten years as a wardrobe supervisor and designer of costumes for many South Australian performing arts companies. She also ran a business that designed and made clothing for people with disabilities and special needs. From 1987 Elizabeth joined the Centre for the Performing Arts (CPA) and in 1992 she became Head of School. From 2000 – 2008 Elizabeth was the Executive Director of the Helpmann Academy, an organisation that supports emerging artists and coordinates the activities of the tertiary visual and performing arts schools of SA.
Elizabeth has served on various arts and education boards, including Windmill, CHASS, Restless Dance Company and State Theatre of SA as Chair. Currently she is on the Boards of State Opera of SA, the Fleurieu Biennale and the Jam Factory. In 2008 Elizabeth received an Australia Day Award for service to the visual and performing arts, particularly in the areas of education, administration and training.
Fiona Lange
Over the past 25 years, Fiona has worked as a marketer in a number of different sectors, including the media with positions at both the ABC & Channel 9, the arts and with State and public libraries. Her great passion is working in community development marketing. From 2003 until her recent retirement, Fiona and her business partner Sue Hill, developed and managed The Big Book Club Inc. Fiona was responsible for establishing a number of successful arts business partnerships during this time particularly for the national program, The Little Big Book. In addition, Fiona has worked as a consultant for The Ruby Awards, Arts SA - Audience Review (youth) and the re-branding and positioning of Rundle Mall.
In 2009, she was included in the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll for her positive contribution to the community. The Big Book Club Inc. has received the following partnership awards: Winner - Australia Council Media Arts Award, Australia Business and Arts Foundation (2003); State Winner - Prime Minister’s Community and Business Partnership (2005); State & National Winner - Marsh Partnering Award, Australia Business and Arts Foundation (2008) for the partnership with Vegemite and The Vegemite Little Aussie Reader.
Fleur Allen
Business owner of online art gallery, Interactive Arts, Art Manager and Art Curator Fleur trained and worked as a Music Educator, through this course gaining a passion for Fine Art studies. Fleur worked in Perth teaching Music for 5 years whilst working as a volunteer gallery guide at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. She has worked with not-for-profit arts organisations including West Australian Opera and Black Swan Theatre Company and has completed a postgraduate Certificate of Arts Management through Deakin University, Melbourne. Working as Audience Development Manager with the Opera and Education Manager with Black Swan, it was her role to introduce new audiences to theatre and opera. After thoroughly enjoying this work, she thought, if I can 'sell' opera to new audiences I can do anything! This was when her business Interactive Arts was born. Fleur is committed to introducing Art to every home and office and educates and advises private and business clients on how to transform their interiors using art and ultimately transforming their lives.
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Frankie Airey
Frankie has in-depth knowledge of the philanthropic sector both within Australia and the UK. She began her career in development with the Campaign for Oxford University, setting up prospect research functions and leading the Individual Giving section. She provided project support for the Royal Shakespeare Company and INSEAD as a consultant with the Ulanov Partnership. From 1999–2003 she was Managing Director of Oxford Philanthropic, a leading consulting firm in the non-profit sector in Britain and Ireland. Since moving to Australia, Frankie has been Director of Development at the Victorian Arts Centre in Melbourne and has worked as an independent consultant in the arts with the Victorian College for the Arts and the Sydney Opera House. She is a member of Philanthropy Australia and a Board member of Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre. In 2003 she founded Philanthropy Squared, a management consulting firm bringing state of the arts strategic thinking to the not-for-profit sector.
Henry Boston
Henry Boston, Director AbaF Western Australia, studied Drama in the UK before moving into arts management. From 1988 to 1999 Henry was the general manager of the Festival of Perth during which time he oversaw the visual arts and literary program. He subsequently co-founded Cultural Pursuits Australia which produced new Australian performance work and toured it around the world. Henry became the manager AbaF WA in late 2001 and has since built the WA chapter to be among the most dynamic in the country. During his professional career he has sat on a number of boards and committees including the Association of International Australasian Arts Festivals, the Theatre Industry Panel, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and the Perth Theatre Trust.
Ian McDonald
Ian is a lawyer specialising in copyright law. Currently working as a consultant, his clients include the Australian Copyright Council, where he was previously a senior legal officer. He is a graduate of the University of Sydney, with Bachelors degrees in both Arts and Laws, and a Masters degree in English literature. Prior to studying law, Ian freelanced in music, theatre and teaching. Ian has been associated with the Copyright Council since early 1994, advising clients on copyright law and practice, writing and publishing extensively on the topic, and presenting talks and lectures on different aspects of the subject.
Jane MacFarlane
Jane has been Director AbaF Tasmania since 2003. She comes with an extensive background in arts management and corporate community development. Before starting with AbaF, she worked for Arts Tasmania, developing Tasmanian Living Artists Week. Prior to that, she spent 5 years with APN News and Media where she was responsible for the development of community partnerships and marketing strategies for Sunshine Coast Newspaper Company. She has managed and directed a number of events for the cultural sector including Brisbane International Animation Festival and has worked as a consultant in the areas of community development, promotions and marketing, film production and script writing as well as provided guest lectures on partnership development at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Janine Collins
Janine Collins is the Philanthropy Manager at Sydney Dance Company. Prior to this, she was the Development Manager for the 2010 Sydney Writers' Festival, responsible for corporate partnerships, philanthropy, trusts and foundations and Development Manager at Company B, Belvoir St Theatre. She has been a Fundraising Director in the human rights sector and established and developed adult education and training centres around Australia and overseas. For several years she has run a consultancy focusing on publicity and partnerships in the arts. Her clients have included Performing Lines, Sydney Opera House, Australian Theatre for Young People, Performance Space and various independent arts organisations in performance, visual arts, dance and film. She is a Board member of PACT and version 1.0 and holds qualifications in journalism, public relations and adult education.
Jason Dunstone
Jason is Founder and Managing Director of Square Holes, a progressive market research agency specialising in digital trends and insights. Jason started his career in market research at TNS Melbourne and has since built an impressive list of corporate and government clients. He has worked on social advertising campaigns including supporting people to quit smoking. His corporate client base has included Telstra, Ford, Coopers Brewery, Balfours and SANFL. Jason founded Square Holes in late 2004, bored with traditional research and with a hunger for change. Square Holes has grown to a strong research team with a passion for supporting great branding, advertising and digital. Jason is a Board member of an arts organisation and Square Holes are proud sponsors of the arts. Jason regularly presents on consumer, media and cultural trends.
Jeremy Smart
Jeremy manages a small web design and consulting business called Ecosphere which specialises in developing websites for government, small business, non-profits and the arts community. He has been keenly involved in the arts community, establishing a business (called Artsphere) with his partner which specialises in assisting artists in getting online.
Since leaving government in 2007, he has also been involved in facilitating workshops and training public servants to improve the likelihood that projects managed by government deliver the expected benefits.
The focus of his work is to simplify information and provide a ‘no nonsense’ approach to running business or delivering projects.
Jill Gael
Jill is the Director of the Centre for People Development and Principal of its trading partner CPD BIZ Consulting. Both these companies operate nationally and specialise in the public and not-for-profit sectors.Jill is the chair of Vitalstatistix Theatre Company in Adelaide as well as a highly regarded consultant and trainer. Her workshops are practical, fun and energising. A highly skilled facilitator, educator and change management specialist, Jill is renowned for her creativity and innovation in bringing about fundamental and sustainable change to workplaces, organisations and communities. She is a specialist in communication, strategic and business planning, service and operational review.
Formerly a public sector manager, Jill established herself as a consultant 20 years ago. Since then, she has been having a lot of fun working with people to do and be their best, and with organisations to develop the best environment for their people so they can reach for the stars and frequently touch them.
John Godfrey
John Godfrey graduated from the NZ Drama School Toi Whakaari and later gained a Graduate Diploma in Arts Administration in Adelaide, a BA in Opera Studies at Rose Bruford College, England and an MSc in Business Administration from Napier University, Edinburgh. He has worked in festival and theatre management in Australia and New Zealand including seven years as Business Manager of the Sydney Festival. In 1992 he was appointed Development Director of the Edinburgh International Festival. He moved to London in 1995, where he had helped found an HIV/Aids charity and was General Manager of the Open Air Theatre. From 1997-2001 he managed a £20M capital fundraising programme for Edinburgh University followed by a £5M capital fundraising programme for Napier University. In 2004 he completed a research dissertation on business support for the arts and founded his own consultancy, Artful Fundraising.
John Irving
John is a business advisor and an AbaF Councillor who specialises in Risk Management, Crisis Management and Business Improvement. He has a sound knowledge of the arts sector through board positions, including The Big Book Club Inc. and the State Theatre Company of South Australia, where he is Chair. John is involved in AbaF's adviceBank program and presents Risk Management for Arts Organisations workshops for AbaF's professional development program.
Kathy Knott
Kathy has more than 25 years experience in fundraising, sponsorship management and corporate communications gained in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. Since her move to the non-profit sector in 2001, Kathy’s roles have included Development Manager for The Queensland Orchestra and Development Manager for the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. During an overseas stint in the UK in 2005/06, Kathy raised funds for the International Fund for Animal Welfare in and after returning to Australia she held senior fundraising roles at the Mater Foundation and then as Philanthropy Manager for Opera Queensland. She has very recently joined the Arts Centre Gold Coast as Development Manager. Kathy has a Masters Degree in Business majoring in Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies from the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies at QUT and received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in 2009.
Kelly Baker
Kelly is the Founder and Managing Director of online gift retailer Edible Blooms, which specialises in ‘bouquets’ of gourmet chocolates, cookies, fresh fruit and even beer and champagne. Opening as an owner-operator business in 2005, Kelly quickly grew a unique concept into a national gift delivery service with company-owned stores in four states, an international affiliate store in New Zealand and a database of over 50,000 clients. Today Edible Blooms is one of Australia’s most popular and fastest growing gift websites and the 2009 Telstra Business Awards MYOB Small Business of the Year. Prior to kick starting her own business, Kelly applied her enthusiasm and marketing expertise to management positions in professional services, publishing and membership organisations.
Kenneth Park
Kenneth W. Park has had extensive experience in the areas of members programs, philanthropic giving, sponsorship, public relations/marketing, arts education, tour development and operations, cultural tourism and museum practice. Kenneth has worked with a wide range of organisations in philanthropy, including the State Library of Victoria Foundation, the Arts Centre, National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and AbaF. Kenneth has academic qualifications in the arts covering a broad range of subjects and he also has a Diploma in Museum Studies. He has been consultant Curator of Collections at Wesley College, Melbourne, since 1993. He is an inveterate traveler making at least fifteen overseas trips a year, many of which are as lecturer on cultural tours for Australians Studying Abroad. Kenneth lives by the motto "life is a grand tour, make the most of it". Kenneth’s interests are many and include travel, food, wine, arts, architecture, history and “the good life”.
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Kerrynne Liddle
Kerrynne has a BA, majoring in management and human resource development. A professional journalist, she has worked in the field of media and communications for 23 years, advising clients within South Australia and nationally. Some of her most interesting work has been as a professional mentor for Aboriginal people working in the field of natural resource management and as a university lecturer in media and ethics. She has held the following roles: Chair of Tandanya; a Member of the Council of the University of SA; Member of Premier’s Council for women; Member of Women’s Health Ministerial Advisory Council, Sustainability Round Table and Capital City Forum. Currently she is a Director of the SA Housing Trust Board and the Aboriginal Foundation of SA.
Born and raised in Alice Springs, Kerrynne has a strong association with Arrernte culture (the Aboriginal people of Central Australia) – and the cultural identity of both parents.
Kirsten Matthews
Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) with a double major in art history from the University of Queensland and a Master of Arts (cultural heritage) from Deakin University, Melbourne. Kirsten began her career in the arts working in commercial galleries, at Milburn Gallery in Brisbane and at Niagara Galleries in Melbourne. In 2001 Kirsten established ACHT, an art buying collective which continues to support emerging Australian artists through the annual purchase of artworks. Kirsten’s most recent position was Manager of the Australia Cultural Fund at AbaF, where she worked for four years. During this time she provided support and fundraising advice to visual and performing artists, filmmakers and writers and co-wrote the Guidebook 'Building Relationships and Securing Donations'.
Lyndall Crisp
Having completed her cadetship on the Daily Mirror newspaper in the UK, Lyndall returned to Australia to join The Australian as a news reporter then feature writer. She then worked for 18 months in the London bureau of News Ltd, before returning to Australia to join the founding team of Nine Network’s Sunday program as a producer/writer. Lyndall has since worked at the National Times as a feature writer and at The Bulletin as a feature writer then deputy editor before becoming the magazine’s first female editor. She was later part of the founding team of Seven Network’s Witness before being appointed assistant editor of the Sun-Herald. 18 months later Lyndall moved across to The Australian Financial Review as features editor, then arts editor and finally senior feature writer. In mid 2008 Lyndall resigned to complete a book on the international sprinter, Takeover Target, which was published last September and is in its second print. In August 2008 she was appointed editor of The Australian’s monthly business magazine, the deal.
Melinda Martin
Melinda is the Artist Business Manager at AbaF. She holds a Masters Degree (Fine Arts & Cinema Studies) from the University of Melbourne, a Post Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from Deakin University, a Certificate IV in OH&S from Ballarat University and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Melbourne. Her experience within the arts industry includes Gallery Manager at Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne; Program Manager and Acting Director at Monash Gallery of Art, studio manager for painter John Young and research assistant to Dr Chris McAuliffe, University of Melbourne.
Dr Natasha Cica
Natasha is Director, Centre of Applied Philosophy and Ethics at the University of Tasmania. She is also the director of Periwinkle Projects, a management and communications consultancy based in Hobart, Tasmania. Periwinkle Projects designs and delivers innovative solutions that demand ‘joined-up’ thinking. Clients have included government departments, boutique creative practices, CEOs, issues-based political campaigns, and non-government sector organisations. Natasha has also written opinion, features and analysis for a wide range of publications in Australia and beyond - including The Australian, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times, The Australian Financial Review Magazine, Griffith Review, Overland, Art Monthly and Island. She is currently completing a book on wilderness photographer Olegas Truchanas for Queensland University Press.
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Penny Bovell
Penny is a full time artist based in Perth. She has completed a number of public art commissions including major projects for the City of Subiaco, Subiaco Redevelopment Authority, Rockingham General Hospital, City of Stirling, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Peel Health Campus. Penny has also worked as an academic in Visual Arts at Curtin University of Technology and the University of Western Australia. Penny's artwork is held by major public collections such as the National Gallery of Australia, Parliament House (Canberra), the Western Australia Art Gallery, Art Bank and is represented in a number of corporate and private collections. Penny has made an extensive contribution to the not for profit sector of the Visual Arts in Western Australia participating on a Board level at various institutions. She is a founding member of The Mark Howlett Foundation, which is an independent group of business and art affiliates who commission mid-career artists to create one off projects.
Robyn Ayres
Robyn has been a lawyer for over 20 years and the Executive Director of the Arts Law Centre of Australia (Arts Law) for 6 years. Arts Law is the national community legal centre for the arts. Arts Law provides free and low cost legal services to the arts. In 2004, under the direction of Robyn Ayres, Arts Law established the Artists in the Black service, a legal advice service specifically for Indigenous artists.
Robyn is committed to ensuring that artists and arts organisations properly understand their rights as well as their legal responsibilities. Prior to joining Arts Law, Robyn spent a significant part of her legal career working to achieve social justice for different groups in the community. Robyn had extensive involvement in the arts community in WA before taking up her position at Arts Law and was on the Board of the Artsource for 4 years.
Ron Layne
Ron began his career training at the National Institute of Dramatic Art after which he worked as a professional actor for several years. Since then he has worked for the Australia Council for the Arts in the policy and research area and managed the Council’s audience and market development program. He created, developed and oversaw the delivery of international market development programs and several professional development programs for the arts community- including the ‘Leading Voices’ initiative.
Ron was instrumental in the development of NOISE, Australia’s ‘virtual’ youth, media and culture event, involving over 80 media partnerships. He was also instrumental in the development of FUEL4ARTS, a leading international website for arts audience development and marketing with over 25,000 regular users worldwide. He has developed and managed key arts industry research, developed and implemented policy and has managed small arts organisations and worked in community-based organisations.
Rose Lang
Rose Lang initially trained as an artist and has a Bachelor in Fine Art and a Masters in Museum Studies and Cultural Policy. Her work has been shaped by the desire to build new audiences for contemporary art and by twenty years experience in designing projects and working closely with artists, architects, writers and other practitioners. She was the Director of leading Melbourne Contemporary Art Space, 200 Gertrude Street (now Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces) for ten years. With her own consultancy firm, Idea Consultants, Rose works in the roles of curator, writer, project manager, coordinator and facilitator in a wide variety of creative fields, but currently specialises in managing large-scale art commissions in public places.
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Simone Gabriel
Simone is a screen writer/film studies academic who specialised in script development. Simone has made countless television commercials and short films and has worn the various hats of writer, director and / or producer. Over the years, Simone has worked extensively across media production, education and the arts with diverse organisations including MDS Mushroom Records, the Woodford Folk Festival, Macmillan Publishers, and the Australian Conservation Foundation. Most recently, Simone worked with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne to develop sustainable partnerships in a world-first gallery, Screen Worlds: The Story of Film, Television and Digital Culture. Her work in development and partnerships with ACMI also extended to a vast range of international exhibitions, cinema and screen education programs. Simone holds a Master of Creative & Performing Arts (Film & Video Production). She lectures in Film Studies, most recently with Monash University, and is undertaking a PhD in script development in Australian feature films.
Stephen Clark
Stephen is an independent consultant, teacher and facilitator working across arts, tourism and events business. As arts practitioner, director and manager Stephen’s work has traversed the breadth of commercial and community enterprise. Similarly, as producer and manager of special events and festivals, his experience ranges from events of national and international significance to regional and local celebrations. In the tourism field he is highly regarded for his expertise in destination marketing and management where he has worked extensively with state and local governments, local tourism organisations and tourism operators. Currently his primary client is Flying Arts Inc, an Association delivering arts services to regional and remote communities in Queensland.
Stephen holds a Master of Business Degree from the University of Queensland and is an active member of Australian Business Volunteers and a registered advisor with the Australia Business Arts Foundation. His current consulting activities include a diverse range of planning, marketing and management projects for an equally diverse range of clients from the public and private sector. His work embraces all the things he loves: experience, travel and celebration.
Susan Benham Page
Susan is Director AbaF South Australia and Northern Territory and established both chapters. Susan’s ongoing commitment to the promotion of the arts as an integral component of our everyday lives has spanned a 25 year career in arts management in South Australia and New South Wales. Prior to joining AbaF Susan was Director – Performing & Visual Arts Unit Gosford City Council in NSW. She has also managed significant performing arts, cultural tourism, and visual arts galleries. Her experience covers programming, audience development, production, marketing, strategic business planning, staff and volunteer management and specialist event production and she has worked as a consultant in production, programming and arts marketing. She has always served on a variety of arts boards ranging from opera to historic houses.
Susan was a regular guest lecturer on business planning for the arts at the Hunter Valley Institute of TAFE, and is currently a guest presenter in the Arts and Cultural Management program of the University of South Australia. She also serves on UniSA’s Arts Management Program Advisory Committee. Her wide interests saw her on the 2007,08, and 09 judging panel for the Real Estate Institute of SA Awards.
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Sylvia Langford
An independent consultant with a degree in Organisation Behaviour and Theatre Studies, Sylvia has over 30 years experience of delivering arts and cultural programs, managing companies and projects and developing cultural policy and strategic business plans. Following experience in art centre and theatre company management in the UK and Australia, Sylvia held a range of senior executive positions in the Northern Territory public sector, including Chief Executive, Department of Arts and Museums and DCE, Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs.
Sylvia has considerable experience as a board member of several cultural organisations, including currently Creative Regions, an arts and cultural development regional service delivery and producing organisation. She undertakes consultancy work with Positive Solutions, and delivers the AbaF Board Development workshop.
Trudi Sheppard
Trudi currently works with AbaF in the Victorian office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Professional Writing as well as post graduate qualifications in Communications, Marketing, Advertising and Media from Monash and Victoria University. She previously worked as a publicist for Melbourne Theatre Company and prior to that was an Advertising Executive in the Entertainment Team at The Age Newspaper. When she has the time Trudi also works as a freelance publicist (Tru Publicity), working predominantly with independent theatre companies producing work in venues around Melbourne such as fortyfivedownstairs and The Butterfly Club. She recently publicized the highly successful premier season of ‘This is Our Youth’ by Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank. Trudi has a keen interest in Arts and is a member of numerous theatre companies across Victoria.
Trudy Johnston
Trudy is one of Australia’s most respected and successful arts publicists and marketers. Her vast experience includes working on the Australia Council’s ausarts2000 project for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games (specialising in the international promotion of Australian arts and artists), promoting Australia's representation in the 2001 Venice Biennale, as well as working in-house for many arts organisations.
In 2002, Trudy founded TJC (to join creatively) and since then the company has evolved as an admirable publicity and marketing business with heart. Based in Byron Bay and Sydney, TJC works with some of Australia’s greatest artists, musicians, writers, festivals and entrepreneurs including the Biennale of Sydney and Kaldor Art Projects.
Trudy’s PR and Marketing ethos is grounded in connecting and communicating with integrity, positivity and inspiration. She has been a Lecturer at the College of Fine Arts (UNSW), teaching Marketing and Promotion in Master of Arts, Arts Administration (2003 -2005). She is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others. www.tjc.com.au
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Vanessa Meachen
Vanessa has been Research and Training Manager at Philanthropy Australia, the peak body for giving in Australia, since 1998.
Philanthropy Australia’s mission is to represent, grow and inspire an effective and robust philanthropic sector for the community. Vanessa provides research and advice to Philanthropy Australia’s members, staff and Council, potential philanthropists, policymakers and media representatives. She also conducts Philanthropy Australia’s grantseeker workshops.
AbaF reserves the right to change workshop presenters when necessary.
