I am a seasoned creative producer with a 30-year proven track record of leadership and successful project delivery across a broad range of cultural endeavours including festivals, theatre, television, film, food, music, and comedy. With extensive experience in international touring and festival production, I am well networked and well respected in creative industries both nationally and internationally.
Areas of Expertise:
· Festival and Event Management
· Strategic Planning
· Policy Development
· Budgeting
· Governance
· Stakeholder Management
· Community engagement
· Artist liaison
· Team management
· Networking
· Cultural diplomacy
· “Can-do” attitude
Experience and Notable Contributions
Festival Director, Ubud Food Festival (Bali, Indonesia) 2016
Successfully programmed and managed the culinary offshoot of Ubud Readers and Writers Festival - a vibrant showcase of Balinese/Indonesian culinary arts and culture. Worked productively with local community to create and deliver a program of over 100 events across three festival days, mindful of cultural sensibilities and various stakeholder interests. Delivered a sophisticated event that engaged 8,000 locals and tourists, offering a unique experience for both.
Festival Director, Australia in Turkey 2015, DFAT (Ankara, Turkey) 2014/5
Based at the Australian Embassy in Turkey, programmed, managed and successfully delivered a year-long showcase of contemporary Australian innovation and creativity across performing and visual arts, music and dance, food and sustainability, film, fashion, literature and sport. Monthly events were delivered on schedule and on budget.
Festival Director, Barunga Festival (NT, Australia) 2013
Worked successfully with a remote Aboriginal community to program, manage and deliver an annual celebration of indigenous life in the Northern Territory, Australia, including traditional and contemporary performing arts, food, music, workshops, exhibitions and a sports carnival.
CEO, Flying Fruit Fly Circus (Albury, Australia) 2011/12
Provided successful leadership and change management of Australia’s iconic kids’ circus through implementation of findings of complete organizational and governance review.
Executive Producer and CEO, Strange Fruit (Melbourne, Australia) 2006/11
Strategy and governance, financial management and development, human resources, operations and entrepreneurial activity of physical performing troupe comprising 35 performers and 15 crew who perform both nationally and internationally.
Personal Manager, Michelle Wild Management (Melbourne, Australia) 1995/2005
Director of artist management company representing Melbourne-based comedians Lano & Woodley, Scared Weird Little Guys, Hung Le and Tripod. Producer – all live touring work (including festivals, television and theatre seasons). Personal Management of chef Shannon Bennett (2 years).
Other
· Head of Partnerships, Melbourne Festival (Melbourne, Australia) (2016 Temporary)
· Project Manager, Darwin Festival (Darwin, Australia)
· Producer, Darwin Seafood Festival (Darwin, Australia)
· Special Events Co-ordinator, The Famous Spiegeltent (Melbourne, Australia)
· Associate Producer ‘The Adventures of Lano & Woodley’, ABC TV
· Theatrical Agent, Performers Management Pty Ltd (Melbourne, Australia)
· Production Manager, ‘Fast Forward’ Artist Services Pty Ltd (Melbourne, Australia)
· Assistant to Director, Victorian International Pictures (Melbourne, Australia)
· Associate Producer, Fortune Films (Melbourne, Australia)
· Assistant to Director, Ukiyo Films (Melbourne Australia)
· Independent Arts Agent
· French Teacher, Mitcham High School
· English teacher, Lycee Laetitia (Corsica, France)
· Language teacher, Casuarina High School (NT Australia)
· Commissioner’s Associate, Office of the Industrial Registrar (National Australia)
Consultancies and Representations
Consultant, Crazy Horse Paris, Singapore and Macau Productions
Producer representative during first ever Crazy Horse Paris Asian tour.
Consultant, League Cultural Diplomacy
Research and develop report on funding sources for cultural activities in international trade delegations
Consultant, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Foundation
Production and stakeholder management of SAKGF key annual fundraiser – the Paul Bangay Open Garden 2018.
Consultant, Newsboys Foundation
Creating and delivering series of activities to celebrate 125th anniversary of philanthropic organisation who support young people who need assistance to realise their full potential.
Consultant, Melbourne Festival
Developing ideas for Melbourne Festival “club” for October 2017 including sourcing temporary site, all theming, programming, menus, etc.
Consultant, Melbourne Gastronomic Symposium 2016
Theming key events for international symposium at William Angliss Institute
Consultant, Dolphin Creative (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Facilitated international expansion of Dubai’s largest street performer agency.
Australian Executive Endeavour Award Holder (Muscat, Oman)
Developed cultural links between Australia and the Arab world.
Mentor, Elcho Island Galiwinku Healthy Living Festival (Elcho Island, NT, Australia)
Capacity building with Indigenous Festival Director.
Arts Representative, Australian Professional Women’s Delegation (Kuwait)
Memberships and Interests
• League Cultural Diplomacy: International Advisor (August 2016 – present)
• Alliance Francaise de Melbourne: Board of Directors (2011 – 2012)
• Australian Institute of Export – Member (2007 – 2012)
• Live Performance Australia – Member (2007 – 2012)
• International Theatre Network (IETM) – Member (2007 – 2012)
• International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies – Member (2007 – 2012)
• International Slow Food Movement: member (2000 – 2010)
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival Industry Advisory Committee Member: (Feb 1993 – 2005)
• Fluent French speaker
Areas of Expertise:
· Festival and Event Management
· Strategic Planning
· Policy Development
· Budgeting
· Governance
· Stakeholder Management
· Community engagement
· Artist liaison
· Team management
· Networking
· Cultural diplomacy
· “Can-do” attitude
Experience and Notable Contributions
Festival Director, Ubud Food Festival (Bali, Indonesia) 2016
Successfully programmed and managed the culinary offshoot of Ubud Readers and Writers Festival - a vibrant showcase of Balinese/Indonesian culinary arts and culture. Worked productively with local community to create and deliver a program of over 100 events across three festival days, mindful of cultural sensibilities and various stakeholder interests. Delivered a sophisticated event that engaged 8,000 locals and tourists, offering a unique experience for both.
Festival Director, Australia in Turkey 2015, DFAT (Ankara, Turkey) 2014/5
Based at the Australian Embassy in Turkey, programmed, managed and successfully delivered a year-long showcase of contemporary Australian innovation and creativity across performing and visual arts, music and dance, food and sustainability, film, fashion, literature and sport. Monthly events were delivered on schedule and on budget.
Festival Director, Barunga Festival (NT, Australia) 2013
Worked successfully with a remote Aboriginal community to program, manage and deliver an annual celebration of indigenous life in the Northern Territory, Australia, including traditional and contemporary performing arts, food, music, workshops, exhibitions and a sports carnival.
CEO, Flying Fruit Fly Circus (Albury, Australia) 2011/12
Provided successful leadership and change management of Australia’s iconic kids’ circus through implementation of findings of complete organizational and governance review.
Executive Producer and CEO, Strange Fruit (Melbourne, Australia) 2006/11
Strategy and governance, financial management and development, human resources, operations and entrepreneurial activity of physical performing troupe comprising 35 performers and 15 crew who perform both nationally and internationally.
Personal Manager, Michelle Wild Management (Melbourne, Australia) 1995/2005
Director of artist management company representing Melbourne-based comedians Lano & Woodley, Scared Weird Little Guys, Hung Le and Tripod. Producer – all live touring work (including festivals, television and theatre seasons). Personal Management of chef Shannon Bennett (2 years).
Other
· Head of Partnerships, Melbourne Festival (Melbourne, Australia) (2016 Temporary)
· Project Manager, Darwin Festival (Darwin, Australia)
· Producer, Darwin Seafood Festival (Darwin, Australia)
· Special Events Co-ordinator, The Famous Spiegeltent (Melbourne, Australia)
· Associate Producer ‘The Adventures of Lano & Woodley’, ABC TV
· Theatrical Agent, Performers Management Pty Ltd (Melbourne, Australia)
· Production Manager, ‘Fast Forward’ Artist Services Pty Ltd (Melbourne, Australia)
· Assistant to Director, Victorian International Pictures (Melbourne, Australia)
· Associate Producer, Fortune Films (Melbourne, Australia)
· Assistant to Director, Ukiyo Films (Melbourne Australia)
· Independent Arts Agent
· French Teacher, Mitcham High School
· English teacher, Lycee Laetitia (Corsica, France)
· Language teacher, Casuarina High School (NT Australia)
· Commissioner’s Associate, Office of the Industrial Registrar (National Australia)
Consultancies and Representations
Consultant, Crazy Horse Paris, Singapore and Macau Productions
Producer representative during first ever Crazy Horse Paris Asian tour.
Consultant, League Cultural Diplomacy
Research and develop report on funding sources for cultural activities in international trade delegations
Consultant, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Foundation
Production and stakeholder management of SAKGF key annual fundraiser – the Paul Bangay Open Garden 2018.
Consultant, Newsboys Foundation
Creating and delivering series of activities to celebrate 125th anniversary of philanthropic organisation who support young people who need assistance to realise their full potential.
Consultant, Melbourne Festival
Developing ideas for Melbourne Festival “club” for October 2017 including sourcing temporary site, all theming, programming, menus, etc.
Consultant, Melbourne Gastronomic Symposium 2016
Theming key events for international symposium at William Angliss Institute
Consultant, Dolphin Creative (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Facilitated international expansion of Dubai’s largest street performer agency.
Australian Executive Endeavour Award Holder (Muscat, Oman)
Developed cultural links between Australia and the Arab world.
Mentor, Elcho Island Galiwinku Healthy Living Festival (Elcho Island, NT, Australia)
Capacity building with Indigenous Festival Director.
Arts Representative, Australian Professional Women’s Delegation (Kuwait)
Memberships and Interests
• League Cultural Diplomacy: International Advisor (August 2016 – present)
• Alliance Francaise de Melbourne: Board of Directors (2011 – 2012)
• Australian Institute of Export – Member (2007 – 2012)
• Live Performance Australia – Member (2007 – 2012)
• International Theatre Network (IETM) – Member (2007 – 2012)
• International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies – Member (2007 – 2012)
• International Slow Food Movement: member (2000 – 2010)
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival Industry Advisory Committee Member: (Feb 1993 – 2005)
• Fluent French speaker