Here’s Regional Arts Victoria’s dynamic team of creative catalysts. We share a wealth of experience in all aspects of inspiring, facilitating and touring arts throughout our state. Each of us also maintains a creative practice, and we share our approaches and processes as part of our collaborations.
Jo Porter, Chief Executive Officer
Country: Dja Dja Wurrung | Pronouns She/Her
A theatre producer and consultant in not-for-profit and commercial theatre, Jo was the Co-Producer of Victoria’s inaugural Regional Centre for Culture (2018) and has worked with independent artists as a producer and in mentorship roles. Other roles in Australia, UK and USA have included: CEO of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, Executive Producer of Malthouse Theatre, General Manager of a range of commercial theatre productions and head of creative development at Richard Frankel Productions in New York and Head of Business Development at Really Useful Group in London. A former Chair of Back to Back Theatre, Jo is the current Chair of Chamber Made.
Jacquelin Low, Director, Operations
Country: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Boon Wurrung | Pronouns She/Her
Jacquelin has held management roles across the arts sector, including General Manager and Acting Director of Writers Victoria, the State’s peak body for writing. In 2016, Jacquelin was the inaugural General Manager of Collingwood Yards, developing the operational capacity of the organisation as it transitioned from start up company, through its $20m redevelopment and into opening of the arts precinct to tenants and the public. Jacquelin joined the executive leadership team at Regional Arts Victoria in May 2021 and was Acting CEO between Jan and June 2022.
Susie Lyons, Director, Strategic Initiatives
Country: Gunditjmara | Pronouns She/Her
Susie Lyons is a senior arts administrator and leader with over 25 years’ experience in management in the arts and entertainment industry working internationally, nationally and regionally on wide-ranging festivals, events, concert tours and arts and culture projects. Prior to join Regional Arts Victoria’s executive leadership team in August 2022, Susie led the Arts and Culture business unit for Glenelg Shire Council for over six years, having overseen substantial change, growth and successful producing and programming of broad cultural activities, including management of the Portland Arts Centre. Through her work, Susie has been a long-time collaborator with RAV.
Loraine Little, Manager, North West
Country: Wamba Wamba, Barapa Barapa, Wadi Wadi, Tati Tati and Latji Latji
Loraine is an experienced arts manager with a strong regional community arts development focus. Born and educated in Swan Hill, Loraine is passionate about connecting artists with community groups, and working with diverse communities across the Nth West. Her training and experience is predominantly performing arts, and has worked previously at the Victorian College of the Arts, St Martins Youth Arts and Next Wave and as Producer for Tanya Gerstle’s Optic Nerve Performance Group.
Tim Dakin, Community Engagement Manager – Gippsland
Country: Gunaikurnai | Pronouns: He/Him
Tim Dakin has been working in community development and the arts for 30 years. He has a BA in Performance Studies (Theatre and Dance) and has spent his working life in not-for-profit organisations and local government. Tim has previously worked with Frankston Arts Centre to increase access to the arts for audiences, artists and arts workers, and with Arts Access Victoria coordinating disability awareness training and supporting artists with disability on career pathways. Tim is passionate about connecting his community with each other, working with young people and supporting artists and communities to create amazing work.
Jo Grant, Manager, South West
Country: Gunditjmara | Pronouns: She/Her
Jo is the Manager of the South West partnership overseeing the South West Creative Industries Strategy, a region-wide plan with a strong focus on development and advocacy for the arts in the region. Jo works closely with local government, artists and organisations on strategic planning, arts development, and supports opportunities for skills development in the community and across the state. She has 30 years’ experience in the arts and education industries and holds a Master of Visual Arts.
Kellie Sutherland, Community Engagement Manager
Country: Bpangerang, Dhudhuroa, Waveroo Country | Pronouns: She/Her
Kellie Sutherland has dedicated herself to various roles within the creative industries over the last 20 years. She is a founding member and creative co-director of musical group Architecture in Helsinki, and since 2020 has been working in Creative Recovery roles for Regional Arts Victoria, supporting regional artists and communities who have been impacted by disaster. With a strong understanding of community-led, engagement and Creative Recovery practices, Kellie is passionate about connecting and inspiring to support thriving creative communities.
Bindi Green, Manager, Touring
Country: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung| Pronouns: She/Her
Bindi Green has been a professional freelance production collaborator for over twenty years, and comes to Regional Arts Victoria with an extensive touring back catalogue, both internationally and across all states and territories of Australia. With a mix of contemporary theatrical productions, arts festivals, live art experiences and community arts projects, Bindi has worked with a diverse range of companies and individuals across Australia. A core company member of Bunk Puppets, Bindi has also toured recently with Australian artists Salvador Dinosaur, Tim Humphreys and Madeleine Flynn, Bec Reid and Elbow Room. Working often in unusual venues and non-traditional performance environments, Bindi enjoys developing new artistic works and interactive experiences and theatrical events which create new and inspiring experiences for audiences, and which celebrate the unique talents and particular spirit of communities.
Nikki Ralston, Connecting Places Coordinator, Moira Hubs Project Manager, VWPA Program – Project Manager
Country: Yorta Yorta, Bangerang | Pronouns: She/Her
Nikki is a lover of all things arts and culture who has found her niche using her skills to help others’ brilliant creative ideas to become a reality. She is passionate about increasing access for more people to engage with arts and culture as creators, audiences and participants. Nikki has a Master’s of Arts and Cultural Management and professional experience in both Australia and the UK. She also mentors emerging and mid-career artists and is part of the DESIAP (Designing Innovation in the Asia Pacific) Creative Women’s Mentoring Program. Nikki lives in the beautiful town of Yarrawonga on the VIC/NSW border with her young family.
Annie Stephens, Touring Coordinator
Country: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung | Pronouns: She/They
Annie has been working in the performing arts since 1996, firstly as a circus performer, then as a trainer, and then as a program manager. Over her 19 years with Circus Oz saw her develop and deliver numerous community, corporate, education, public and industry programs. Because expression through art is so important to our well-being as individuals and as communities, supporting artists to do their best work really really floats her boat. She has formally studied: secretarial studies (a bloody long time ago, hence the old-fashioned name), massage therapy and graphic arts. Stereotype warning! She is into yoga, gardening and bush walks.
Luth (Anna) Wolff, Touring Coordinator
Country: Wurundjeri | Pronouns: She/Her
Luth has lived and breathed regional touring for over a decade as a performer and company director with Solid State Circus. She has produced solo and ensemble works for schools, theatres and events across Australia and overseas, and is 5 towns away from finishing the song “I’ve been everywhere, man”. Luth has spent time in Darwin and the Top End teaching circus to young people in First Nations communities and working on events. She has a passion for street performance and busking advocacy; bringing live art to isolated communities, and making really great jam.
Pippin Davies, Senior Manager, Arts & Education
Country: Wurundjeri | Pronouns: She/Her
Pippin is an experienced arts manager with a background in arts in education, programming and program development. Growing up in regional Victoria, Pippin was lucky enough to experience the value of the arts and its ability to open new perspectives, build lifelong skills and strengthen communities. She’s passionate about young people’s access to the arts. With a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts, Pippin has worked as freelance performer, coach, managed a community circus space and coordinated programs at Circus Oz before joining the team at Regional Arts Victoria. Pippin leads the Arts & Education team to develop and deliver programs with and for young people. She also enjoys teaching and practicing Yoga.
Amelia Kingston, Arts & Education, Creative Producer
Country: Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali | Pronouns: She/Her
Amelia started work as a potter in Stawell when she was 16 years old. From there she completed her degree in Literature and Philosophy with honours in ceramics. From there Amelia worked as Primary school Art/music/classroom teacher for the next 11 years, whilst also working as a restaurant manager, and on her pottery. In the past 7 years Amelia has worked a part time teacher, using the rest of her time to concentrate on her pottery business AKA, being a mum and grant writing for local schools. Amelia loves her regional community and strives to bring arts and experiences to her local area and schools. Amelia sits as chair of the Community Consultation board of Grampians Health and manages Halls Gap Twilight Market and Halls Gap Market.
Nova Whineray, Arts & Education Administrator
Country: Wurundjeri
Nova has extensive administrative experience and passion in delivering arts and education programs to schools throughout Victoria. Before joining the team at Regional Arts Victoria, she supported the Education and Programming teams at Orchestra Victoria, the National Gallery of Victoria, and most recently supported the Curator at the Australian Catholic University. With a background in dance and visual performance, she was choreographer and producer of Rock Eisteddfod Challenge productions for secondary and primary schools. Nova grew up in Tokyo, Japan and currently lives in the beautiful Macedon Ranges.
Kate Gerritsen, Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement
Country: Wadawurrung | Pronouns: She/Her
Kate has worked in the arts, community and cultural development sector in diverse environments including local and state governments, not for profit and the private sector. She brings engagement and communications experience to her role at RAV from her time managing membership at the National Gallery of Victoria and from a decade of consulting and commissioning artworks in the public realm. Kate first worked for RAV from 2006-2009 as the Communications Manager and has returned in her current role in 2022. Kate studied a Bachelor of Visual Arts and a Masters of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at Deakin University and is a registered community engagement practitioner (IAP2). Kate enjoys giving back to regional communities through participation on Boards and in her spare time she is also a student and teacher of yoga.
Rhiannon Poley, Membership Engagement Coordinator
Country: Wurundjeri | Pronouns: She/Her
As Membership Engagement Coordinator, Rhiannon is responsible for the delivery of the membership program. This includes recruitment of new members, member events, member benefits and assisting members with their online profiles, events and promotion.
Adam Fawcett, Communications Coordinator
Country: Dja Dja Wurrung | Pronouns: He/They
Adam is the co-founder and creative producer of Australian new writing theatre company Lab Kelpie. He has developed, produced, marketed and toured 13 new Australian works to over 50 venues across Australian and New Zealand. In his own practice as an emerging and regionally-based playwright, Adam is focussed on putting queer narratives at the centre of his work, with his first play, Become The One, awarded the 2018 Gasworks Playtime Award for New Queer Writing. His follow up play Every Lovely Terrible Thing was a finalist in the 2021 Queer Playwriting Award and will premiere at Theatre Works in 2023.
Alexander Hammond, Salesforce Administrator
Country: Wadawurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung | Pronouns: He/Him
Alex helps people with Salesforce CRM by finding ways to make life easier with data automation and creates meaningful stories with data about communities.
Alicia Wyatt, Grants Manager
Country: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Boon Wurrung | Pronouns: She/Her
Alicia is originally from Perth, Western Australia and commenced her career as a teacher in Broome, WA. With an MBA and a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education specialising in Drama Studies, Alicia has spent her career embedded in the arts. She has worked in all tiers of government, supporting communities to deliver arts policy and programming as well as managing arts funding programs. Alicia also has experience in the not-for-profit sector, holding leadership roles at Canberra Youth Theatre as Co-CEO/General Manager and Director, Arts Learning at The Song Room. Alicia is particularly passionate about working with young and emerging practitioners and is excited to provide support to Victorian regional artists and organisations.
Angela Pamic, Human Resources Manager
Country: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung | Pronouns: She/Her
Born and raised in North Eastern Victoria, Angela is now a Melbourne based Arts Manager, Producer and passionate advocate for independent artists. With over 20 years’ experience in the arts sector, Angela has worked across Theatre, Dance, Physical Theatre, Circus and Puppetry in various roles including Arts Officer (Moreland City Council); Project Manager (Arts West), Project Producer (Dance Massive 2015); Associate Producer (Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Black Hole Theatre); Membership & Marketing Manager (Australian Circus & Physical Theatre Association [ACAPTA]); Program Manager (Theatre Network Victoria); and General Manager (Theatre Works). Her early career as a Production, Tour and Stage Manager, saw her tour extensively throughout Australia, Europe and Canada with numerous companies.
Alice Pollard, Operations & Sustainability Coordinator
Country: Wurundjeri
Alice is a Production and Technical Manager who enjoys whiskey, having the right tool for the right job, going camping and long walks on the beach with her dogs. Her work has taken her across the world, including across Australia, the UK, and some of Europe and China. Notable achievements include still holding it together after over a decade in the arts, and been part of Personal, by Jodee Mundee, a show that took her to Darwin Festival and brought Deaf communities together across Australia. Alice dislikes flat batteries, bad coffee and writing bios. She is very excited her path has led her to once again working with the fabulous team at Regional Arts Victoria, ready to kick some Sustainability and Operations goals!
Leila Dashti, Finance & Payroll Manager
Country: Woiwurrung | Pronouns She/Her
I am a motivated and enthusiastic professional, having applied myself to both higher education and work in industry, with key strengths in planning, organizational problem-solving, and responsive to changing business needs and regulatory standards.