Board

CHAIR – Robert Grieve
Robert works as a Manager at Blacktown City Council.  Previously Robert spent 15 years working in the NSW state government.

VICE-CHAIR – Pamela Thornton
Pamela is an experienced arts manager currently employed as Business Manager at Riverside Theatres. Pamela’s previous positions include Planning & Operations Manager at the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO), Administrative Director at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) and Business Manager at Bundanon Trust, the Arthur Boyd property gifted to the nation.

TREASURER/SECRETARY – Alissa Bruce
Alissa has over 20 years experience in the performing arts as an artist, creator and producer. She trained at the Australian Ballet School before performing with Anna Wyman Dance Company in Vancouver, Canada. In Australia, Alissa has worked with dance in education company Darc Swan, Ausdance, One Extra and Opera Australia.  Alissa has been an integral member of the theatre company Stretch MK1 since 1998.  Alissa is currently Event Manager and Producer  at ELMAC Creative and a Casual Event Manager for Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.

Dr Garry Lester
Ph.D, MA, Dip Art, Cert. Perf. – Dance
Descendant of the Wonnarua people of the Hunter Valley – NSW

Dr Garry Lester has extensive experience as a performer, teacher, and choreographer.  In Australia, Dr Lester has worked with One Extra Co, Expressions, Australian Opera Ballet and Dance North, and internationally with Covent Garden Dance Theatre (UK), Limbs Dance Company (NZ),  and Men Together (NY). Dr Lester is a respected dance writer for academic and popular press and a keen dance advocate at state and national industry forums. Dr Lester is a specialist in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance cultures.

Caroline Baum
Since coming to Australia in 1984 from the UK, Caroline has become a respected journalist and broadcaster.  Caroline was the Arts Editor of Melbourne’s Sunday Herald, Features Editor of Vogue Australia, founding editor of Good Reading Magazine, and a regular contributor to all major newspapers and magazines with a special interest in culture. She was Executive Producer of Radio National’s Arts Today and presenter of ABC TV’s most popular bookshow, Between the Lines.  Caroline is a regular interviewer at all major writers festivals across Australia.  She also curates a public program for the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation and co-curated the Tribute to Pina Bausch, Spring Dance, Sydney Opera House,  2011.

Miranda Wheen
Miranda Wheen is a dancer, teacher and choreographer. She is a graduate of the University of Western Sydney and a Dean’s Medal recipient.  Miranda has worked with choreographers such as Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, Liz Lea, Rakini Devi, Annalouise Paul, Vivienne Rogis, Shaun Parker, Cadi McCarthy and has been a member of Mirramu Dance Company since 2002.

Narelle Lewis
Narelle currently works as the Producer, Education and Young People at the Sydney Opera House, where she co-curates and delivers a stimulating and diverse annual program of work by and for young audiences. Narelle has over 14 years experience in arts management including programming, scheduling and development. Narelle has worked with performance companies including Shaun Parker & Company and Performance Space in Sydney as well as working for performance organisations in Belfast.