South Coast Arts is governed by a skills based Board of Directors

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Artists, Uncle Steve Russell & Kristine Stewart, 'Weaving Pods', Shellharbour Civic Centre
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Our Board of Directors is a volunteer & skills based board of ten, including three Council representatives

Marla Guppy
Chair
Marla Guppy

Marla Guppy is an artist, cultural planner and public art strategist. A commitment to regional futures has seen her lead a range of projects that support cultural environments and community identity. She was Artist in Community at Garage Graphix and later a founding member of the Australia Council’s Community, Environment, Art, & Design (CEAD) Committee which provided support for collaborative art & design projects. As a strong advocate for cultural sustainability in urban Australia, Marla received the Ros Bower Memorial Award from Paul Keating for her work in community cultural development. Over the last thirty years Marla has directed Guppy Art Management, a Shoalhaven based creative consultancy which continues to work extensively with artists, planners, design professionals, community groups and government on creative projects across Australia.

Joni Braham
Vice Chair
Joni Braham

A musician, artist and writer Joni comes to South Coast Arts Board with extensive qualifications, professional experience and skills in governance, planning, quality assurance, organisational and staff management, project and contract management, policy development, reform, community development, engagement and education. Joni has been a member of a number of Regional Boards, Management and Events Committees including arts and music. In 2016 Joni was the founder and financial benefactor of the artist run space ‘Gallery Envelope’ in Nowra (now a virtual art space on Facebook) and is the founding member of ‘Which Witch’, formed in 1989 and still playing, making it one of the longest running women’s rock bands in the country. Joni is excited to be part of a Board that aspires to best practice and will steer a vibrant, diverse, inclusive, innovative cultural sector that holds First Nations at the centre of ideas.

Amanda Jane Reynolds
Secretary
Amanda Jane Reynolds

Amanda is a Guringai curator, cloak-maker, storyteller and multimedia artist passionate about cultural healing and connection programs; community-based collaborations; exhibitions, public art and publications. Her heart and spirit are devoted to the flourishing of south-eastern cultures, knowledge and histories, and to transforming public and institutional spaces of colonial dominance by holding space for community voices, collaborations and creativity. Amanda has had the privilege of working with cloaks and cultural reclamation for over 20 years. She initially assisted in the delivery of possum skin cloak workshops for over 2000 Aboriginal people in Victoria, NSW, ACT and SA through Banmirra Arts before graduating to becoming a possum cloak teacher. Amanda’s curatorial career spans 3 decades – she began in national and state museums and cultural institutions before beginning her own business Stella Stories in late 2010. Select projects include the building of the Gallery of First Australians at the National Museum of Australia (1999-2001); Living Democracy at the Australian Museum of Democracy (2008); First Peoples at Bunjilaka Museum Victoria (2013); Garrigarrang (Sea Country) 2014; and Grandmother’s Lore Tarnanthi ATSI Festival (2019).

Paul Ducco
Board Member
Paul Ducco

Paul Ducco is a multidisciplinary Creative Director, designer, and strategist with over 25 years’ experience in the creative, tech and film industries. Passionate about connecting culture, education, and the environment, Paul has become a sought-after collaborator in various fields. As the Director of Supernaut, a design-led and future-thinking studio, he has established ongoing relationships with culturally significant institutions such as Carriageworks, the Art Gallery of NSW, State Library of NSW, and Bundanon Trust. Paul's dedication to improving access to the arts in regional areas is reflected in his role as Vice Chair and co-founder of Southland Creative Inc (Shoalhaven). He also serves as Editor-in-Chief at Manta Publishing, an independent print and new media publisher based on the South Coast. Furthermore, Paul has played a significant role in bringing culturally significant Australian stories and discussions to the big screen through documentaries like 'The Final Quarter' and 'Araatika'.

Claire Chapman
Board Member
Claire Chapman

Claire Chapman is a theatre maker and producer with a particular interest in audience participation and interactivity. Beginning her career in 2016 Claire has been mentored and worked with renowned contemporary theatre-makers and performers and performed across locations in Australia, the UK and Spain. Since returning home to Ulladulla she is passionate about working with her local community. Shifting her practice from performance to facilitation Claire is now Co-Director of The Deadly South, a not-for-profit performing arts organisation aiming to help regional artists establish and maintain their careers here on the South Coast.  Her work drives its feminist undercurrent through comedy and storytelling, relating to her audience by sharing common experiences.

Lisa Anthony
Board Member
Lisa Anthony

Lisa Anthony has a long career in international and Australian journalism, and has written for, edited and published award-winning media across numerous platforms. She has many years professional experience in the creative industries and cultural communication having worked for major arts organisations including Sydney Writers Festival. Lisa manages cultural events on the South Coast, working from her base in Kangaroo Valley. Her academic background includes the disciplines of media and communications, sociology, and curation and cultural leadership. Each adds to the skillset she calls on when working together with South Coast creatives to see a path for them to follow to achieve their goals. She has a passion for supporting artists in their work and connecting them with the wider community. She is delighted to be able to support South Coast Arts, and its diverse and talented creative community.

Cr Imogen Draisma
Kiama Municipal Council
Cr Imogen Draisma

Imogen Draisma is Deputy Mayor of Kiama Municipal Council and has lived in the Kiama area since a young age, attending Kiama and Minnamurra public schools. She completed her school education at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts and is currently completing a double degree, Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws at the University of Wollongong. During her university studies, Imogen has been a student activist with a particular interest in ensuring that the pandemic-impacted university provides the services and supports that the student community needs. She has worked for members of the NSW and Australian parliaments. Imogen is one of the youngest politicians in Australia and sees diversity as a core value of public life.

Cr Robert Petreski
Shellharbour City Council
Cr Robert Petreski

Robert Petreski is a Shellharbour City Councilor who was born in the Illawarra and has lived in Shellharbour for over 30 years. Robert works for the NSW Department of Education as a High School Teacher and has an Honours Degree in Design & Technology plus qualifications in Training & Assessment, Information Technology and Electrotechnology. He completed an Apprenticeship as an Electronics Technician, won the Apprentice of the Year Award, Australian World Skills Gold Medal, St George Youth Endeavour Award and was a semi-finalist in the Young Australian of the Year Awards. Robert established, built and sold a thriving local Electronics business in the region. His formal qualification in Design and Technology gives him a genuine insight and appreciation for well-functioning, aesthetic design where form meets function.

Cr Tonia Gray
Shoalhaven City Council
Cr Tonia Gray

Tonia Gray is a Shoalhaven Councillor with an enduring interest in the Arts. Inspired by her mother who was a landscape artist and potter, Tonia continues to infuse arts-based practice and creative teaching methods in her University lecturing.  With a Masters in Community Health and a PhD in Education, Tonia’s research explores human-nature relationships and their impact on health and well-being. In 2014 Tonia received the prestigious Australian Award for University Teaching for excellence in outdoor experiential education, and in 2019, she received the International Association of Experiential Education’s Distinguished Researcher of the Year.   As an academic, she has worked closely with Bundanon to evaluate their highly successful ‘Touched by the Earth' Arts program and has presented the findings at multiple EcoArts and Environmental Education conferences, both nationally and internationally.

Kathryn Baget-Juleff
Council Staff Representative
Kathryn Baget-Juleff

Kathryn Baget-Juleff is the Group Manager Community Connections at Shellharbour City Council where she has worked for over 10 years. A strong advocate for community engagement in the cultural life of the community Kathryn has had a respected role in local government in the cultural and community sector. This has included playing a leading role in the development of public art programs as part of new government and community developments in Camden and more recently Shellharbour.

Jessica Rippon
Council Staff Representative
Jessica Rippon

Jessica Rippon is the Director Environmental Services at Kiama Municipal Council. With a long career in local government, Jessica has a passion for the arts, strategic planning and community engagement. Jessica has held leadership roles in Engagement and Citywide Strategy. This has included the management of large community events and the development of public art strategies and programs, working closely with artists to deliver positive community outcomes. Jessica has a Master of Planning from UTS and Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing).

Karen Patterson
Council Staff Representative
Karen Patterson

Karen Patterson is Manager of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre. She has worked as a programmer and manager of performing arts venues in Victoria and New South Wales for 17 years. Apart from programming professional venues, Karen has programmed community festivals and events. Currently Deputy Chair of Arts on Tour, Karen is also a member of New South Wales & ACT Performing Arts Centres Association executive. Prior to her career in the performing arts Karen was a journalist and editor for more than 25 years in Australia and England. During that time she worked as a feature writer, focusing on the arts.