Skip to content Skip to navigation
Arts Project Australia

Our People

2x2 Ross O'Meara and Jacob Cartelli opening 2023
2x2 Ross O'Meara and Jacob Cartelli opening 2023

Our Executive Director and Board Members

Liz Nowell headshot. Credit Natalie Piserchio.

Liz Nowell

Executive Director

Liz has over 15 years of experience as a curator and cultural leader in Australian and international contemporary art. She has held leadership positions at Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE), Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia, and most recently the Institute of Modern Art (IMA), where she was Executive Director from 2019 – 2022. Prior to working as an Executive Director, Liz held curatorial positions at the Brooklyn Museum, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, and Tandanya – National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. She is the recipient of a New Work Grant (Early Career), Early Career Residency Grant (both Creative Australia), a Dame Joan Sutherland Foundation Grant and in 2018 was recognised by InDaily as one of 40 under 40 business leaders in South Australia.

Virginia Lovett headshot

Virginia Lovett

President

Virginia is the inaugural Director Performing Arts, University of Melbourne. Prior to this she was Executive Director/CoCEO of Melbourne Theatre Company and Executive Director at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. A highly experienced and well-respected arts executive, she successfully designed a range of strategic initiatives through her roles at Sydney Festival, Zoos Victoria, Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Theatre Company and the National Gallery of Victoria.

Tiffany Lucas headshot

Tiffany Lucas

Vice President

Tiffany Lucas is a lawyer and non-profit arts advisor. She is the director of TEL Consultants, a boutique consulting firm working with nonprofit arts organisations. Throughout her career, she’s worked in arts development and practised corporate and commercial law in the US and Australia. Tiffany is a Director on the Boards of Dancehouse Inc and Northern Rivers Performing Arts Centre, she is the Head of Legal at TEDxMelbourne and serves on the Auxiliaries Executve Committee at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Marie McCarthy headshot

Marie McCarthy

Treasurer

Marie is Chief Executive Officer with Leonard Joel, Australia’s largest multi-department Auction house, established in 1919. Marie has worked in a number of different industries, since qualifying over 20 years ago as a Chartered Accountant in Ireland. Her corporate experience overseas includes tax analyst, project management, group reporting, systems and people integration.

Kirsty Grant headshot

Kirsty Grant

Board Member

Kirsty Grant is a curator and writer with a specialist knowledge of Australian art developed over two decades working with major public collections. From 2015-16, as Director and CEO of Heide Museum of Modern Art, she oversaw the artistic direction and operations of one of Melbourne’s most loved art galleries.

Sheryl Bates Headshot

Sheryl Bates

Board Member

Sheryl Bates is the parent of an artist at Arts Project Australia and is currently an educational consultant in teacher training, curriculum development and Special Education. Sheryl was previously the Executive Head of Teacher Training and Digital Resources at The Australian Ballet School. She has held senior positions at the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, including Chief Assessor and Study Specialist for the foundational Victorian Certificate of Education in Dance.

Julia Cox headshot

Julia Cox

Board Member

Julia Cox is an award-winning Architectural Designer, Property Developer, and Arts Patron. With a business background in high end fashion and international textiles, she established her own design practice jcHQ in 2008. She is known for creating intelligent buildings and subtle interiors driven by a deep commitment to sustainable principles.

Denise Damianos headshot

Denise Damianos

Board Member

Denise works as Marketing & Partnerships Director at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, delivering high impact campaigns for one of the largest events in Australia’s cultural calendar. Denise brings significant experience working in corporate partnerships in the arts and entertainment sector and prides herself on bringing to life creative, impactful and mutually beneficial brand partnerships.

Rick Hemphil headshot

Rick Hemphil

Board Member

Rick is a Partner of SW Audit and a Director of SW Accountants & Advisors Pty Ltd. He has over 12 years experience across a broad range of business and private client advisory services to both listed and unlisted companies, funds management groups, SMEs, not for profits, charities and high net wealth private client groups. A Chartered Accountant and tax advisor, Rick collaborates with SW experts to deliver outstanding outcomes for clients and has experience in outsourced service and Digital Advisory services, including software adoption, implementation and data analytics.

Fiona Hiscock headshot

Fiona Hiscock

Board Member

Fiona is a practicing ceramicist, represented by galleries throughout Australia, as well as a seasoned People and Culture practitioner. In addition to a busy exhibition schedule, Fiona  is currently the Manager of Learning and Organisaitional Development at Victoria Legal Aid.  She relishes working within organisations to lift employee performance and engagement and firmly believes that taking a coaching approach to workplace challenges results in better solutions.

Our Team

Sandy Fernee General Manager Arts Project Australia

Sandy Fernee

Operations Manager

James McDonald Studio Manager Arts Project Australia

James McDonald

Studio Manager

Julian Martin, Untitled 2018

Jo Salt

Curator & Gallery Manger (acting)

Betty Musgrove Arts Project Australia marketing and communications manager headshot

Betty Musgrove

Marketing & Communications Manager

Kirsten Matthews Development Manager headshot

Kirsten Matthews

Development Manager

Allison O’Callaghan Studio Administrator Arts Project Australia

Allison O'Callaghan

Studio Administrator

Patrick Pantano Collections and Registrations Coordinator Arts Project Australia

Patrick Pantano

Collections & Registrations Coordinator

Julian Martin, Untitled, 2018

Caroline Anderson

Public Programs & Projects Coordinator

Jack Cannon Project & Public Program Coordinator Arts Project Australia

Jack Cannon

Gallery Administrator

Margaret McIntosh Framer & Gallery Technician Arts Project Australia

Margaret McIntosh

Framer & Gallery Technician

Sarah Lamanna Gallery Administrator and Digital Coordinator Arts Project Australia

Sarah Lamanna

Gallery Administrator & Digital Coordinator

Julian Martin, Untitled 2018

Ellie Flutey

Bookkeeper

Julian Martin, Untitled, 2018

Sheba Sullivan

Receptionist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2020

Michelle Odgers

Gallery Administrator/ Casual Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2018

Tom Pendergast

Staff Artist & Online Program Coordinator

Julian Martin, Untitled, 2018

Marcel Cooper

Staff Artists - Online Program & Ceramics Specialist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2020

Peter Douglas

Staff Artist - Digital Specialist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2018

Jodie Kipps

Staff Artist - 3D Specialist

Julian Martin, Untitled, 2018

Lesley Pinder

Staff Artist - Digital Specialist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2020

Yoshe Gillespie

Staff Artist - Printmaking Specialist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2018

Rob McHaffie

Staff Artist- Online Program

Julian Martin, Untitled, 2018

Suzie Brown

Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2020

Anna-maria O'Keeffe

Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2018

Alysia Rees

Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2020

Carolyn Hawkins

Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2018

Ben Walsh

Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled, 2018

Grace Wood

Casual Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2020

Ellen Fairbairn

Casual Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled 2018

Pegs Marlow

Casual Staff Artist

Julian Martin, Untitled, 2018

Kerrie Neilen

Casual Staff Artist