Nina Trofimova
Vanessa has worked across government and the private arts sector; most recently managing Anna Schwartz Gallery in Sydney, one of the premier commercial galleries in Australia. Before this she worked at the Australia Council with roles in arts administration, applicant relations and grants management. Working with the then Visual Arts Board to facilitate grants she worked closely with key organisations both here and internationally to present Australian artists’ work. Vanessa has a strong understanding of the visual and experimental arts and holds a Visual Arts and Sociology (hons) degree from the University of Wollongong.
Kate is a curator and arts manager with more than 10 years experience in festivals, experimental and interdisciplinary performance, and visual and public art. Before returning to Performance Space, she developed, curated and produced Newcastle’s inaugural city-wide arts festival New Annual, which launched in early 2021 to sold-out crowds and local acclaim. She has held Artistic and Festival Director positions with Art Month Sydney and This is Not Art Festival, and curatorial, programming, and producing roles with Sydney Opera House, Campbelltown Arts Centre, FBi Radio, Underbelly Arts, UNSW, and Kaldor Public Art Projects. Kate is a widely published arts writer, consultant, and has curated exhibitions and public artworks around Australia. From 2014 - 15 she was a director at Firstdraft Gallery, working with her co-directors to move the gallery to its new premises in Woolloomooloo and launching a revitalised program. She has a PhD in aesthetics and participatory art, drawing on her work alongside a team of researchers on a major community filmmaking project with UTS and the University of Goroka in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
Katie Winten is a creative producer and curator living and working on Gadigal land. Across the last eight years Katie has worked in directorial, curatorial and producing roles in visual art, contemporary dance, theatre and experimental performance at Sydney Opera House, the Powerhouse Museum, Performance Space, Carriageworks, FBi Radio, Firstdraft and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Sean (he/him) is a Marketing and Communications professional with a diverse array of experience across the performing arts. He joins Performance Space having worked as the Marketing and Distribution Manager at Australian Theatre Live, and completing a Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney. Outside of Performance Space, Sean is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Fruit Box Theatre; a company dedicated to developing and staging original LGBTQIA+ theatre. Sean is passionate about promoting the work of artists in authentic and creative ways, helping them share their practice with audiences who resonate with their work.
Yousr is an arts production and development manager working for nearly a decade on the delivery of engaging and ambitious artistic programs in Tunisia and France. Following her master’s degree in Sociology specializing in film reception at the University Lyon 2, she has held multiple positions working at the service of creative and transdisciplinary projects that have an emphasis on social impact. She collaborated closely with a variety of independent arts organizations including the Tunisian arthouse production company APA: Artistes Producteurs Associés, Association Démocr’Art and the French association 1000 Visages Production. Passionate about visual and performing arts and dedicated to the promotion of innovative and creative work, Yousr has joined the Performance Space team as development manager, currently living and working on Gadigal land.
Jimi (He/Him) is an emerging multi-disciplinary practitioner with experience across a variety of events, venues, and performances. Joining the industry with a passion for lighting design, Jimi developed an interest in production management working at Carriageworks as an operator and senior technician. He has freelanced for companies and venues big and small across Warrane (Sydney), with diverse experience in event lighting, sound, video systems, staging, set building, production design, and stage management. Jimi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Theatre and Stage Management from the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Sidney McMahon (they/them) is an experienced artist, curator, and arts administrator with a background in developing and managing creative programs and partnerships in the contemporary arts sector. Currently, they work as the Artistic and Executive Associate at Performance Space, as well as Curator and Artist Development at Parramatta Artists Studios.
Previous to this, Sidney held positions such as Communications Director at Art Month Sydney and Marketing Manager at Utp, where they worked on enhancing brand presence and audience engagement.
Sidney holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) and a Master of Fine Arts from Sydney College of the Arts, as well as a Master of Art Curatorship from the University of Sydney. They maintain an active practice as an artist, exhibiting work both nationally and internationally.
Rhanda joined Performance Space in 2008 as Finance Officer, beginning her involvement with the arts community. She can now be found in arts offices across the city including Moogahlin Performing Arts, Force Majeure, Branch Nebula and Erth. Prior to this she had worked in the private sector in accounting and taxation for over ten years and continues to do so. Rhanda graduated with a business degree from the University of Technology, with a major in Accounting and sub-major in Small Business. She is also a Certified Practicing Accountant.
Nina Trofimova
Fenella Kernebone
Julie Robb, Deputy Chair
Janine Collins, Chair
Thomas Thoma