Matthew Lucas (Chair) is a place-making and retail consultant specialising in design, interiors, fashion and luxury. Matthew launched the iconic Australian brand Dinosaur Designs into the New York market and has gone on to work in the luxury retail sector with brands such as Bang & Olufsen, Loewe, Rolex, Graff and Patek Philippe. Matthew's work sees him collaborating with developers on the cultural mix of projects; and with media organisations, creative directors, national cultural institutions, retailers and the design community to develop strategic partnerships and further business opportunities. Matthew has lived and worked in London, Madrid, New York, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne.
Jenna Lee is a Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman and KarraJarri Saltwater woman with mixed Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and Anglo Australia ancestry. Using art to explore her many overlapping identities, Lee works across sculpture, installation, body adornment. With a practice focused on materiality and ancestral material culture, Lee works with notions of the archive and histories of colonial collecting. Lee was honoured to be the recipient of the Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award at the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) and the Australia Council's Dreaming Award. She has been a finalist in national awards, including the prestigious John Fries Award for emerging and early career artists and the KWM Contemporary First Nations Art Award. Lee is represented by MARS Gallery in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia).
Shaun Dennison is an experienced company director in the public and private sector, with a strong financial background and a particular interest in Indigenous art. Shaun is a Founding Director of Farrierswier, a specialist multidisciplinary corporate and project advisory group. He has a finance and accounting background, and experience in corporate advisory and specialist project management roles focusing on energy sector reform and privatisation. His previous experience with Indigenous art includes positions as Head of Aboriginal Art at Christie’s, specialist in contemporary Indigenous Australian art for Mossgreen Auctions, and he has operated his own secondary Indigenous art sales firm.
Shaun has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and is a Graduate Member of the AICD.
Hilary Scott is Deputy General Counsel at GFG Alliance. Hilary has extensive legal experience in commercial law, corporate governance, business strategy, restructuring and transformation. She has worked as an inhouse counsel since 2003 predominantly in manufacturing businesses. She has had a career in private companies operating in Australia and overseas with a focus on FMCG and industrial manufacturing. She has led large complex projects with multiple stakeholders. Hilary has been a member of the Melbourne Theatre Company Foundation Board since January 2016 and has focussed on philanthropy. She strongly supports the arts and values a diversity of creative works. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Paula Toal is Head of Cultural & Public Engagement at RMIT University. Paula is an experienced culture & tourism executive with expertise in strategy, innovation, business development, marketing and brand strategy, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement. She has developed partnerships with commercial entities, industry bodies and government designed to increase industry engagement, inspire innovative problem solving around major societal challenges or issues and drive investment into Victoria’s leading academic and industry research centres. Paula has previously held roles as Head of Commercial Operations for Museums Victoria and Business, Finance and Sustainability Manager for Heide Museum of Modern Art where she led the development of strategies within these organisations variously aimed to develop innovative new ways to grow revenues, build profile and drive economic contribution to Victoria.
James Makin has over 20 years professional experience as an art advisor, art dealer, curator, consultant, gallery owner and artist manager. James is the founder of James Makin Gallery which was established in 2003 in a small shop front on High Street, Armadale. During these foundational years, James began to build a strong stable of artists, and began exhibiting at art fairs. Following the success of the gallery, in 2009 it relocated to Cambridge Street, Collingwood – a warehouse space three times the size of its previous location. For the next decade James Makin Gallery continued its trajectory of growth and market excellence, expanding its stable, attending international art fairs, and becoming a regular presence at major national art fairs. In 2021 James Makin Gallery relocated once more to Islington Street Collingwood, setting the tone for a new decade with a world-class, architecturally designed gallery space. From its humble beginnings, James Makin has established his gallery as a leader in Australian contemporary art.
Anne-Laure Cavigneaux is a co-founder and creative leader at March Studio. With 18 years of experience, Cavigneaux collaborates with architects and designers to create innovative solutions that blend architecture, communication, and brand identity, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging in both physical and digital spaces. From exclusive brands such as Aesop to large-scale place-making projects including The Underline/Level Removal Crossing Activation Nodes, her unique experience is proven by the versatility and scalability of her work, tested and celebrated in the broader public realm. Actively engaged in non-profit community initiatives, currently Communication Chair at The Queen's Fund, Cavigneaux is deeply passionate about craft, filmmaking, and ultimately, storytelling.
Lisa Ramsay is an accomplished Company Director working with international public and private companies across various creative sectors. Lisa spearheaded teams across the Asia Pacific region for seven years with WGSN, the global design research and trend forecasting company for the creative industry. Her passion for helping others and her knack for identifying future opportunities and creating actionable growth strategies make her a valuable asset. On her return to Australia, Lisa was appointed the General Manager of the award-winning Australian design and branding agency TCYK. In her early career, she amassed over a decade of HR consulting experience in London and Australia, helping executives build high-performing operations and nurture positive team cultures for fashion brands and retailers.
Fun Fact: In London, Lisa sourced artisans for the iconic British designers Dame Vivienne Westwood and Jasper Conran OBE.
Anna Varendorff is an artist and designer working in Naarm/ Melbourne. Trained in gold and silversmithing, she works with conceptual jewellery, installation, sculpture, design and production and has amassed an almost cult following for her distinctive curved brass sculptures, created under the name ACV Studio. She has exhibited in Australia and Internationally since 2004 including at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) and with Local Design in Milan in 2017, 2018 and 2019. ACV Studio’s work Glass Half Full Vase was the winner of a 2018 Wallpaper designer of the year award. Anna’s practice is inspired by many other artists and creatives, particularly those whose work encourages a direct relationship between the object and the audience.