Paula Toal (Co-Chair) has over 20 years of leadership experience in the culture & tourism sector with expertise in strategy, innovation, business development, marketing and brand strategy, partnerships, stakeholder engagement and philanthropy. 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 Cultural & Public Engagement at RMIT University, 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 revenue, build profile and drive economic contribution to Victoria.
Shaun Dennison (Co-Chair, Treasurer) 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 Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Hilary Scott is an experienced General Counsel having worked for major Australian manufacturers for over 20 years. She has extensive legal experience in commercial law, corporate governance, business strategy, restructuring and transformation. Hilary was a member of the Melbourne Theatre Company Foundation Board from 2016 until 2025 and has focussed on philanthropy and governance. 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.
Anne-Laure Cavigneaux as the former Co-Founder and Creative Director of the architecture and design firm March Studio, Anne-Laure Cavigneaux brings 18 years of experience at the intersection of architecture, communication, and brand identity. She collaborates with architects, designers, and makers to create cohesive, impactful solutions across both physical and digital environments.
Her work spans from exclusive brands such as Aesop to large-scale placemaking projects, including The Underline and Level Crossing Removal Activation Nodes, demonstrating a practice defined by versatility, scalability, and public engagement.
Now leading her independent studio, CAVIGNEAUX, she remains committed to brand clarity, spatial identity, and integrated design thinking.
Actively engaged in non-profit initiatives, Anne-Laure currently serves as Communication Chair at The Queen’s Fund and is deeply passionate about craft, filmmaking, and storytelling.
James Makin is a senior arts professional with more than 25 years experience in the Australian contemporary arts sector. For over two decades he owned and operated James Makin Gallery, a contemporary fine art gallery representing and exhibiting leading Australian and New Zealand artists.
An accomplished curator and advisor, Makin combines deep curatorial expertise with practical knowledge of contemporary arts management and small business operations. Through his current business, James Makin Advisory, he advises numerous private, public and corporate collections on acquisition strategy, collection management and curatorship.
Lisa Ramsay is a strategic and creative leader with over two decades of experience in futures research, design, and branding across Asia Pacific and Australia. She brings together foresight, commercial strategy, creative thinking and general business acumen to enable purposeful change, helping organisations unlock growth. Lisa spent seven years leading the Asia Pacific region for WGSN, a global futures research authority. More recently, she has taken on leadership roles with award-winning design and branding studios in Australia. Lisa is committed to supporting the creative sector through mentorship, strategic advisory, and advocacy for future-focused thinking.
Anna Varendorff (Maker Director) 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.
Dr. Blanche Tilden (Maker Director) is a craftsperson and designer specialising in the fields of contemporary jewellery and studio glass with over 30 years’ experience and engagement as an artist, researcher, teacher and mentor. She holds PhD from the School of Art and Design, ANU, and her work is held in major international museum collections including the Corning Museum of Glass, USA, and Musée des Arts Décoratifs, France. In 2008 Blanche received a Victorian Premier’s Design Award and in 2021 the Craft Lynne Kosky Jewellery Award. In 2021, Geelong Gallery exhibited and toured a 25-year survey, ‘Blanche Tilden: Ripple Effect’, curated by Jason Smith. As a master maker, strategic thinker, and effective collaborator, Blanche is committed to supporting both emerging and established practitioners to engage with existing and future challenges of creative practice.
Ty Symonds is a creative and commercial leader with over two decades of experience across fashion, home and lifestyle. He brings together commercial strategy, creative direction and design-led thinking to drive product-led growth and build culturally relevant brands.
His experience spans senior leadership roles within major Australian retail organisations and independent practice, including General Manager of Country Road Home, where he oversaw end-to-end category performance across product, brand and operations, delivering sustained growth within highly competitive retail environments. He has led multidisciplinary teams and complex product portfolios at scale, working across domestic and international markets. His works spans international production and Australian manufacturing, with a strong focus on collaboration with artists, designers, makers and producers, particularly in relation to local materials, fibres and processes.
Ty contributes to the creative sector through strategic advisory, mentorship and advocacy for design-led practice. He is Chair of the Advisory Committee for Industrial Design (Hons) at Swinburne University of Technology, supporting the development of future designers and strengthening connections between industry and making.