Flying Arts Alliance Inc
Board Members 2015
PRESIDENT & Chair
Professor John O’Toole
John O’Toole was Foundation Chair of Arts Education at the University of Melbourne from 20052010. Before that he spent twelve years teaching in schools and working in community theatre in
education, then twenty five years as a lecturer, finishing as Professor of Drama and Applied Theatre
at Griffith University. He has taught drama to all ages from early childhood to adult seniors, and on
all continents. He has designed many curricula, including being Lead Writer for the Arts in the new
Australian Curriculum.
John developed the world’s first BA Degree course in Applied Theatre, now a common university
study internationally. He has written or co-written numerous books on teaching and research, from
Theatre in Education (1977) – the first book on the subject – to his current co-editorship o the
forthcoming Routledge International Handbook of Arts and Education. He received the Griffith
University Award for Excellence in Teaching 2005, the Drama Australia President’s Award in 2003,
and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education Lifetime Achievement award in 2001. He is
also still a practising playwright for young audiences. In 2014 he was awarded Membership of the
Order of Australia for services to drama education.
SECRETARY
Margaret Mclennan
Margaret Mclennan is a Barrister at Law presently working within the Fullagar Chambers group in
Brisbane. Margaret’s practice is varied, predominantly working in the area of Family Law - Property
and Children and she represents the interests of Aborigines in Central Queensland for the protection
of their Cultural Heritage. Margaret has worked in the profession since graduating in 2003.
In addition to her legal qualifications Margaret has a Bachelor of Communication from Griffith
University majoring in Journalism and Documentary Filmmaking, studied in Performing Arts (theatre)
at the Queensland University of Technology and held a Certificate of Nursing (Registered Nurse)
from the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
Margaret has a keen interest in the arts and has professional experience as an actor and film maker.
She is active in the community and currently serves in a volunteer capacity for the Women’s Legal
Service, Amnesty International and holds the position of secretary/ board member for the Actors
Benevolent Fund.
TREASURER
Nick Gregory
Nick Gregory is a tax manager in the Brisbane office of national accountancy firm, RSM Bird
Cameron. Nick’s professional experience is centred on working with small to medium business
across a range of industries including manufacturing, property development, QLD based primary
production enterprises and many family businesses. Nick is practising Certified Practising Accountant
with over 10 years of business experience in Brisbane. Nick’s passion lies in using his professional
and commercial expertise to help business owners develop and grow their business.
Nick is a firm believer in the contribution of the not-for-profit sector to local communities and
regularly volunteers his time as an active member of Nobby’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold
Coast with his wife.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Kirsty Veron
Kirsty Veron has worked in the arts for almost 40 years, in a range of capacities and across several
art forms. Her experience includes seven years as manager of Queensland Arts Council’s multi-art
form program, ‘Ontour byrequest’, (which included managing the touring exhibition program), as
well as periods managing chamber ensemble Southern Cross Soloists, Redcliffe Cultural Centre
(including the Stage Door Gallery) and Darwin Theatre Company. She also spent many years in
Townsville and at various times worked for Dance North, New Moon Theatre Company and
Townsville Community Music Centre.
Kirsty has a Master of Creative Arts (JCU), Bachelor of Arts (UNE) and an Associate Diploma of
Performing Arts (JCU). In 1996, she was awarded a Townsville City Council Arts, Culture and
Entertainment Award for “Outstanding Service to Arts & Culture”.
Sarah Barron
Sarah Barron is currently the Education Program Officer at QUT Art Museum and William Robinson
Gallery. She has actively engaged in the arts sector since 2005 in a range of capacities; recent roles
include Gallery Assistant at FireWorks Gallery and Assistant Curator at Boxcopy Contemporary Art
Space. In 2013 Sarah completed a 12 month internship at QUT Art Museum and a curatorial work
placement in the International Contemporary Art department at the Queensland Art Gallery |
Gallery of Modern Art. She was the Project Coordinator at Flying Arts for four and a half years and in
addition has worked and volunteered for organisations including Logan Art Gallery, The Edge at the
State Library of Queensland, Propel Youth Arts (WA), Woodford Folk Festival and Brisbane Festival.
Sarah graduated with first class honours from a Bachelor of Creative Industries (Honours),
Interdisciplinary degree, at the Queensland University of Technology, in 2013.
Sue Sara
Sue Sara has extensive experience in Australia and internationally in communications and corporate
social responsibility in not for profit (NFP), government and companies including BoysTown/Kids
Helpline, Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU), Xstrata, Apple and IBM. Her most recent role was as
Communications Manager at BoysTown/Kids Helpline, a national NFP delivering services to
disadvantaged children, young people and families.
In a former role as General Manager Corporate Affairs for global miner Xstrata Copper for seven
years, Sue was responsible for communications, government and community relations. In this role,
she developed and implemented the Xstrata Community Partnership Programs in Queensland and
North Queensland. These programs delivered real benefits to communities in a number of areas
including the arts. She was also formerly a Director of the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) for three
years, and a sessional academic at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Business School
in Public Relations.
Sue holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland (UQ), postgraduate qualifications
from QUT, is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), a Senior Associate
of the Financial Services Institute of Australia (SA Fin) a Member of the Public Relations Institute of
Australia (MPRIA), and an Associate Member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (AMFIA). Kasia Kondas
Kasia is currently a Director with KPMG providing People & Change advisory services to clients in
Brisbane. She is an experienced human capital and organisational development leader supporting
businesses and major projects with change management, strategic ER/HR, team alignment and
culture, leadership development and coaching, facilitation and strategic consulting.
Kasia has over 20 years experience in people and change consulting as well as line HR/OD
management with Deloitte in Australia and Europe. She has held lead roles in Daimler Chrysler
global transformation, alignment and capability development programs. More recently, she led
alignment and change programs as the Major Project Team Development Manager at SKM and
Organisational / Capability Development Manager with Thiess Australian Mining for 11 mining
projects across regional Australia including the Bowen Basin in QLD.
Previously, Kasia established and ran a successful international business focused on culture
transformation, leadership, capability development, and internal communications. She has
delivered large organisational design, change, alignment and development programs to a broad
portfolio of clients in Australia, Europe and South Africa. These comprise of ‘blue chip’ multinational corporations such as Rio Tinto, Universities, public sector, and many organisations in the
energy, mining and resources, engineering R&D, financial services, automotive, entertainment and
retail industries. Kasia holds a Masters degree in Commerce (Management) and is a Registered
Psychologist focusing on people, culture, alignment and transformation projects in organisations
seeking to improve effectiveness and develop individual, team and business capability.
Nikki Accornero
Nikki Accornero is a leading communication specialist with more than 20 years experience. Currently
working as an independent consultant, Nikki previously held a senior management role in one of
Australia’s leading communication consultancies for almost a decade. During this period Nikki
oversaw some of Australia’s largest stakeholder engagement teams working on projects valuing in
excess of $24 billion ─ providing strategic advice and overseeing the consultancy’s direct
involvement in key initiatives for Government, GOCs and private sector companies both in Australia
and overseas.
Her strategy and engagement expertise over the past two decades has been extensive working in
the areas of mining and resources, traffic and transport, rail, water, mining, property and urban
planning and social infrastructure (with a focus on health), as well as major sports facilities.
Over the past decade Nikki has developed into one of the country’s most experienced stakeholder
relationship practitioners and strategists. Most recently the demand for her services have
predominately been in the areas of reputation management; project advocacy; stakeholder strategy;
community, government and indigenous relations; and corporate sustainability.
Over the years Nikki has been invited to speak at numerous industry conferences and universities.
David Ronai
David has 40 years of managerial and business experience in financial, commercial, company
secretarial and administrative roles with the last 20 years in Tourism. His experience spans both
state Government and the private sector, small businesses and large organizations, holding
executive, managerial and operational positions in Tourism Queensland, Exxon Coal and Minerals,
The Shell Company of Australia Limited, Civil and Civic and Rio. He has also been a director on two
Regional Tourism Organization boards with Townsville Enterprise (6 years) and Mackay Tourism (4
years).
Since 2005 David has provided business management and development services to tourism and
small business enterprises and since 2011 David is also a business development workshop facilitator
with Flying Arts and has a lifelong interest and involvement with the Arts. He has Fellowships of CPA
Australia (FCPA), The Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and the Australian Institute
of Management (FAIM), a Training and Assessment TAFE qualification with a Financial
Administration degree (B.Fin.Admin.) from the University of New England and Accounting
qualifications.
Mary-Louise North
Mary-Louise has lived and worked for much of her life in rural and regional Queensland. She has had
a life-long interest in the arts. Mary-Louise has been awarded a Bachelor of Science – Psychology, a
Master of Business Administration (University of Queensland) and a Graduate Diploma with the
Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
From 1997 to 2004, Mary-Louise established and managed the Bush Connection, a rural families
resettlement program, auspiced by St Vincent’s Community Services (SVCS). Over the next 10 years,
Mary-Louise held a number of positions with Ozcare (formerly SVCS), culminating in her
appointment as State Manager for Communications. Through her work, Mary-Louise managed and
supported services which brought the arts as therapy to those suffering hardship, and to clients with
mental illness, disabilities, dementia, and the aged, infirm and disadvantaged. Mary-Louise has also
served as a Board Member of the Toowoomba Preparatory School for six years. Currently, MaryLouise is the Practice Manager to a Barrister.
Dr Susan Ostling
Susan Ostling is a Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. Her
research agenda is to explore innovative ways for art in exhibition to provide a catalyst to frame and
question the conditions of contemporary society.
Susan has received several Australia Council development grants and been a recipient of several
Griffith University joint research grants. Her curatorial projects have consisted of Place.
Product which investigated the social history of clay, tiles and ceramic manufacture in the Ipswich
area, Brisbane and involved three contemporary artists working with temporal ideas of clay and its
products: Future Factor, which toured nationally, examined the impact of new technologies on craft
and design practice; Lingua Franca considered the shared language between art, design and
craft; The course of objects—the fine lines of inquiry unravelled the triggers that inspire art practice
and lead to rigorous lines of inquiry; Radical Romanticism brought artists together whose work
stimulated the experience of the everyday to be considered anew.
Susan has actively contributed to dialogues across contemporary art and craft. She has served on
state and national arts advisory bodies. Her PhD investigated the shaping and defining of the
contemporary art curator.
Dr Rebecca Scollen
Rebecca Scollen is the partnership representative from the University of Southern Queensland
(USQ). Rebecca is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Arts and Communication at USQ. Her primary
duties in the role are: Artistic Director of USQ Artsworx, Program Coordinator of the Master of Arts
degree, postgraduate supervisor and research administrator.
From 2007 to 2014, Rebecca was the Manager of USQ Artsworx (a university production house
creating and delivering visual and performing arts events and activities for the region). Prior to
working at USQ, Rebecca taught Theatre at the Queensland University of Technology from 19962003. She was then awarded a 3-year Australian Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to assist 14
regional performing arts centres throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory to better
engage with their local communities and to build new audiences.
Her current research interests include: regional arts and audience engagement; arts and community
education; animals in performance; wildlife tourism and animal studies with particular focus on
visitor experience and implications for nature conservation.