Meet our Team

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Philippa Maughan

Program Manager

Email: pmaughan@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6205

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Philippa grew up on a farm in Nukarni, north of Merredin, and performed in her grade seven end-of-year concert on the Cummins Theatre stage. Joining Regional Arts WA in October 2007 Philippa arrived at her first day at work, suitcase in tow, to embark on a five hour road trip to Denmark with her new boss to attend Regional Arts WA’s Pulse State Regional Arts Conference. Philippa is passionate about assisting regional communities have the best arts experience possible. Philippa is also a former Deputy Chair of the Blue Room.

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Jessica Anderson

Program Manager

Email: janderson@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6209

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Jessica has worked at Regional Arts WA since March 2010, with the first six years spent honing her skills in Regional Arts Development before taking on the reigns as interim General Manager in August 2016. She is passionate about regional arts organisations and ensuring their ongoing viability and sustainability in WA. She has sat in over 20 assessment meetings, spent time in all nine regions, countless hours working with regional people to achieve their goals and loves her job! She completed a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact at University of Western Australia in 2015 while maintaining full time work and holds a secret aspiration to return to study again. Jess Aye, as she is affectionately known, can be found with her nose in a book on the weekends, preferably on the beach at Gracetown.

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Susan Clarke

Acting Network Coordinator

Email: sclarke@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 4213

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

With over 25 years of arts experience across music, theatre and visual arts, Susan brings a passion for the creative sector and a wealth of expertise to Regional Arts WA.

Susan started her arts career as a visual artist, then ventured into arts management. She has delved into event and project management, theatre and music tour coordination, festival project/workshops and stage management for theatre and festivals (Perth Theatre Company, Deckchair Theatre, Womadelaide).

After a long and winding road, Susan eventually discovered her true love in the creative world of contemporary music. For the past 15 years Susan’s focus has been all things music as a songwriter, performer, music manager, music lecturer and regional music advocate (first ever regional board member for the WA Music Industry (WAM).

Susan spent 12 years living and working in regional WA and continues to be a passionate advocate for artists and arts organisations whenever the opportunity arises.

Susan joins Regional Arts WA as Acting Regional Network Coordinator.

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Hannah Chambers

Investment Coordinator

Email: hchambers@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6210

Location: Boyup Brook and the Kennedy Ranges

Hannah has studied business management and worked for Country Music Club of Boyup Brook for five years in administration prior to joining the team at Regional Arts WA in July 2015. Hannah has also completed an internship at West Australia Music (WAM) during 2015 and was a peer assessor for the Department of Culture and the Arts and Drug Aware YCulture Regional program. Hannah is inspired by regional art organisations delivering events and seeing projects come alive in regional Western Australia that create positive impact in regional communities.

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Dr Pilar Kasat

Chief Executive Officer

Email: pkasat@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6211

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Pilar is well-regarded for her work across the arts sector in Western Australia. She was the Managing Director of Community Arts Network (2004 – 2015) before researching the role of the arts in driving social change, leading to her being a regular voice in national and international forums. Most recently, she was Interim Executive Producer at the Last Great Hunt.

She brings a wealth of knowledge earned from non-executive roles such as chairwoman of Art on the Move, and previously the inaugural chairwoman of Women of Colour Australia, deputy chair of Diversity Arts Australia, Peer Assessor of the Australia Council and served on the board of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA for six years

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Maisie Glen

Operations Officer

Email: mglen@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6206

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Maisie grew up in the Great Southern, spending her early childhood in the Porongurups inventing mysterious codes and obsessively drumming on biscuit tins. Naturally, this lead to a career in arts management.

Maisie has been performing live original music for 20 years and has worked in a range of capacities with Perth Fringe, WAM, Nannup Music Festival, Desert Feet, Folkworld, Denmark Arts, and Propel Arts.

As Regional Arts WA’s Operations Officer, she is responsible for IT, asset management, and operational procedures. She loves making the boring stuff work efficiently so everyone can stay focused on celebrating and strengthening the regional arts sector.

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Jasmine Eales

Communications Assistant

Email: jeales@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6208

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Jasmine has never been conventional. After finishing school, she tried taking the traditional route of getting a boring office job; but it did not take long to realise that was not the life she wanted. Instead, she packed it in and started a new adventure following her passions. She bought her first camera and, thanks to friends, began photographing bands around Perth. Never missing a live show, Jasmine has seen her work published across magazines and online press. This led to her studying photography and illustration design and later a Masters’ degree in Marketing.

Over the years, Jasmine has worked in photography, social media strategy and market research. She has volunteered time to youth arts and culture events and community engagement projects. In her spare time, she is a board game connoisseur and an avid explorer. On any given weekend, she could be lost somewhere on a hiking trail or exploring regional WA looking for big things to take photos with.

At Regional Arts WA, Jasmine looks after the website and social media. She hopes to help artists across the regions share their work, and unique perspectives, with the world.

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Rachel Rainford

Network Assistant

Email: rrainford@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6203

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Rachel’s love for arts and culture blossomed while studying a Master’s degree in Edinburgh on International Festival and Events Management. Whilst living in Edinburgh she gained an appreciation for the different aspects of the arts sector and upon completing her dissertation focusing on community art events, Rachel had found she was enthusiastic about pursuing a career within the sector.

She has worked in various event, tourism and retail positions over the last seven years including positions at Event Services Australia, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and Aspects of Kings Park. She undertook an internship at Art on the Move in 2020 assisting with the administration of the ‘Playing the Man’ exhibition for Fringe World Festival 2021.

At Regional Arts WA Rachel’s responsibilities include assisting and supporting the Regional Arts Network Initiative and Investment team in administration, logistics, and data management. She is keen to work within the sector to help grow regional connections throughout Western Australia. She is a strong believer in the arts ability to empower regional communities.

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Demelza Rogers

Research Officer

Email: drogers@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6206

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Demelza joined Regional Arts WA in June of 2021, coming most recently from executive support and social policy roles within the community services sector. She has previous lives in dance, writing, and a few other corners of the arts. Her role as Research Officer enables her to combine her commitment to social justice with her passion for the arts, and to contribute to thriving and creative communities.

When not doing that, you’ll find Demelza rummaging for yet more vintage wool or stationery in an op shop, planning the next time she can camp in the Karri forests, or following you down the street to pat your dog.

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Shandell Cummings

Project Officer

Email: scummings@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 9200 6204

Location: Albany/Kinjarrling (Menang Boodja)

Shandell is an Aboriginal woman with ties to Menang boodja (country) on the south coast of WA. Her past roles have included natural resource management, family violence and youth work. This varied experience has allowed Shandell to build a tremendous number of skills and this is expanding as she nears her completion of her Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Anthropology and Sociology, and Indigenous Knowledge Heritage & History).

Shandell believes it is pivotal to build capacity and ability of our communities, to achieve positive outcomes. She hopes that being a regionally based Project Officer, along with several others, will provide people with a sense of understanding we do know what communities are experiencing and Regional Art WA’s desire to provide this support is strong.

Shandell is also a practicing First Nation artist, among her portfolio she has showcased at REVEALED2020, had artworks selected at the WA Museum Boola Bardip project and has also had the opportunity to collaborate on two major public art projects in Albany with one of those being the rejuvenated Alison Hartman Garden. Shandell is passionate in sharing Aboriginal culture with the wider community and her art supports this.

As one of the organisation’s Project Officers her focus is on First Nation artists and arts organisations, and Regional Arts WA’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Shandell is keen to support communities to develop and grow along their journey and she firmly believes being based within a regional context will support this.

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Carla Steele

Project Officer

Email: csteele@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6217

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Boodja)

Carla’s love for the arts began at a young age. After school she studied photography and after years spent living overseas, she returned Perth to study community development and sociology. She has worked in administrative roles for Art on the Move and Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and has been at Regional Arts WA for over 8 years in roles covering administration, touring, and funding.

Her current role as Project Officer at Regional Arts WA sees her managing the Indian Ocean Territories touring, the Sand Tracks remote Aboriginal music tour and the Coordinated Development Program. She is passionate about providing regional presenters and communities with access to quality arts and giving regional artists assistance to make their arts projects and development a reality.

In her other life she runs a small business creating clothing, assists at a local independent record label and is a DJ.

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Weng-Si Cheang

Program Manager

Email: WCheang@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 6202

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Weng-Si is an innovative and creative professional who has worked across both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors providing media and community services to regional and remote communities locally, inter-state and nationally. She is passionate about marketing communications and enjoys using her skills to deliver effective audience engagement activities.

At Regional Arts WA, Weng-Si’s responsibilities include brand management, program delivery, diversity and inclusion, and public relations. She is committed to building arts equity across the state.

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Alanna Kusin

Communications Officer

Email: akusin@regionalartswa.org.au

Phone: 08 9200 5865

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Alanna’s love for arts and culture started as a young person growing up in Bunbury in the South West. It was from there she decided she would travel to “the big smoke” to pursue a career doing what she loved, which led her to photography and then into arts management.

Alanna has since worked in the arts and culture sector for over eight years, across a wide range of marketing and officer positions at Perth Concert Hall, City of Wanneroo and State Library of WA. Most recently, she worked as Digital Marketing Manager at West Australian Symphony Orchestra, leading the strategy and development of the Orchestra’s digital presence during the COVID-19 shutdown. She has strong skills in digital storytelling, social media, email marketing and digital advertising.

At Regional Arts WA, Alanna’s responsibilities include the Statewide Outcomes project, brand management, the website and social media. She believes that the arts transforms communities for the better, and is keen to work with the sector to share their unique stories in compelling ways.

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