Meet our Team

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

Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)

Gemma is a regional arts and culture enthusiast. She started her journey in the arts at Perth Theatre Company in 2008, moving to Regional Arts WA in 2010, where she has held various positions in operations, marketing, funding, and project management.

A former panellist for the Propel Youth Arts WA’s Drug Aware YCulture Metro grant and the Department of Culture and the Arts grants for four years, she also sat on the 2014 National Youth Week KickstART Festival panel and was the volunteer Marketing Coordinator at TEDxPerth in 2015.

In a move that took her outside of the state, Gemma spent two years living and working in the small regional Japanese town of Sasayama in Hyogo prefecture. Following this adventure, she returned to Perth in 2018 and took up a role at Georgia Malone Consulting, where she worked on the Perth International Jazz Festival, Fairbridge Festival and the Performing Arts WA Awards.  Gemma is Secretary of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Alumni Association and loves to spend time camping, reading, and crafting.

Gemma is now back at Regional Arts WA managing the Regional Arts Network initiative. She loves working closely with regional creatives and connecting them with each other and opportunities across the state.

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.

Location: Mandurah/Mandjoodoordap (Bindjareb Noongar Boodja)

Catherine has worked in the Western Australian cultural sector for more than two decades. She comes from a farming family and her early years were spent on a cattle station in the Northern Territory and then a sheep farm in South Australia. She trained as a dancer and actor, then worked in arts administration roles (including at Country Arts WA in the 1990s) before being appointed the inaugural Young People and the Arts Officer at the Department of Culture and the Arts.

She moved on to senior roles in arts policy at the Department and managed teams with responsibility for arts funding and arts programs. Catherine was central to the development of the statewide Cultural Signposts regional arts and culture policy in the 2000s, gaining extensive knowledge of the networks, structures and people that make up the regional arts sector in WA.

She transitioned to international relations work for State Government and most recently, was Business Manager for The University of Western Australia’s Confucius Institute (a language and cultural centre). Catherine is thrilled to be returning to the arts and looks forward to reconnecting with old friends and making many new ones as we work together to forge a connected and thriving regional arts sector.

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.

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.

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.

Formely in the Network Assistant role, Rachel now works as the Operations Officer providing governance support to the Regional Arts WA board and operational support for all program activities. She is keen to work within the sector to help grow regional connections throughout Western Australia.