Our dedicated team of staff are passionate about the arts, regional communities, and the services that we provide and promote. The majority of the staff have close links with regional Western Australia, and all bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the organisation.
Gemma Robins
Network Coordinator
Gemma Robins
Network Coordinator
Email: grobins@regionalartswa.org.au
Phone: 08 9200 4213
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, Creative Leadership Program and Roundtable programs. She loves working closely with regional creatives and connecting them with each other and opportunities across the state.
Alanna Kusin
Communications Officer
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.
Amber Launay
Investment Coordinator
Amber Launay
Investment Coordinator
Email: alaunay@regionalartswa.org.au
Phone: 08 9200 6207
Location: Great Southern/Bibbulmen (Menang Noongar Boodja)
Amber is a creative and strategic thinker who has been driving community arts and cultural development in regional communities since 2010. After emigrating to the Goldfields region from the UK in 2007 she has gradually made her way around the southern coastline through Esperance and Ravensthorpe until finally settling in the Great Southern region.
Over the last decade she has worked in both the not for profit and local government sectors and has experience managing and programming community arts venues and galleries, presenting and producing community events, festivals and multi-artform projects, developing cultural policy and in writing and administering grants. She has served on the boards of Regional Arts WA, Regional Arts Australia and GalleriesWest and has been an independent assessor on funding panels.
Amber knows that our regions are rich with artists and creatives who are visionary, brave, passionate, committed to excellence and incredibly resilient. She is therefore thrilled and humbled to be able to serve the whole sector through her role as Investment Coordinator, where she looks after the Federal Government’s Regional Arts Fund and the WA State Government’s Regional Arts and Culture Investment Program.
In her spare time she has also been known to pen the occasional haiku, shoot short films, experiment with AR, spin tunes at small events, and design and make textiles and clothing.
Jasmine Eales
Communications Assistant
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.
Hannah Chambers
Project Officer
Hannah Chambers
Project Officer
Email: hchambers@regionalartswa.org.au
Phone: 08 9200 6210
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 is 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.
Paul MacPhail
Chief Executive Officer
Paul MacPhail
Chief Executive Officer
Email: pmacphail@regionalartswa.org.au
Phone: 08 9200 6211
Location: Perth/Boorloo (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)
Paul has been providing leadership and direction to companies and projects big and small in Western Australia for nearly 40 years. Working primarily in the fields of youth, regional and First Nations arts and culture, Paul was instrumental in setting up both Southern Edge Arts (Albany) and Yirra Yaakin Aboriginal Corporation (Perth). This work resulted in the Sidney Myer Award for Arts Management and the Prince Charles Trophy for Community Service.
As a practicing artist in his own right, he has written and directed theatre for young people including AMY’S MONSTER, THE MIDNIGHT GANG and STARLIGHT STARBRIGHT (for the Perth Festival).
His association with Regional Arts WA began in 2004 as a Board member for six years, then General Manager for five years. Paul also ran his own arts consultancy, Get Art Done, specialising in regional work for three years before returning in 2015 to Country Arts WA as CEO.
Paul thrives on working with the regional arts sector to increase its profile, strengthen its ambition and deliver more great art. Paul has most recently led the organisation through a significant revision of its Purpose and Vision, an organisational restructure and a relaunch as Regional Arts WA to better serve the many artists and organisations around the State.
Shandell Cummings
Project Officer
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.
Rachel Rainford
Network Assistant
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.
Weng-Si Cheang
Program Manager
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.
Demelza Rogers
Operations Officer
Demelza Rogers
Operations Officer
Email: drogers@regionalartswa.org.au
Phone: 08 9200 6206
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 Operations Assistant 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.
Jessica Anderson
Program Manager
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.
Carla Steele
Project Officer
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.
Philippa Maughan
Program Manager
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.
