Staff of Brand X Read the profiles of our staff at Brand X. Expand JAMES WINTER – Director James graduated from the Centre for the Performing Arts (Adelaide) in 1993. As a Theatre Director, James has worked for the State Opera Company of South Australia, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Restless Dance Company, D Faces of Youth Arts, Urban Myth Theatre of Youth, AIT Arts, Shopfront, Ashfield Youth Theatre, Belvoir Youth Express and The Studio at the Sydney Opera House. James co-founded Brand X in 2005 and since then has worked on 17 re-purpose projects with the company and consulted for the private and public sectors on cultural infrastructure. He currently sits on the board of Darlinghurst Business Partnership, the Nightlife and Creative Sector Advisory Panel for the City of Sydney and the Inner West Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. PASH OSTOVAR – Facilities Manager Pash is a DJ and house music producer who graduated from Bretton Hall College of Arts & Education in the UK in 2000 with a BA(Hons) in popular music studies. By day he worked in the music industry in London from 2001-2015 specialising in music publishing for PRS for Music, Chrysalis Music Ltd, BMG-Chrysalis UK, & BMG Rights Management UK. By night he has worked professionally as a DJ since 1996 and has toured northern Europe, central America and Australia. He also has a long working relationship with Freerange Records in London and as a deep house producer has released solo EPs and remixes on multiple UK and US record labels. AESHA HENDERSON – Program Manager Aesha is a visual artist, freelance theatre designer, and project manager. She holds an honours degree in Visual Arts from Sydney College of the Arts and has spent over 10 years working extensively in theatre and events as a lead artist, installer, project manager, creative director, and community artists. Her speciality has become making large-scale puppets, puppeteering and installation-making for performers. Aesha has created work for Force Majeure, ERTH, Studio A, Tropfest, Cementa, MCA, Sydney Mardi Gras, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney Opera House, National Theatre of Parramatta and Redline Productions. Her passion is in creating and facilitating creative projects that enrich community experiences and support artists practice and ability to experiment. MORGAN HOGG – Program Coordinator Morgan is an emerging artist based on unceded Darug land. She is a recent graduate of Sydney College of the arts with a double degree in Visual Arts and Film Studies, and is currently completing her Honours year in Visual Arts. Through her installation and performance practice, she explores the identities of Indigenous Moana perspectives and the cultural impact modern day has on traditional standards. Morgan has created works for First Draft, Beirut Art Centre, Performance Space, PICA, Suite 7a and SCA. CHRISTINA MISHELL – Marketing Coordinator Christina has an interest in photography, film, and set building. Having studied art and completed her Masters in film, she'll talk your ear off about films. On the side, she runs an open mic short film night called Kino Sydney, which showcases a diverse range of films in a non-competitive setting, building on film community and inclusivity. When she gets the chance she enjoys creating short film claymations to screen, combining her interest in set building and still life photography. JAMIE EXWORTH – Theatre Technician Jamie has been kicking around theatre and live events for a good part of two decades. He fell into the tech side of events while studying Theatre Studies and English Literature at UNE, Armidale. In addition to working on countless student and community productions in Armidale, Jamie also gained a Diploma in Film and Media from the Armidale Film School. From there it was a blur jumping into the Sydney Community Theatre scene working a range of productions from Short n Sweet to Technical Managing the Tamarama Rock Surfers Theatre company and their venues at The Old Fitzroy and Bondi Pavilion. Since then he has worked just about every role across a range of theatre and live events from theatre, festivals, exhibitions and TV Award shows. Jamie is a qualified rigger, lighting technician, mech, and Technical/Production manager. DOUG WALKER – Audio Technician Doug graduated from the Australian Institute of Music during which time he became involved with BalconyTV Sydney as Audio Recording Engineer from 2013–2019. During his time with this team he helped local musicians from all over Australia in reaching a wider audience for their music via social media platforms. After BalconyTV, Doug continued recording live music in many of Sydney’s most well known venues including Manning Bar, Crowbar, and The Vanguard, for local and international acts such as We Lost The Sea, Phantogram, Stick To Your Guns, and Dee Snider. RAUL VALLEJO – Digital Media Technician Raul is a senior audiovisual technician, videographer and drummer from South America, now based in Sydney. He graduated in Digital Media Arts: Film, TV, Video and Multimedia from UNAB University (Autonomous University of Bucaramanga) in Colombia. Raul has established a high profile for his work in the entertainment industry, leading him to work around the world. He is comfortable working in entertainment audiovisual sets, design and post-production studios. Raul is a natural collaborator who specialises in crafting powerful work with proven impact to bring art and culture to the community. Adaptable yet detailed orientated in everything he does, his passion and focus are an invaluable asset to those he works with. JOHANNES MULJANA – IT Technician Johannes Muljana graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hon) from Sydney College of the Arts in 2010, majoring in Electronic Arts. He has worked as a visual and installation artist producing media, transmission, sculptural and interactive works over the past 15 years. He has also been working as an educator, mentor and lecturer in the fields of programming, app and web development, and project management. SOPHIE DAVIS – Administration Coordinator Sophie Davis is a Northern Rivers bred, Sydney based stage and screen writer. She has a bachelor’s degree from QUT in stage and screen production and a Masters degree from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Writing for Performance. Since graduating she has written and produced new works with NIDA, Old 505 and Sydney Fringe and she has recently been commissioned by Fruit Box Theatre and NORPA to create new Australian stage shows. Her masters thesis Silly to Think and never question the Absurd: integrating the female heroine in Absurdist Playwriting is published in Etudes journal for theatre practitioners and emerging scholars. She’s a bit of a nerd, but like a cool nerd. JOHN PALMERI – Facilities Coordinator John is a creative/dramatic individual. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Performance from AIM Dramatic Arts, he developed a rounded education of theatre-making, both on and off stage, then going on to both work with and take various short courses at other schools and companies around Sydney. With a background in live events, design, improv, stage, screen, film, tech, crewing, theatre, performance, customer service and sales… He has a strong work ethic. A passion for the arts all while making himself and others laugh or smile. When he’s not working you’ll find John dancing to the beat of his own drum or laughing extremely loud to some kinda film or show. DAN GRAHAM – Access Consultant Dan is a theatre director and disability rights and LGBTQ+ activist. His directing credits include Sam I Am, an autobiographical solo show co-created with deaf actor/performer Sam Martin, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and Hilary Bell’s Wolf Lullaby. He is on the Board of Arts Access Australia and Co-Chair of Artists With A Disability Committee for the Media and Entertainment Alliance (MEAA). His particular passion is access to employment opportunities for artists with a disability.
Board of Brand X Read the profiles of our Board of Management. Expand DALE HOLLINGSWORTH – Chair Dale has worked in the arts sector for over 15 years, having held senior management positions with some of Australia’s leading arts companies; including Director of Corporate Services for Carriageworks, General Manager for the Australian Centre for Photography, Performance Space and Australian Design Centre Object. Prior to the roles as Financial Administrator for Barking Gecko Theatre Company and Management Accountant for the British Film Institute. He founded ARTANDBUSINESS in 2017 to provide arts organisations with financial and business services and to share his experience of the unique financial and management requirements of the Arts and Not-For-Profit sector. REBECCA ANGEL – Member Rebecca has worked in real estate and development for over 20 years. Having held senior roles within multiple world class organisations and across the globe, her experience spans high profile architecture and city-shaping development across various asset classes and contexts. Rebecca founded Level Six Venture Management in 2011 – a property development advisory assisting clients with the origination, strategic brief, design and execution of projects, with the strong desire to make an impact through the full value chain. Rebecca understands and supports the hugely critical role that a meaningful creative fabric plays in our cities and the economic, social and sustainable value that results for our societies. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Architecture from University of Adelaide and a Master of Business Administration from University of Chicago. JOHN HUGHES – Treasurer John Hughes is the Head of Fox Studios Australia, the region’s largest integrated film and television production facility and industry hub. Over its 23-year history, the studio has contributed significantly to Sydney, NSW and Australia by being a regional leader and centre of excellence in the creative industries sector. Prior to Fox Studios, John held a number of senior commercial real estate advisory roles where he specialised in commercial transactions, adaptive reuse and development. John holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from UTS, a Bachelor of Business & Commerce from UWS and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a councillor of Screen Producers Australia, the Deputy Chair of the City of Sydney’s Sustainable Destination Partnership, a board member of Ausfilm Inc. and sits on the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy Advisory Group. CLARA KLEMSKI – Member Clara is a senior lawyer with broad experience across the arts, policy and cultural planning. She is passionate about working with artists and arts organisations in making space for creativity, having worked at the Arts Law Centre of Australia, the Australia Council for the Arts and for large private law firms in environment and planning law. She is currently a Senior Associate at law firm Mills Oakley, with expertise in planning, environment and development law. In addition to her legal qualifications Clara holds a Bachelor of Environmental Management, a Graduate Certificate in Arts and Cultural Management, and a Master of Administrative Law and Policy. Clara started her theatre making practice with Shopfront Contemporary Arts Centre and has produced, directed and written work for Sydney Fringe Festival, Rock Surfer's SUMMER CAMP, and developed work with Brand X as both a playwright and former burlesque dancer.
Access Panel of Brand X Read the profiles of our Access Panel members. Expand Amy Claire Mills (she/her) Amy is a Sydney-based emerging artist living and working on unceded Gadigal and Wangal land. Her art practice explores identity and self-preservation through immersive textile installations and performance, by which becomes both the artist and subject. Amy's practice critiques and examines the politics surrounding the disabled body. Using distinctive, colourful and bold mediums her work encourages the observer to challenge their own paradigms and internalised preconceived bias, with the intention of deconstructing ableism. With a broad range of skills, Amy has worked with community and art organisations, local councils and fellow artists to curate accessible and representative exhibitions and community events. Dan Graham (he/him) Dan is a theatre director and disability rights and LGBTQ+ activist. His directing credits include Sam I Am, an autobiographical solo show co-created with deaf actor/performer Sam Martin, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and Hilary Bell’s Wolf Lullaby. He is on the Board of Arts Access Australia and Co-Chair of Artists With A Disability Committee for the Media and Entertainment Alliance (MEAA). His particular passion is access to employment opportunities for artists with a disability. Gayle Kennedy (she/her) Gayle Kennedy is a proud member of the Wongaibon Clan of the Ngiayampaa speaking nation of South West NSW. She is an award-winning writer and has published work in newspapers, magazines, literature journals, and for radio. She was the Indigenous issues writer and researcher for Streetwize comics from 1995-1998. Her book of poetry, Koori Girl Goes Shoppin’, was shortlisted for the David Unaipon Award in 2005 and her prose work, Me, Antman & Fleabag was the winning entry in 2006. She wrote eleven books for the Yarning Strong series, which won the 2011 Australian Publishers Association award for Excellence in Educational publishing. Gayle is a disability advocate and has spoken widely in Australia and overseas on disability and the arts. Eugenie Lee (she/her) Eugenie Lee is a Sydney-based, Korean-Australian interdisciplinary artist with a conceptual focus on the lived experiences with persistent pain. Experimentation and collaboration with pain scientists and researchers, who investigate ways in which technologies can assist in pain research, have become an important conceptual underpinning for her interdisciplinary art practice which includes participatory performances using technologies, installations, sculptures and paintings. Dean Nash (he/him) Dean is an Actor, Singer-Songwriter and Screenwriter working on Gadigal Land (Sydney) Dean has studied a bachelor of music at WSU, Musical theatre at NIDA Open, has studied with acting coaches such as Anthony Meindl, Mitchell Butel and Nicholas Brown, and has worked extensively in the mediums of film, TV, theatre and cabaret. Over the last couple of years due to the pandemic Dean has focused mostly on writing endeavours, and currently has a feature film in early development with Screen Australia. In 2021 Dean co wrote a Musical called The breaths in Between with Melbourne theatre company 11 O'Clock Theatre. A concept musical about love, connection, and identity in diverse, under-represented and intersectional Australians, and released a debut EP In the Autumn available on all streaming services. Most recently Dean was one of 16 artists across NSW picked to be a part of the AFTRS Talent Camp for emerging writers. Danni Wright (she/her) Danni identifies as a deaf queer vegan woman of Anglosaxon Australian descent, who is passionate and actively involved in her communities, particularly the deaf community. She works within the film, television and theatre industry as a director, actor and language, cultural and accessibility consultant across diverse projects. She has studied internationally, enriching her skills as a versatile theatre practitioner and performer. Danni is passionate about creativity and accessibility being entwined from the work’s inception rather than as an add-on or afterthought. Incorporating accessibility as part of performances normalises the experience for everyone.