Chair

(she/her)

Lardil, Yangkaal

Deputy Chair

(he/him)

Director

(she/her)

Barkindji, Paakantyi

Director

(he/him)

Director

(she/her)

Barkindji, Ngiyampaa, Killulla

Director

(he/him)

Director

she/her

Executive Director

(he/him)

Stedman grew up on a citrus farm in Colignan, Victoria, on the banks of the Murray. He attended schools in Nangiloc, Red Cliffs and Mildura.

Stedman studied printmaking and sculpture at the Australian National University School of Art and maintains an artistic practice, at his own pace. He has worked alongside many artists to realise large scale public works and founded his own creative enterprise Not By Design in 2020, embracing new technologies such as 3D printing and merging them with more traditional methods of making. He has served on many social initiative committees and has been a Board Director for community organisations including ECHO Housing ACT, and Leta Gallery and Project Space.

He has worked for the Australian National University in several roles including as Human Ethics Manager and Recombinant DNA Secretary for the Office of Research Integrity. He also worked as a grants officer within the same department.

Stedman’s lived experience of disability informs his passion for equal access opportunities for artists and arts workers. In 2020 he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, after decades of chronic illness. Over a period of ten years he underwent eight major surgeries, and joint replacements, to assist him to continue to walk and retain as much mobility as possible.

Prior to his surgeries, Stedman worked for Arts Mildura as General Manager. He continues to be passionate about nurturing the arts in our region and delivering impactful creative opportunities to our community.

Stedman is currently co-chair of the Hands Up Mallee governance board.

Operations Manager

(she/her)

Ashleah has extensive experience in project delivery, conference production and management including manager of Mildura Brewery; Functions Manager at Quality Hotels’ Mildura Grand and Parklake Shepparton; Restaurant Manager at Emma Gorge Resort El Questro Wilderness Park

Ashleah is currently festival manager of Mildura Writers Festival and show management with Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show as well as working on one off events for different organisations in Mildura. Ashleah has moved into a new role with Arts Mildura in 2023 as Operations Manager.

Community Engagement

(he/him)

James was born and raised in Mildura before moving to Sydney and then Melbourne where he worked with Museums Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

A qualified social worker, James' career has ranged from supporting victims of violent crime, project work in community arts sector through the former LEAP and Small Towns Transformation projects and more recently, engaging with communities across the Mallee in his role with the former Member for Mildura. He has served as President of Mildura Pride, a committee member of the Australian Advocacy and Politics Summer School and served on the board of MASP.

James currently co-ordinates the VicHealth Future Reset program which fosters social connection and mental wellbeing in young people through participation in the arts. He is passionate about the opportunities that Future Reset presents to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people, strengthen relationships between local agencies and to engage the organisation's audiences of the future.

Young Creative Lead

(she/her)

Paris is a Mildura girl through and through, with her art being heavily influenced by the beautiful town in which she was raised. A performing artist by trade, having undertaken drama study at Deakin University, her art form includes diverse practice forms. From photography to quilting, Paris believes in the magic is that being able to make anything into art.

In her role as the Young Creative Lead at Arts Mildura Paris focuses on creating programs and opportunities for the young people of Mildura to explore a wide range and variety of arts forms, all the while fostering social connectivity.

Education

(he/him)

Kieran has been practicing multiple forms of art for over 30 years. After graduating with a degree majoring in screenwriting, he moved to Melbourne and co-created the comic book and graphic novel collective and publishing group Silent Army. His work has been exhibited locally and overseas. In 2010 his work was purchased as part of a collection by the National Gallery of Australia as part of the Space Invaders Touring Exhibition.

As a graphic designer he has done work for ABC, Big Day Out, Sony Pictures, Forum and Princess Theatre’s and Lonely Planet Travel Guides.

Kieran is passionate about education in the arts and connecting the community of the Mallee with the world of creativity.