Rose LyonsChair & Interim Secretary

Rose Lyons comes to the Board with a diverse range of skills and experience gained over 35 years within various sectors. Rose has worked in Community, Health Management and Local Government positions within NSW including the South East Arts Region and has worked with many community based artists over the years. She also provided input into the development of the SEA Arts Health strategic plan in 2016 and has a Masters in Community Management from UTS.

Elizabeth McGrathMember

Liz has had a lifelong interest in music and the arts.

She worked for the ABC for 36 years, presenting radio, TV and news programs in Adelaide and Darwin before moving to Canberra.

As Director for ABC Canberra Liz built strong partnerships with cultural institutions, government and regional organisations.

Since leaving the ABC Liz has continued to be actively engaged in the community on projects and Boards of interest, particularly in the areas of arts, music, and media.

Bruce CarmichaelMember

Bruce is the Director of the Canberra Theatre Centre.

Helen O'NeilVice Chair

Helen O’Neil has worked as a manager and director across the creative sector, with a strong focus on building relationships and networks. She was most recently Director of the British Council Australia, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and is now spending more time at her home in Cuttagee and working from Canberra.

Helen is a board member of Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre and sees South East Arts as both a major contributor to the thriving cultural life in the region and as a connecting point for local makers and artists with state and national networks.

She was Senior Adviser to the Australian Minister for the Arts, working on the Creative Australia policy, and Executive Director of the Australian Major Performing Arts Group and the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

Lindsay BrownMember

Lindsay resides in Narooma on the South Coast with his wife Lyn where they have lived since 1984.

Following a successful business career in the fitness industry, Lindsay retired from active work in 2006 to pursue personal interests which included local government.

Lindsay was elected to Eurobodalla Shire Council and was elected Mayor in 2012 by popular vote.

Lindsay’s current role is councillor and he also holds a number of external Board positions

Lindsay sees and supports South East Arts as integral to the wellbeing of a community through a choice of artistic fields that bring a vibrancy to the South East.

Shanna ProvostMember

Shanna has spent the past 30 years working as an education specialist in communities of all shapes, sizes and cultures around Australia creating, building and facilitating programs designed to uplift and inspire communities and to build bridges between artists, local government, visitors and businesses through creativity. She has lived in the Eurobodalla Shire for 25 years.

Shanna has a diverse arts background as an actor, singer, artist, author, scriptwriter and playwright.

Shanna is passionate about growing the vibrancy of this region by creating the opportunity for creatives to promote, exhibit and make a sustainable living from their craft and hopes her experience in the Arts sector will be of value to the Board.

Shane O'LearyTreasurer

Shane is General Manager of Destination Southern NSW Ltd. Created in early 2017 as part of a NSW Government review of regional tourism services, Destination Southern NSW is one of six Destination Networks across the state and covers the eight local government areas surrounding the ACT that comprise the members of the Canberra Region Joint Organisations.

Shane has 25 years involvement working closely with the tourism and event industries in various parts of Australia. He has held senior executive roles with major sports and cultural event organisations in Victoria, NSW, ACT and the Northern Territory.

Shane is a resident of Bemboka – prior to his current position he spent time heading up the economic development program at the Bega Valley Shire Council.

Cathy GriffMember

Cathy Griff is a Councillor at Bega Valley Shire.

Her career has centred on the Australian screen industries in the roles of research and policy management. She has been employed by federal government agencies including Screen Australia, the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and the Australian Communication and Media Authority. In addition, Cathy has been a volunteer teacher and journalist in Papua New Guinea, a media advisor for the Australian Council of Social Service and worked on a range of film and TV productions.

Her twin passions are protecting the environment and fostering regional arts.

Sue HaslingdenMember

Sue is a Councillor of the Snowy Monaro Regional Shire.

Our Board