Roxanne Smith
Wonthaggi, VIC
Chairperson
Born in New Zealand and raised in Albury, Roxanne completed a B.A. Design for Theatre and Television at Charles Sturt University, Wagga. She commenced her career in Wagga working at local venues the Civic Theatre and Playhouse as a Duty Technician, and with local theatre companies as Stage Manager and Lighting Designer.
After relocating to Sydney she worked with a number of venues and performing arts companies including the City Recital Hall, Bell Shakespeare and the Sydney Opera House. Roxanne is dedicated to the planning and delivery of high-level events, most significantly as Event Account Manager at Sydney Opera House overseeing large scale Forecourt concerts and Vivid Live. Roxanne has also toured theatre performances across Australia and the UK including performances for young audiences and pantomime. Whilst based in the UK she also worked on the Edinburgh Fringe and Edinburgh Christmas Festivals.
Roxanne has returned to the Riverina where she grew up. She is currently the Venue Coordinator of the Wagga Civic Theatre and a passionate Sessional Academic working with the Performance Design students at Charles Sturt Wagga. You’ll also find her stepping onto the stage with the Murrumbidgee Magic Chorus where she brings her resonant bass voice to their barbershop harmonies.
Georgia Hendy
Darwin, NT
Treasurer
Georgia Hendy is a skilled arts executive and venue manager with over 20 years’ experience. She currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer for Darwin Entertainment Centre and the Darwin Amphitheatre.
Prior to her time in the Northern Territory, Georgia was the Director of Programming at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane overseeing an ambitious and balanced Program and Venue Hire schedule filling four major theatre venues. She led significant initiatives such as the Secretariate for QPAC’s inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group overseeing their Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan. She also formed part of QPAC’s New Performing Arts Venue team where she led a project to integrate public art into the design.
Her career also includes time as a Producer and Programmer for Sydney Opera House with a focus on Theatre and Dance, Commercial Performance and Children and Families. She began her career at the Ensemble Theatre as a Stage Manager and undertook national touring with Brainstorm Productions.
Georgia has a Bachelor of Arts from Charles Sturt University, a Master of Management from the University of Technology, a Graduate Certificate in Accounting from Southern Cross University and completed Venue Management School with the Venue Management Association where she gained two scholarships and completed the USA Leadership Program.
Georgia is a Board Member and Treasurer of Outback Theatre for Young People.
Airlie Circuitt
Deniliquin, NSW
Born and raised in Sydney, Airlie studied for a BA in Fine Art at the National Art School, before marrying and moving to a sheep and cattle station on the Lachlan River on the mighty Hay Plains.
Airlie’s long and tireless association with OTYP has seen her involved with the company since 1991. She is passionate about and dedicated to the incredible things the organisation has created for and with the youth of the region.
As a former, elected Hay Shire Councillor, Airlie was honoured for her years of service as a local government member. She was previously the General Manager of Radio 2HAYFM, the Secretary of the Isolated Children’s Parent Association, and the Director of the “Ulonga” Grazing Co. She was appointed the International Services Director for the Rotary Club of Hay, was an inaugural Board Member of Shear Outback, the Australia Shearers’ Hall of Fame, and has been both the Secretary and President of the Riverina Women’s Club.
As a proud parent and grandparent, Airlie, now based in Deniliquin, continues to be actively involved in the community as a classroom volunteer at St Michael’s Primary School and through U3A (University of the Third Age), where she has served as Committee Secretary. She brings a strong community, social and local government networking knowledge to the OTYP board, and is the current Chair of South West Arts, the Regional Arts Development Organisation for South West NSW.
Alison Nadebaum
Hobart, TAS
Alison studied Arts Management at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and started her career in Perth’s small-to-medium sector, holding roles in administration, finance, project and venue management, and producing at organisations including Deckchair Theatre, Thin Ice Productions, and ARTRAGE. During this time her passion for all elements of the performing arts also saw her moonlight as actor, director, publicist, costumier, and reluctant follow spot operator for independent theatre productions.
She spent the next decade in NSW, holding a variety of roles at Sydney Opera House across the areas of event delivery, commercial enterprises, ticketing, and special events. Alison subsequently led the business management and operations for Sydney Opera House Presents, the Opera House’s internal programming and producing department, for five years.
Alison is currently the Chief Operating Officer for State Opera South Australia.
Alysha Herrmann
Glossop, SA
Alysha Herrmann is a proud parent, daughter of regional Australia, writer, theatre-maker, creative producer and community organiser working across disciplines in the arts, education, tourism, community development, youth work, social justice and social enterprise. As a creative practitioner Alysha makes performances, installations, experiences, presentations, poetry, digital exchanges and small moments of connection in public places.
Once upon a time Alysha was a disconnected and very angry high-school dropout and teenage parent who thought the arts was a waste of time and money. You can read about that story HERE.
Alysha has won numerous awards for her work using the arts to interrogate and explore community concerns and aspirations, including the 2017 Arts South Australia Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award and the 2015 Australia Council for the Arts Kirk Robson Award. Alysha is also an alumna of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s flagship leadership program ARLP, and Foundation for Young Australian’s Young Social Pioneers Program.
Alysha’s work is grounded in community arts and cultural development practice that is dedicated to nurturing and supporting the voices of young people and regional communities. Alongside independent practice and two small businesses, Alysha is currently employed full-time in a state-wide Creative Producer role dedicated to producing new creative outcomes by young people in regional South Australia. Her position is co-funded and co-managed by Carclew and Country Arts SA.
Alysha is a tea-drinker, big dreamer and thinker of confusing thoughts. You can find her on twitter as @lylyee writing #tinytwitterpoem (s) and talking all things #myriverland and #letstalkyoutharts
Harley Moore
Deniliquin, NSW
Based in Deniliquin, Harley has been a lawyer practicing in the Southern Riverina for almost 40 years and in 1989 became a partner of Mills Hebbard Moore, a boutique law firm, located in Deniliquin and Barham.
He is a former OTYP Board Chair and was an initial member involved in the registration of the company and its transition from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee.
As a community leader and parent of a former OTYP participant, Harley has held positions on the boards of a number of local organisations including six years as the president of Deniliquin High School’s P&C Association, eight years as the President and Secretary of the Deniliquin Lawn Tennis Club, as well as roles with the local junior football club, and the community services provider, Intereach.
Harley holds degrees in Economics and Law from the University of Sydney.
Raina Savage
Picton, NSW
Raina has a Master of Arts & Cultural Management from Deakin University, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and over 12 years’ experience running regional theatres, galleries and museums, and delivering arts development projects and place-based festivals across Australia. Raina also has a Bachelor of Arts from Australian National University and was awarded the University Medal along with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons- First Class) from Southern Cross University.
Raina has worked with First Nations Communities for over twenty years as a Native Title Lawyer, as Senior Regional Legal Officer with Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation in remote and regional WA, and through her ongoing business with Wajarri Traditional Owners – Ethical Engagement Consultancy, which empowers First Nations groups to manage their own native title and cultural heritage matters.
Raina has been a Presenter, Venue Manager and Artistic Director of regional theatres for over eight years. She successfully project managed the setup and launch of Goulburn Performing Arts Centre, including establishing all operational procedures, dynamic programming and community engagement, and is currently doing the same for Wollondilly Shire Council. Raina’s passion is regional Australia and delivering unique, authentic experiences grounded in place and engaging the entire community in creating, experiencing and celebrating the arts.
Raina has a strong record in artistic direction of festivals, community engagement and place activation, demonstrating successful collaboration with key community stakeholders to deliver ongoing community cultural benefit. She developed GFEST Fringe Festival in Geraldton WA celebrating social, cultural and sexual diversity, into a 10 day event, complete with Speigeltent and outdoor stages, in just 4 years. At Griffith she created MY FEST – Murrumbidgee Youth Xtreem Arts Festival which attracted over 1500 young people and delivered the world premiere of Sunshine Super Girl, by First Nations Writer-Director Andrea James, supported by Yarruwala Wiradjuri Cultural Festival. Co-presented with the local Wiradjuri community, the festival was an inclusive program of exhibitions, performances, cultural tours and workshops presented by Wiradjuri artists, to promote and celebrate Wiradjuri arts and culture across the Western Riverina.
