The ACT Writers Centre is fortunate enough to have a fabulous Board at present as well as great staff and a number of project managers and volunteers. Here are their bios:
Chair – Sylvia Alston is a former Public Servant who resigned after 16 years to pursue other, hopefully more interesting career opportunities. During her time in the Public Service, Sylvia worked in several departments in the area of communications and policy advice. An avid reader, her love of literature has given her an insight into what people like to read. Sylvia has recently discovered an aptitude for writing and is exploring the use of mainstream fiction to raise awareness of serious issues. She is drawn to the everyday dramas that affect ordinary people and their ability to cope with difficult, often traumatic, situations. She holds a BA and an MA in Communication (by research) and most recently was awarded a creative PhD by the University of Canberra for her thesis that examined the role of laughter as a means of coping with pain and stress.
Deputy Chair – Ross Hamilton holds accounting qualifications, was more recently an economic statistician, completed a Grad Dip in Professional Writing in 2008, spent 10 years in the banking sector, 15 years in economic statistics and public sector management and assists the Writers Centre with governance, business planning and event management. Ross is also Deputy Chair of the Havelock Housing Association Board of Directors and Secretary of the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild. Ross anticipates commencing a Masters by Research in Communication during the second half of 2010 at the University of Canberra.
Treasurer – Dane McCormick is Senior Advisor at KPMG. He formerly worked for Industry and Government Relations at Boeing and Defence Australia. He has expertise in bringing new ideas to market.
Secretary – Bob Phillips is a published playwright and author and is also a retired aviation risk analyst. More recently he has become active with the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild, currently their Treasurer, and he is also the Secretary of the Canberra Wine Club as well as a regular volunteer with the Writers Centre.
General Committee members
Charlotte Harper is a journalist who has worked as a web producer in Canberra, Sydney and Hong Kong. She is a former literary editor of The South China Morning Post, and has reviewed books for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times. She has also written on technology on and off for 15 years, once edited a mobile phone and gadget magazine, and is the author of a book about digital publishing – Weird Wild Web (Penguin Australia 1999). Charlotte’s blog can be found at www.ebookish.com.au
Peter Hadley resigned from the Australian Public Service in 2008 to become a full-time novelist, publishing his first novel in 2009. He is currently completing his second novel, and is working on a series of ebooks. During his 25 years in the Australian Public Service, he worked mainly in the industry and tourism departments, providing policy advice and managing programs. He was also director of human resources development and head of the audit area in the industry department. He holds a BA in Economic History (UNSW), a Graduate Diploma in Economic History (ANU) and a Master of Management (ANU).
Peter Papathanasiou is an award-winning short story writer. He is currently working to complete his first novel as part of a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Canberra. He already holds a PhD in biomedical science and a law degree. Pete has worked as a scientist at the Australian National University, Stanford University and New York University, and studied creative writing at The New School in New York. Pete’s goal is to be a career writer who tells honest stories inspired by the nature of the human condition.
John Stokes is a practicing essayist, short-story writer and poet; published in USA, Japan and Australia. He has won or been shortlisted for many prizes, including, in 2009, the Bauhinia, Blake and Newcastle Prizes for Poetry. He has been a Member of the Board of the Royal Australian Planning Institute, the Burley Griffin Society, the Prime Minister’s Counter-Disaster Task Force, and the Surrey County Arts Funding Committee; and adviser to the Milton Keynes Development Corporation, Queensland Landcare Committee and Murray-Darling Basin Commission.
Giulio Zambon holds a Doctorate in Physics from the University “La Sapienza” of Rome. He has authored or co-authored several scientific and technical publications, including two IT books. More recently, he has had two of his short stories published. Giulio is member of the Society for Scientific Exploration, a professional organisation of scientists and other scholars focused on phenomena that cross traditional scientific boundaries and are inadequately studied within mainstream science. He brings to the board his experience in a variety of areas, ranging from scientific research to senior management in the Communication and IT industry.
Staff:
Anne-Maree Britton (on LSL until end September) has been the Director for the past 16 years and has 18 years’ experience in all aspects of arts management. She has programmed and hosted nine annual 2- and 3-day writers’ festivals at NLA and other venues, as well as administered up to 40 literary events and workshops every year while managing staff and overseeing projects for Indigenous, multicultural, aged, young writers and writers with disabilities. She has prepared Business Plans, marketing plans and applied for, acquitted, over $1.5m in local, state and federal funding.
Kelli-Anne Moore (Acting Director from 17 July) has been the Office Manager for 2.5 yrs and comes from a book selling background. She has skills in MYOB and office systems as well as a BA in Professional Writing. She also works one day per week at ABaF. She will oversee the Invite-A-writers scheme, the manuscript assessments, the literary awards, sponsorship maintenance, staffing and board liaison.
Elizabeth Howden (acting Office Manager from 17 July). Lizzie is responsible for all incoming bookings, enquiries and payments.
Kimberley Gaal (Communications Officer) has been with the Centre for 3 yrs, initially as Office Manager. She has a BA in Writing and Editing with skills in desktop publishing. She is responsible for all outgoing communications (web, e-news, social networking, media liaison) and recently established New Territory Press design service to assist local writers with designing and self-publishing their pbooks and ebooks.
Project Managers:
Irma Gold – Centenary anthology editor (funded by artsACT grant for 7hrs per week)
Peter Papathanasiou – Science festival co-ordinator (funded by National Science Week for 30 hrs total)
George Wilson – Indigenous writing project (funded by AIATSIS grant for 30 hrs total)
