Katy Alexander - Manager, Digital Culture Programs, Creative Australia

Katy Alexander is Manager of Digital Culture Programs at the Australia Council for the Arts (soon to be Creative Australia). With over two decades of creative and management experience in the arts, media and entertainment industries, Katy specialises in creating new experiences for audiences through the innovative use of new media technologies and new digital pathways for organisations, artists and industry.

Katy’s PhD (UNSW) explored the use of new media technologies in live performance. In 2020, Katy directed the multimedia production Ghost Lights, devised with Stephen Sewell and filmed in theatres gone dark across Sydney, for NIDA’s Digital Theatre Festival. Katy has collaborated with Heckler on large-scale international multimedia performances, including WCOA Sydney, combining dancers from Legs on the Wall with large-scale projection at the ICC Theatre, and the Huawei Broadband Conference in Frankfurt. She has created digital content for Sydney Opera House, ABC iview and Imagination.

Katy founded Night Parrot Productions, a multidisciplinary ensemble of creative practitioners, exploring relationships between live performance, new media and architecture. Productions range from Alter Ego, for Vivid Sydney, to collaboration with CalArts (Los Angeles), where Katy directed Things That Go Bump in the Night. She was Associate Artist on Elements of Oz by renowned US multimedia theatre company The Builders Association and was researcher in residence with Robert Lepage & Ex Machina.

In her early career, Katy was a founder of IF: inside film magazine, working to create and launch the independent publication. She was Entertainment Research Manager for Nielsen EDI and Audience Development Manager for M&GNSW, working with regional museums & galleries and the Biennale of Sydney.

Katy has created tailored lectures and workshops in Storytelling with New Media Technologies and Video & New Media Design for Live Performance, lecturing, speaking and mentoring at NIDA, UNSW, AIM and UTS Animal Logic Academy.

Gemma Pepper - CEO & Co-Founder, Audioplay

Gemma is a creative producer with 20 years’ experience working across a diverse spectrum of creative projects including theatre, festivals and new media. Gemma has a long history producing theatre and events in Australia, working for companies including Marrugeku, Stalker, Erth, Sydney Dance Company, the Enlighten Festival (Canberra), Geelong Performing Arts Centre and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). Gemma has been Producer for Side Pony Productions since 2009 and produced their 2019 Australian tour of The Irresistible, which enjoyed sold-out seasons at Dark Mofo, Sydney Opera House and Geelong Arts Centre.

In recent years Gemma has led the development of Audioplay an immersive audio experience for children. Audioplays innovative, cross disciplinary work has been recognised with awards and nominations in the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards, 2021 Australian Directors Guild Awards and the 2020 Australian Game Design Awards. Audioplay was the national winner of the Creative Business Cup 2019, going on to make the top 5 companies in the global competition in Copenhagen, whilst also winning the INVIO Experience Technology Solution Award 2019.

Marc Goldenfein - Co-Founder, ArtsPay - The Australian 'Arts & Culture 100' innovators

Marc Goldenfein is the CEO and co-founder of ArtsPay, a payments startup that is building a new funding source for the arts using transaction fees. The solution is now being widely adopted by large retailers, hospitality groups and arts organisations across Australia and fees that would normally go to banks and silicon valley are now flowing to artists and small arts orgs.

Marc was added to The Australian's the top 100 arts innovators list and is working towards a global launch for ArtsPay in 2024.

Debra Allanson - Executive Director & Co-CEO, Arena Theatre

Debra has amassed a wealth of experience in the creative industries through her work in television, film and innovative digital platforms, and deep strategic and operational management roles. She has worked extensively with start-up teams across a range of digital media businesses including an online platform for children’s creative development and expression. Debra is a long-standing member of the Vicscreen (formerly Film Victoria) investment and incentive committee having previously been a Board member for nine years, and is a former board member of Barking Gecko, Western Australia’s theatre company for children and their families.

Louise Howlett - Artistic Director, ReAction Theatre

Louise Howlett (she/her) is a theatre-maker, director, producer, writer and the Artistic Director of ReAction Theatre (www.reactiontheatre.com.au). She has successfully produced and/or directed a range of new Australian and international works, including a sold-out season of TOBY by Abe Pogos (La Mama Theatre); Appropriate Kissing for all Occasions by David Finnigan; At the water’s edge… – a commission to present seven short plays celebrating the 85th Anniversary of the St Kilda Palais; Bomb the Base by Mark Andrew (Melbourne Fringe); Heart Thy Neighbour by Camilla Maxwell (MICF/Melbourne Fringe); Proof by David Auburn and Some Girl(s) by Neil LaBute. In 2022, Louise was Assistant Director to Briony Dunn on I am Emilia Bassano, and, earlier this year, she undertook an ‘Odyssée’ residency in Rochefort, France through the French Ministry of Culture to further develop Secret of the Raft - a production for young audiences that incorporates 3D projection mapping, installation, interactive participation, and live performance. This project highlights her dedication to pushing boundaries and creating transformative experiences for audiences of all ages. Louise is delighted to be a participant in the 2023 Createch programme facilitated by REMIX and Creative Australia, which offers a unique platform to explore and innovate at the crossroads of technology and creativity.

David Clarkson - Artistic Director, Stalker & Box of Birds

David Clarkson is an artist, director, producer, mentor, leader and innovator in his field. He co-founded physical theatre company, Stalker and its co brand Box of Birds. Both companies have enjoyed national and international success since they were formed. His poetic, conceptual, image based and highly physical performance work has been at the high end of physical theatre practice and influenced many artists working in this field.

David Clarkson’s works have toured to over 30 countries globally and have been seen by hundreds of thousands of people. David’s work has varied between solo performances, professional ensemble work, installations, community outreach projects and Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

He has been awarded the NSW Rex Cramphorn Scholarship for theatre, the inaugural Create NSW Art and Technology Fellowship and was recently a recipient of an Creative Australia theatre scholarship for his research into immersive theatre and digital arts practice.

www.boxofbirds.net

Dave Court - Multi-disciplinary artist

Dave Court is a multi-disciplinary artist living on Kaurna country in Adelaide, Australia working in areas of painting, sculpture and installation.

Current work includes large-scale public artwork, cross media work and the creation of interactive and immersive events and installations, all with a focus on collaborative and experimental processes.

Dave has experience with a range of different projects including award winning gallery/event/art space Mr IST, ethical clothing brand foolsandtrolls, retail store/art space Created Range, street press Yewth Magazine, and festival design with RCC and Adelaide Fringe. Dave is heavily involved with public art, as well as art direction and curation alongside his ongoing studio practice. His process driven style looks at experimentation with gesture, abstraction, and oscillation between digital and physical representations.