Accessible Arts Staff
- Sancha Donald, Chief Executive Officer
- Alison McLaren, Audience Development
- Jane Pollard, Training Manager
- Mukesh Bhardwaj, Accounts & Administration Manager
- Nadia de Ceglie, Marketing Coordinator
- Jacqui O' Reilly, Communications Officer
- Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development Officer
- Alison Richardson, Creative Programs Coordinator, Western Sydney
- Jennifer Teo, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Western Sydney
Sancha Donald,Chief Executive Officer
Key areas: strategic development, policy initiatives, advocacy, funding development, stakeholder support and general management.
Sancha oversees the day-to-day running of the organisation including, organisational development and the management of resources. Development of key relationships with the arts sector and disability sector, promotion of the role of organisation through networking and representation and sustaining current and establishing new funding avenues for the organisation.
Sancha has been in the role since 2005. She began her career as a Physical Education and Arts teacher and taught for nine years in Melbourne and Sydney. Following teaching Sancha took up a position as the Deputy Director of the University of Sydney Sports’ Association. This role was followed by her appointment as CEO of Technical Aid to the Disabled. She brings broad general management skills, a knowledge of the disability sector and the not for profit sector to the role.
email: sdonald@aarts.net.au
phone: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 8)
Alison McLaren, Audience Development
Key areas: International Day of People with a Disability (Accessing the Arts), access issues and research, brokering between arts and disability, marketing advice.
Alison is responsible for the strategic development of increased access for audiences with a disability. Projects include: Arts and Disability Action Strategy for NSW; access and heritage project; and access to arts organisations and festivals.
Alison has a Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney with Honours in Government and International Relations. In 2005, her work as a Cultural Planner received a Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW Award. She has also undertaken extensive community consultation processes with communities in NSW and Madagascar. Alison is exploring her interest in cultural rights by beginning a Masters of Human Rights, University of Sydney.
email: amclaren@aarts.net.au
phone: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 6)
Jane Pollard, Training Manager
Key areas: TAFE accredited & customised training management.
Jane is responsible for overseeing the delivery and development of quality training, and seeking opportunities to further develop the professional development arm of the organisation.
Jane is an educationalist with 20 years experience ranging from classroom teaching on a small Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory through to overseeing the delivery of adult education programs for a number of community based Registered Training Organisations. Jane is also a practicing jeweller with a well-established studio/showroom in Enmore. She exhibits regularly and sells nationally through gallery stores.
Jane is committed to pursuing a career that promotes the principles of social justice and one that nurtures her interest in the arts.
email: training.manager@aarts.net.au
phone: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 3)
Mukesh Bhardwaj, Accounts and Administration Manager
Key areas: General company administration, office and resource management, accounts and overall financial management.
Mukesh holds professional membership of CPA Australia (ASA), National institute of Accountants (PNA), Chartered secretaries (ACIS) and AIM. Educated in India, Nigeria and Australia in field of account, commerce and computer science. Worked in various commercial organisations in accounting, finance and management.
email: mbhardwaj@aarts.net.au
phone: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 2)
Nadia de Ceglie, Marketing Coordinator
Key areas: Media and communications administration.
email: ndeceglie@aarts.net.au
Jacqui O'Reilly, Communications Officer
Key areas: Media and communications administration, monthly newsletter and enquiries.
email: info@aarts.net.au
phone: (02) 9251 6499 (ext.1)
Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development Officer
Key areas: Providing professional assistance to organisations and individuals in the arts and disability sectors working to establish and improve progams that enable people with disabilities to develop their creative potential.
Josie is responsible for ensuring quality arts programs and creative opportunities for people with a disability across NSW. Liaising with artists, the disability sector and arts workers are an integral part of this role. Her work also extends to enabling platforms for emerging and established artists with a disability to develop and showcase their work.
Josie is a practicing visual artist with over fifteen years experience exhibiting in both Australia and overseas. This includes artist run spaces, museums, galleries and public spaces. She holds an Honors degree in Fine Arts from the University of Western Sydney where she received a student scholarship, enabling her to study at Silpakorn University, Thailand. Her experience as a facilitator and disability arts worker crosses a broad spectrum and has included major art institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Space, local government, disability organisations and independent arts projects.
email: jcavallaro@aarts.net.au
phone: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 4)
Alison Richardson, Creative Programs Coordinator (Western Sydney)
Key areas: creative programs and professional development opportunities for people with a disability in all artistic disciplines, museum, gallery and performing arts tours.
Alison is responsible for coordinating quality arts programs and creative opportunities for people with a disability across Western Sydney.
Alison has worked extensively as a theatre director and tutor for community theatre companies, Powerhouse Youth Theatre, Shopfront Theatre, PACT Theatre and Australian Theatre For Young People. She was the Community Outreach Worker at Powerhouse Youth Theatre where she directed and produced several events for marginalised and disadvantaged youth. She has worked extensively as a drama tutor/director for various disability services and has established sliced bread attraction an organisation committed to creating creative opportunities for people of all abilities. She was the 2007 recipient of the Young Leaders Award for 2007 from the Australia Council for the Arts in acknowledgement for her commitment to community arts.
email: arichardson@aarts.net.au
phone: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 5)
Jennifer Teo, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator (Western Sydney)
Key areas: advocacy, policy and strategic initiatives, consultation, forms networks, skills development and dialogue opportunities between arts and disability sectors.
Jennifer is responsible for the strategic development of sustainable programs and increased access to creative opportunities for people with a disability across Western Sydney.
Jennifer is a qualified Occupational Therapist and has worked in the disability sector for over fifteen years. She has worked on community development projects, developing aged care and disability services and resources with indigenous communities throughout Central Australia and Cape York Peninsula. Jennifer also works as a digital media tutor at the Powerhouse Museum, specialising in the Soundhouse - Special Access Kit™ and other interactive technologies. She is interested in the creative applications of technology, with a specific interest in sound and new media arts. As an artist, director and curator, Jennifer has produced numerous installations and electronic music events in Sydney and Cairns, and is the Sydney co-director of Liquid Architecture, a national sound arts festival. She also runs Plum Industries and programs an experimental music netradio show and podcast, ELEVENELEVEN.
email: jteo@aarts.net.au
phone: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 7)