Chief Executive Officer(CEO)
Joshua Pether is of Kalkadoon heritage and is an experimental performance artist, dancer and choreographer, recently based in Noongar country in Western Australia. His performance practice is influenced by his two cultural histories- Indigeneity and Disability. Joshua's work has been presented both nationally and internationally. He is the creator of two solo works, ‘Monster’ and ‘Jupiter Orbiting’. His current work 'The Reckoning' is a cultural collaborative long term project that aims to address the colonial history of Australia and the traumatic and violent implications it has had upon the bodies and sites of indigenous people.
His advocacy position has explored the roles and relationships between dance/performance and the disabled body and most recently the intersection of First Nations culture and disability. Joshua has been artist in residence at HIAP (Helsinki International Arts Program) and the recipient of various grants from both Creative Australia (formerly The Australia Council for the Arts) and DLGSC (formerly DCA). His advocacy work in the disability space encompasses representation on both a national and international level and he has been invited to speak on this topic at prestigious events such as ISPA (International Society of Performing Arts), The Meeting Place, Arts Activated NSW and most recently as a foundation artist for Alter State presented in partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria (AAV). His advocacy position has explored the roles and relationships between dance/performance and the disabled body and most recently the intersection of First Nations culture and disability. In 2024 he became the CEO of Arts Access Victoria.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer(Deputy CEO) / General Manager (GM)
Nikki has a Bachelor of Applied Science, Planning and Management from the University of South Australia. She first worked in community arts at Minda Inc in Adelaide, coordinating an inclusive choir. She then co-founded Tutti, a highly esteemed inclusive multi art-form disability arts organisation, working as General Manager. In 2007, Nikki moved to Melbourne and joined the Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) team as ArtLife Coordinator. While at FCAC Nikki Worked with AAV to help develop Raw Law and ADAPT. With her extensive background in community arts and cultural development, Nikki moved to AAV as the Manager, Arts Programs in 2015.
In Nikki’s tenure at AAV, she has created Band Mates and Music Makers, bringing Music into AAV. She has started new studios focusing on young people (working with schools) and created a studio for artists with Mental health issues. She helped develop many AAV recourses for the sector and individuals. Nikki developed the structure of arts and the NDIS in AAV which has gone on to be replicated across the arts sector in Australia. Nikki has recently become the Deputy CEO and GM for AAV.
Manager, Art Services
Geoff Robinson is a Melbourne-based artist working on Wurundjeri country. Robinson creates site-based artworks that utilise sound, performance, and installation to unravel the durational layers of place. Recent projects include: Durational Situation / Umeälven / Birrarung (2021), Re-Think Festival,
Umeå; Tributary Project (2020-2022), Bus Projects, Melbourne; Durational Situation / Vartiovuori (2019-2020), Titanik gallery, Turku; Itinerant Sound (2015-2019), multiple sites across Australia. Robinson has held residencies and exhibited at Titanik gallery, Turku; Helsinki International Artist Programme; MoKS, Estonia; and Seoul Art Space. He was a studio recipient at Gertrude Contemporary 2004-2005; awarded the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2014; and recently a sessional tutor in Interior Design at RMIT. In 2018 Robinson completed the PhD project Durational Situation at MADA, Monash University.
Since 2016 Robinson has worked as a Creative Producer for Arts Access Victoria. Over this time he has coordinated inclusive arts studios across Melbourne and produced a number of ambitious studio outcomes including Fortune (2017), Bowery Theatre, St Albans; Go Have a Look (2018), Kingston Arts Centre; WOWalk (2019), Bowery Theatre; and Channel Echo (2020), online.
Recently, Robinson has taken on the Manager, Arts Services position, overseeing the AAV studio and mentorship program.
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Tania Smith is a strong communicator with over two decades of field experience in the arts. She thrives in community and non-profit contexts, and is experienced in communications and brand strategy, publications, social media, web development and content marketing. At AAV she has worked with key partners including Creative Victoria, the City of Melbourne, and the City of Port Phillip, particularly in the development of accessible funding programs. She is a contemporary video artist and often lectures on her work and contemporary arts practice in universities across Thailand and the Philippines.
Manager, Finance
Zahran completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) in 2009 from LA Trobe University where he went on to work at Bluebottle Pty Ltd and then John Paxinos & Associates and in 2020 he joined the AAV team to become the Manager of Finance. Zahran’s role at AAV is to ensure that all the accounts and finances are running smoothly, this includes working with all staff and artists. Zahran works with everyone, and their access needs to ensure they understand the complicated world of finance and budgeting. Zahran has a CPA associate membership and is a Graduate member of NIA. In Zahran’s spare time he likes to play indoor soccer and cricket, hang out with his kids and cycle. Zahran is a community-minded person who regularly engages with and gives back to his community.
Manager, Artist Services
Sarah is an experienced arts manager, producer, contemporary dance artist and arts advocate. After working in Germany at Theatre Krefeld Moenchengladbach, Sarah returned to Australia and was key in establishing Sydney’s DirtyFeet - growing the organisation to be a national leader in creating opportunities for young contemporary dance artists and championing inclusion for Disabled artists. Sarah performed with Tasdance from 2009-15 and delivered projects for the company’s education and community programs. Sarah has been engaged by Weave Movement Theatre in a variety of capacities including performer, choreographer, workshop facilitator and board member (2015-18). Sarah is a qualified dance teacher and also serves on the Committee of Management at her children’s community kindergarten. Sarah serves on the Committee of Management at her children’s community kindergarten. She currently leads the centre’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan working group.
Manager, Consultation and Training
Janice has worked at AAV for 11 years, advocating for improved access in the Arts industry. She has been a disability advocate for many years, following an earlier career as a librarian and a teacher. At the same time,, she has been a performer and a pioneering force in the field of accessible dance and physical theatre for the past 30 years. Janice is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Weave Movement Theatre. She has worked and had residencies with State of Flux (Melb), Joan Skinner, Karen Nelson (USA), Blue-Eyed Soul, Touchdown and CanDoCo in the UK. Janice was the inaugural winner of the Australia Council Disability Arts-Established Artist Award in 2019.
