OUR PEOPLE

Our People

JANE JOHNSON - Artistic Director

Jane is an actress and director and has worked with organisations including; Archipelago Productions, Tasmanian Theatre Company, Blue Cow Theatre, Mudlark, Tasdance, Theatre North, Ten Days on the Island, Tasmania Performs, Terrapin Puppet Theatre, The Unconformity, Tasmanian Regional Arts, The Australian Script Centre and JUTE. Jane was a founding member and co- artistic director of Mudlark Theatre, and the founder of Launceston Youth Theatre Ensemble.
Acting credits include; The Winter’s Tale (Blue Cow) The Bleeding Tree (Archipelago/Blue Cow), The Mares (TTC/Ten Days on the Island), The Tree Widows, Two Pairs of Shorts (TTC), Caravan Boat Treehouse, The Sea Project, Beautiful: a Ghost Story, Cross, Voices from the Grave, Rooted, What is the Matter with Mary Jane?, One Day Projects (Mudlark), Dancing Back Home (Mudlark/JUTE), Ghosts of the Olympic (Jane Woollard/Junction Arts Festival), Our Path (Theatre North/Ten Days on the Island), Timon of Athens (independent), F:emails, Hit and Run, Hedda Gabler, A Doll’s House (CentrStage), Cosi, Little Murders, The Importance of Being Earnest, Dead White Males (TRT), The Coming of Stork, Leaving (SSTP), Romeo and Juliet (LC), as well as countless creative developments and script readings.
Directing credits include: I Am A Lake, Café (Mudlark), Chasing a Sound Like Rain (Ten Days on the Island/LYTE), A Number (CentrStage), Our Path (associate director: Theatre North/Ten Days on the Island), assistant director to Paige Rattray for The Midlands (Mudlark), and as rehearsal director for Happy Me (Tasmania Performs).
Other significant theatre experiences include: an international theatre residency with Artistic Fraud and Theatre Newfoundland Labrador (Newfoundland, Canada), a Tasmanian theatre residency with acclaimed (New York based) Elevator Repair Service, and as co-director of an international youth theatre tour, The Island Exchange Project (touring an original Tasmanian theatre work to Canada in 2011).
Jane was the joint 2020 recipient of the Tasmanian Theatre Award for Outstanding Performance in Professional Theatre for The Mares (Tasmanian Theatre Company and Ten Days on the Island).

COREY ACKERLY- General Manager

Corey holds a Degree in Commerce, and completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Tasmania in 2004. Corey has career experiences in a number of managerial and operational positions in both private and public sector industries.
Corey’s experience includes over 10 years branding and marketing experience with the iconic Boags Brewery. During his time his responsibilities included developing the extremely successful national advertising campaign “Who is James Boag?”, managing sponsorship partnerships of events such as Festivale, Victorian Beer and Wine Festival, Moonlight Cinema’s and Good Food & Wine Shows nationally.
After leaving Boags Corey worked for Tourism Tasmania on Destination promotion and wholesale tourism product development before moving to the Tasmanian Department of Economic Development , Export and Trade Unit. Corey worked with Tasmanian enterprises to increase their internal capacity and opportunities to export interstate and overseas. Corey developed and managed trade missions to overseas markets to support businesses in the agricultural, mining and Food & Beverage sectors.
Most recently Corey was employed as the Operations Manager for the Launceston Tornadoes Basketball Club where he oversaw all operational aspect of this highly visible, community supported professional sporting club.
Corey has also been extensively involved in a variety of local community organisations in administrative and volunteer roles.

CLARE SPILLMAN - Creative Producer

Clare Spillman is a seasoned Arts Manager and Producer with over two decades of experience in producing and production management. Since arriving in Tasmania, Clare has worked with organisations such as Ten Days on the Island, Big hART, Nevertheless Productions, MADE, as well as the biennial event Paper on Skin. Clare has also left an indelible mark on the cabaret scene, independently producing sell-out shows like After Hours Cabaret and The Barn Door Cabaret. Renowned for her meticulous attention to detail and strategic planning, Clare consistently delivers high-quality, transformative experiences to diverse audiences throughout Tasmania and across Australia.

KRISTY FAIRBAIRN - Finance Manager

Kristy Fairbairn is the CEO and founder of The Business Oasis.
Kristy and her team are passionate about supporting organisations to have the best financial systems and processes to ensure smooth financial management. They love getting into the detail so are a natural fit to provide bookkeeping and support services.

Board Members

Jane Forrest, Chair

Jane Forrest is the founder of boutique arts management consulting company, Vim Arts & Events. Her professional work focuses on strategic development with Tasmanian arts companies and major events. Jane is also an experienced arts administrator with a broad background encompassing marketing, human resources, events, stage management, project management, governance, strategic planning and grant writing. With a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Theatre) and a Graduate Certificate of Business Management, plus 10 years of corporate, not-for-profit and arts industry experience, Jane has a unique mix of skills which allows her to understand the creative process and how to develop the inherent creativity of an arts organisation into strong management practices.

Zoë Vandervelde - Vice Chair

Zoë is a theatre creative with a rich involvement with the Tasmanian Theatre scene, working professionally in theatre, fundraising and the events industry. Completing a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts at the University of Tasmania in 2014 she has gone on to stage manage, design, direct, produce and perform for many of the local theatre companies in Tasmania. Having performed and directed for Mudlark’s One Day Projects and stage managed for Mudlark’s 2021 production of Caravan Boat Treehouse.

She is also trained in Event Management and is a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA). Zoë is based in Hobart and spends her time as Associate Producer at Terrapin and as the State-wide Manager Community Fundraising at Cancer Council Tasmania. Bringing skills and experience in marketing, fundraising and theatre producing to the Mudlark Board.

Ian Dickinson - Treasurer

Ian is a semi-retired Chartered Accountant who joined the Board in 2022. With over forty years working in the accountancy profession and industry, in both England and Australia, Ian brings a wealth of experience in the areas of finance and governance.

A lifelong volunteer Ian has served on several boards and committees in the not for profit sector and has also assisted in organising competitions, events and coaching.

Sheryl-Lee Schuch

Sheryl-lee is a partner in a local boutique law firm. Originally hailing from Brisbane, she moved with her young family to Launceston in late 2002 for a change of pace and climate. She began her career in Crown Law in Brisbane then worked in a number of government departments in legal and policy roles. Upon arrival in Tasmania she had a slight change in career, working for two Tasmanian Senators before returning to the law and eventually setting up her own firm.

Outside of the office Sheryl-lee is passionate about yoga, bushwalking, her garden and family. Whilst she says she does not possess an ounce of artistic talent she has always had a great love of the arts, particularly art house and foreign films, theatre, ballet and music of many genres.

Brooke Everingham

After graduating with a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Theatre) from the University of Tasmania, Brooke has spent over 15 years working in the Arts across Australia. Brooke has worked as an actor in theatre and film and television, including for Mudlark Theatre in their 2015 work, The Possum. Brooke has taught acting to people of all ages (in particular to children and young people) in Tasmania, Queensland and Romania. She was Artistic Director of Riverland Youth Theatre, SA, in 2014. For 7 years Brooke worked in Outback Queensland as Program Manager and Festival Director for the Shockwave Program, mentoring rural young people in event management and creative practice. Currently, Brooke works in Philanthropy for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and is completing her Masters in Primary Teaching at UTAS.
Brooke has experienced first-hand the life changing impact creativity has on our health, wellbeing, and sense of belonging – no matter who we are or where we're from. She’s thrilled to be part of the Mudlark board.

Ian Wright

Ian is an accomplished leader and former CEO of a Tasmanian wide provider of children’s disability services. He has had 30 years’ experience in public practice accountancy and auditing. His passion for serving the community is evidenced by numerous Board positions.

Janine Watson

Janine Watson is an award-winning director and actor who has worked with some of Australia’s most respected theatre companies. As a director, she has helmed acclaimed productions for Ensemble Theatre, including Aria, Colder Than Here, Alone It Stands, A Broadcast Coup, Nearer the Gods, Still Unqualified, and Unqualified. Her work with Bell Shakespeare includes dynamic interpretations of The Comedy of Errors and Romeo and Juliet, while her collaborations with Redline Productions include Fierce, Crimes of the Heart, and Dolores (as co-director).
As an actor, Janine has appeared in Mary Jane at the Old Fitz, King Lear and The Dream with Bell Shakespeare, A View from the Bridge at Ensemble Theatre, The Happy Prince for Griffin Theatre, and in productions with Little Ones Theatre (Dangerous Liaisons, Dracula), Sport for Jove (Three Sisters, Antigone), and Mudlark Theatre (The Sea Project). Her screen work includes roles in The Code, The Secrets She Keeps, Neighbours, and the indie feature That’s Not Me.
Janine trained at the National Theatre Drama School in Melbourne and has been recognised with several major awards, including the Sandra Bates Directing Award (2016), a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Lead Female Performance (The Happy Prince, 2019), and a GLUG Award for Best Supporting Actress (A View from the Bridge, 2017).
In October 2025 she will direct the world premiere of Fly Girl by Genevieve Hegney and Catherine Moore.

Karen Kluss

Karen Kluss is a multi-disciplinary creative with a background spanning more than two decades working in design and theatre. A strategic brand and marketing specialist, she holds a Bachelor of Visual Communications (Hons) from the University of Tasmania and has spent much of her career in advertising, working as an Art Director in agencies both locally and abroad on powerhouse brands such as PepsiCo, Dan Murphy’s, and Woolworths. She now leads her own boutique Hobart-based design studio, Overtone, partnering with clients including Blundstone Australia, Hydro Tasmania, Bonney Energy, and Kingborough Council.
Alongside her design career, Karen has been an active part of Hobart’s theatre scene for more than 20 years as a director, producer, designer, and performer. She founded Bijou Tasmania in 2010 and has since directed and produced acclaimed productions including Jane Austen's Emma, My Fair Lady, Chicago and Sweeney Todd. Her 2024 production of The Hello Girls received seven Tasmanian Theatre Awards for Musical Theatre, including Best Production and Best Director. As a performer, Karen has taken on iconic roles such as Amanda in The Glass Menagerie (2023) and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (2016) – both earning her the Tasmanian Theatre Awards for Best Female Actor in Community Theatre.
Combining her expertise in design and marketing with her passion for theatre, Karen brings both creative vision and strategic insight to the Mudlark Theatre board.