BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
Jane Forrest - Chair
Jane Forrest, the founder of Vim Arts & Events has been fully immersed in the arts as a performer, administrator, technician, manager, director, writer, planner, and enthusiastic patron her whole life. Jane is an experienced arts administrator with an eclectic 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.
Megan Jolly - Deputy Chair
Megan studied theatre and education at UTAS then taught Drama, English and Dance in Australia and England. Following time in London she moved to the United States and worked as an event planner for several years. She returned to Tasmania in 2008 and in 2009 graduated from UTAS with a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts in Theatre. In 2010 she worked as the Program Manager for Junction 2010, the Regional Arts Australia national conference that was held in Launceston. The conference included the inaugural Junction Arts Festival. In 2011 she graduated from UTAS with a Master of Contemporary Arts in Theatre. She has been actively involved with local community theatre companies as an actor and director since her return to Tasmania. She currently works as an Electorate Officer for Senator Peter Whish-Wilson. She is a current participant in the Tasmanian Leaders Program.
Darren Willmott - Artistic Director
Darren has worked extensively in theatre production as stage manager and operator, production and operations management, lighting, set and sound design. Darren is currently the Production Manager and a Lighting Designer for Tasdance, recent productions including, Voltage, Identity , Cross Currents, Artery, Image, Heart Matters, and Pulse, and has toured to extensively Victoria and NSW, Regional Tasmania, Bass Strait Islands and New Zealand. Darren is also an artistic associate for Mudlark Theatre and recent productions include The Sea Project, Beautiful, Dancing Back Home, Action and Cross. Previous roles include, Scotch Oakburn College’s Performing Arts Centre Coordinator, Production Manager (UTAS School of Visual and Performing Arts), Head Technician/Operations Manager (Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre,) Production/ Company Manager (Ten Days on the Island), Lighting Design and Technical Direction (Slipstream Circus, Circus Risque, Three River Theatre, Launceston Youth Theatre Ensemble, Musical Society and Encore). Darren is a graduate University of Tasmania, Bachelor of Performing Arts.
David Kewley - Treasurer
David is a well respected tax accounting professional, with over 8 years of industry experience. David has an background in small business and start-up entities, and has extensive expertise in training new business owners to use business software packages, such as Xero, MYOB, Banklink and Reckon (aka Quickbooks). David remains abreast of developing tax policy, specialising in the areas of business structures, goods and services tax and capital gains tax. Having finishing his bachelor of accounting degree through the University of South Australia back in August of 2011, David went on to complete his Diploma of Chartered Accounting, becoming a certified member of Chartered Accountant Australia & New Zealand back in October of 2013. David has recently completed his Applied Masters of Taxation via correspondence through the University of New South Wales
Alexander Wells - Secretary
Alex graduated from UTAS with a Bachelor of Arts and Laws with First Class Honours in 2016. Upon completion, Alex returned to his home town in Launceston and completed his Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Tasmania and the High Court of Australia at the end of 2017. He now works predominantly in civil litigation, criminal law and commercial law with Bishops Barristers and Solicitors.
Beyond being a lawyer, Alex has always had a passion for the arts. He began performing when he was the tender age of 5 through what was then P.C.Y.C Youth Theatre. He has also been involved in numerous productions with Encore Theatre Company.
Alex is exciting to be a part of the wonderful team at Mudlark and to be able to combine his two passions: the Arts and Law.
Beyond being a lawyer, Alex has always had a passion for the arts. He began performing when he was the tender age of 5 through what was then P.C.Y.C Youth Theatre. He has also been involved in numerous productions with Encore Theatre Company.
Alex is exciting to be a part of the wonderful team at Mudlark and to be able to combine his two passions: the Arts and Law.
Gerard Lane
Gerard is a graduate company member of the 2007 Victorian College of the Arts School of Drama, achieving both a Bachelor of Dramatic Art - Acting (BDA) and a Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA -2003) at Monash University. He has worked professionally as a director, writer, actor and singer in theatre, musical theatre, opera, cabaret, comedy, film and TV. Television credits include guest roles on City Homicide, Offspring and Winners and Losers. Gerard is an active and proud equity MEAA member, and has worked with many various companies in Victoria and Tasmania. Gerard has recently joined the Boards of Mudlark Theatre Company, Three River Theatre Company (TAS), Complete Works Theatre Company (VIC) and is the Manger of the newly formed Studio Space Theatre Company - creating theatre courses for Tasmanian's of all ages and abilities. For Mudlark Theatre company Gerard has appeared in One Day Redux, collaborated on two One Day projects as an Actor and recently directed U L G by Lyndon Riggall for Junction Arts Festival 2017. Gerard is also known as one half of Launceston's punniest Mexican musical duo Emergency Poncho who debuted their Melbourne Comedy Festival Show "Going in Dry" in 2017.
Frances Pratt
Frances is the Founder & Photographer for Burnt Honey Portraiture, a small business enterprise creating an empowering and authentic experience for woman to be celebrated themselves in a fun, safe space.
Frances also currently works part time with Tasmanian Leaders Inc. on project coordination and organisational support. Prior to these roles Frances worked in the community sector most recently with Anglicare as the State Business and Development Manager and prior to that with St Vincent de Paul Society (Tasmania) Inc. as the state’s CEO.
Originally Frances completed a UTAS bachelor degree in commerce and a post graduate diploma qualification through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Frances’ first years of employment were with Johnson Breward Chartered Accounting.
Frances also currently works part time with Tasmanian Leaders Inc. on project coordination and organisational support. Prior to these roles Frances worked in the community sector most recently with Anglicare as the State Business and Development Manager and prior to that with St Vincent de Paul Society (Tasmania) Inc. as the state’s CEO.
Originally Frances completed a UTAS bachelor degree in commerce and a post graduate diploma qualification through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Frances’ first years of employment were with Johnson Breward Chartered Accounting.
Zoë Vandervelde
Zoë is a local artist who has a rich involvement with the Tasmania Theatre scene. She completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts at the University of Tasmania in 2014 and has gone on to stage manage, design, direct and perform for many of the local theatre companies. Most notably having stage managed for Mudlark’s 2015 production of The Possum.
In 2017 she worked with Launceston Christian School on their ‘Musical of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’, and as stage-manager for Three River Theatre Companies production of The Season at Sarsaparilla. More recently she has performed with Encore Theatre Company, Launceston Musical Society and Three River Theatre. She also has directed for a number of Mudlark’s One Day productions. Her experience as a theatre maker and her professional work in various management roles gives her a great foundation for working in creative development.
In 2017 she worked with Launceston Christian School on their ‘Musical of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’, and as stage-manager for Three River Theatre Companies production of The Season at Sarsaparilla. More recently she has performed with Encore Theatre Company, Launceston Musical Society and Three River Theatre. She also has directed for a number of Mudlark’s One Day productions. Her experience as a theatre maker and her professional work in various management roles gives her a great foundation for working in creative development.
