Artistic Director

Tessa Leong (she/her) is the Artistic Director of Contemporary Asian Australian Performance. She is a theatre director, dramaturg and collaborator who has worked extensively across theatre, performance, dance theatre, live art and socially engaged projects. Her love of new work has led to collaborations with artists and companies across Australia, Europe and North America. She was Griffin Theatre Company’s inaugural Associate Artistic Director from 2020 until 2022 and is a founding member of Adelaide-based theatre company isthisyours?.

She most recently worked with Rainbow Chan on The Bridal Lament for the Liveworks and Oz Asia festivals and will remount Merlynn Tong’s Golden Blood for Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company in their 2024 seasons.

 

Executive Producer

Sandi is a creative producer, community development facilitator, and teaching artist with close to three decades experience. She has collaborated with, and worked for, independent artists and small to medium arts organisations in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. 

Sandi has a wealth of arts and producing experience is passionate about the collaborative power between these two areas of practice to support organisations and artists to reach their full potential. She has developed creative, community engagement projects with marginalised communities and applies these strategies through an artist-led community centred approach to all her work. 

 

Chair

Elaine Chia, whose career spans music, theatre, visual arts and festivals, is a passionate advocate for the arts. Former roles include CEO of City Recital Hall, Sydney, and Executive Director, Adelaide Festival. 

Deputy Chair

Elizabeth Pakchung is a company director, lawyer, and supporter of fashion, art and architecture. She is currently a Director of H&M Australia & NZ (part of the global fashion H&M Group), Oranges & Sardines Foundation, Gallery 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, and Contemporary Asian Australian Performance.

Director

Karilyn is now an independent consultant in facilitation, cultural leadership and strategic planning.

Karilyn was Course Leader of the Master of Fine Arts in Cultural Leadership at NIDA (the National Institute of the Dramatic Arts) from late 2018 to early 2023. Between 2013-2018, Karilyn was CEO of Performing Lines, a company focused on developing, producing and touring contemporary Australian performing arts regionally, nationally and internationally.

Director

Linly has worked in various roles in the arts across festivals, theatre, music and dance for the past 12 years. Since 2016, she has worked at City Recital Hall initially as Marketing Manager before moving into her current role of Producer.

Prior to this, she held marketing positions at Sydney Writers’ Festival, Darwin Festival, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Sydney Festival and The New Zealand Dance Company. At Sydney Writers’ Festival, Linly also programmed and managed the Festival's education, children's and young adults, and suburban and regional event programs.

Secretary

George a senior corporate/commercial lawyer and an experienced General Counsel with an extensive history working across several industry sectors including commercial property, banking & finance, fintech, insurance, TMT, construction, retail (luxury and FMCG), automotive, manufacturing, logistic services, professional services, broadcasting and the arts.  

Director

Happy Feraren is an improv actor and playwright based in Sydney. She has over 15 years of experience in improvisational theatre and has performed in over 500 shows in cities around the world (Manila, Sydney, Brisbane, Chicago, New York, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam).

Her credits include Limitless with Chris Hemsworth (Disney+) and has performed at the Sydney Fringe, Sydney Comedy Festival, BrisAsia Festival, KXT2021 Storylines Season, The Flying Nun by Brand X program, and most recently at the Sydney Opera House for Slide Night with Rove McManus. She was the 2021 recipient of the Griffin Theatre Incubator Fellowship and has written for publications such as Guardian Australia and Rappler Philippines. 

Director

Fran has several years of experience as a financial executive, with comprehensive knowledge of management and financial procedures. She has demonstrated skill in handling accounts, finance-related issues, budgeting, tax matters, and regulatory reporting requirements, all with a passion for small to medium arts organisations. Fran has an eye for detail and believes in being proactive, as it fosters the development of new ideas and improves existing processes.

Currently, Fran is the Finance Officer at The Seymour Centre. She has also held finance positions at Sydney Festival, Sydney Dance Company, Riverside Theatres, and the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP).