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.

Originally trained in dance and theatre design, over 25 years Justine Shih Pearson has developed an interdisciplinary practice as a creative producer, facilitator, artist, writer, arts researcher and advocate.

Based in Sydney since 2007, Justine operates between creative and cultural leadership roles in the performing arts, collaborating on projects for live performance, digital media, film/tv, publishing, public spaces, hospitals, and museums in Australia, Europe, the UK, North America, and SE Asia. With a reputation for championing the work of artists and dedication to art form development, she has been Executive Director/CEO of PACT Centre for Emerging Artists since 2021.

She is also on the board of artist-run space ReadyMade Works, which she chaired from 2017-2022; and was previously director of choreographic research centre Critical Path, producer of screendance festival ReelDance, and a programming fellow with Dance Theater Workshop/NY Live Arts. Justine holds a PhD (USyd) and MA (NYU) in performance studies, and lectures, writes and consults on intercultural/interdisciplinary creative practices and placemaking. Mixed-race and multinational, growing up between the unceded lands of the Ohlone, Lenape, Kaurna, and Gadigal as part of the Chinese diaspora, Justine is a child of the Asia Pacific and this geo-cultural context pervades her approach

Dominic Lui is a performer and producer. He was previously the Projects Producer at Omega Ensemble. In 2024, he completed Advertising Council Australia’s Award School, with two briefs on the wall.  

He is also a current member of Create NSW’s Artform Advisory Board for Classical Music and the NSW Government’s Creative Youth Network. A singing actor and musician, his recent theatre credits include A Little Night Music (Hayes Theatre Co), IRL (KXT Bakehouse), The Pigeons (KXT Bakehouse), Metropolis (Little Eggs Collective & Hayes Theatre Co), HMS Pinafore (Hayes Theatre Co), and Patti LuPone’s Don’t Monkey with Broadway (Sydney Opera House).  

As an independent producer, Dominic and a team of Sydney artists recently secured Create NSW and Creative Australia funding for a new opera adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape, currently in development.

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. 

She is currently based in Melbourne leading the transformation of the former Richmond Power Station site into a dynamic new destination for creativity and innovation.

Elizabeth Pakchung is an Australian non-executive director and corporate lawyer with extensive business, legal and management experience, and a supporter of art and fashion.  She is currently on the Board of Bundanon Trust, H&M Australia and New Zealand (part of global H&M fashion group), 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (Deputy Chair), Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (Deputy Chair) and Oranges & Sardines Foundation.  Elizabeth is also a member of the National Portrait Gallery Foundation, and the National Gallery of Australia Ethics Advisory Group.  She is a former Board member of the National Portrait Gallery.  Prior to her corporate career, Elizabeth was a corporate lawyer at leading international law firm Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson) for over 28 years including Partner for over 15 years, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets and corporate governance and acting for many major ASX listed companies, global corporations and investment banks.  Elizabeth has been a supporter of Australia at the Venice Biennale, and a Patron of the Sherman Centre for Culture & Ideas.  She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Law Society of New South Wales, and International Women’s Forum Australia

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.  

Currently, he is the Executive Director of ParamCo, a legal and advisory business committed to helping social enterprises, purpose-led endeavours, socially conscious ventures, not-for-profits, the arts and charitable organisations.

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. 

Krista Tanuwibawa is a marketing professional with over ten years in the not-for-profit arts sector. She currently works as Marketing Manager at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art). 

Previously, she has held marketing roles in major Australian performing arts organisations (including City Recital Hall, Belvoir St Theatre, and Musica Viva Australia), and has also collaborated with independent artists, theatremakers, and artist-run-initiatives. More recently, she worked with the Australian Music Centre, during which she managed  commissions, prizes, grants, events and industry partnerships in support of art music creators.

Linly has worked in various roles in the arts across festivals, theatre, music and dance. She worked as both Producer and Marketing Manager at City Recital Hall and prior to this, held marketing roles at Sydney Writers’ Festival, Darwin Festival, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Sydney Festival and The New Zealand Dance Company. At Sydney Writers’ Festival, she also programmed and managed the Festival’s education, children’s and young adults, and suburban and regional event programs.

Linly is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusiveness in and through the arts, and helping to ensure our stages and creative spaces provide a platform for a diversity of voices and stories.

Linly’s other great interest is in environmental conservation. She recently completed a Diploma and Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management and currently works as a bush regenerator on ecological management and restoration projects across Greater Sydney.

Nicole is a strategy and organisational change consultant for arts and cultural organisations and a part-time Teaching Fellow in the Arts and Cultural Management Program at Deakin University. Nicole’s past industry roles include 15 years as the founding executive director of Theatre Network Australia (TNA), and CEO roles at Back To Back Theatre and Arts Access Victoria. She has worked with and advised three levels of government. Nicole is currently Chair of the Advisory Board, Bachelor of Creative Arts, Deakin University, and a Board Director of Terrapin Puppet Theatre in Tasmania.