Ari Palani is a passionate director, producer, community engagement specialist and theatre maker. He has worked across a number of communities in Australia facilitating creative outcomes that advocate for intercultural collaboration, Arts education and emerging narratives. Ari is internationally focused on building cultural economies, humanitarian responses and increasing the discussion around displaced communities. He has worked extensively in South Korea and Malaysia developing innovative programs highlighting the interconnectedness of the Arts in contemporary STEAM education and translating these into hybrid models of cultural engagement in the vast Australian landscape. He is currently a Producer at La Boite Theatre and it’s his desire to build the capacity of industries and promote the joy of collaborative practice.

Asha brings her experience as an artist, independent producer and her background in human ecology into her role of managing Footscray Community Arts’ artist development programs and arts advocacy initiatives. She strongly believes in the power of community and the arts in addressing critical social and ecological issues. Since moving from the sustainability sector to the arts in 2013, Asha has worked as a Producer at Arts House, Creative Arts Officer at RMIT, as well as with a number of independent artists and collectives as an independent producer and artist.

Caro is a theatre maker, community leader and inclusive arts advocate based in Boorloo/Perth. They have a passion for supporting artists and communities tell stories in their own terms. In 2019 Caro founded Espacio Latinx, an artist collective that shares Latinx Australian creative experiences in unconventional ways.  Caro is the Community Engagement Manager at The Blue Room Theatre, where they work with multicultural communities to increase their access and participation in the performing arts. They are also a bicultural facilitator at ASeTTS, where they work closely with young people and families from refugee backgrounds in the Families in Cultural Transition Program. Caro is a mentor for the Community Innovators, Volunteers and Leaders Program, and is a member of theOpportunity and Inclusion working group at the WA Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), the Sexual Health Quarters’ LGBTQIA+ Community Reference Group, and the City of Perth’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group.

Heath is the Director of Customer Experience for the Sydney Theatre Company. Previously, they worked as Head of CRM and Business Intelligence for Sydney Dance Company, and at the Sydney Opera House, all three on Gadigal land.Heath has a Master’s in Medical Science (Neurophysiology) and a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts. They worked as an actor for 20 years in a variety of mediums, and still have a huge love of their science roots. Heath is active in the autistic community, providing support and awareness for neurodivergent folk. They administer community forums for neurodivergent adult professionals around the world.

An accomplished actor, director and creative producer, Jen works on projects and with individuals committed to challenging bias and driving systemic change in the arts, and aims to contribute to the shifting landscape of the ‘Australian’ story on our stages. In her current role as Creative Producer for Australian Plays Transforms’ programs in lutruwita/Tasmania, she is working with local organisations, communities, and artists to support and foster First Nations and diverse playwrights and dramaturgs of colour making theatre on the island. Recent directing includes Hilary Bell’s one woman show Window, Cricket Bat for Sydney Festival (2022); acting credits include playing Helayas Breen in Tom Holloway’s world premiere of The Museum of Modern Love for Sydney Festival (2022), and reoccurring guest roles on Home and Away (2022-23) and Rosehaven (2016-21).

Shy Magsalin is the Associate Artist of Q Theatre at The Joan in Penrith, in Western Sydney. A theatre maker, performer, physical dramaturg and intimacy director, Shy lives, works and creates theatre across the lands of the Wallumettagal, Gagidal and Dharug peoples. She is particularly interested in developing more opportunities for emerging Western Sydney performing artists to study and work locally. Shy is also the founder and Artistic Director of the Sydney-based performance ensemble Ninefold, a company committed to examining rigorous ensemble performance-making and creating a sustainable culture for artists who want to explore the possibility of ongoing ensemble work.

Tasnim Hossain is a director, playwright, dramaturg and screenwriter. She is the current Resident Director at Melbourne Theatre Company. Tasnim has been an Artistic Associate at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and tutor at the Victorian College of the Arts. She has also been a Sydney Theatre Company – Contemporary Asian Australian Performance Directors’ Initiative participant, Griffin Theatre Company’s Studio Artist, Melbourne Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre mentee, and ATYP Resident Playwright. She was a 2020/2021 Australia Council Future Leader and has served on the board of ATYP since 2018.