Chief Executive & Board
Country Arts SA is one of South Australia’s largest arts organisations, providing arts services across regional South Australia. We deliver programs and initiatives, manage performing and visual arts venues, and provide funding which supports the creative endeavours of communities and individuals.
Anthony Peluso
Chief Executive / Executive Director
Anthony has overseen the organisations most ambitious changes, working with the many artists and communities, government funders, corporate and individual supporters who invested time, energy and resources into the impact of the organisation’s arts programs. Working in regional contexts has broadened his outlook and understanding of his place in community. He is dedicated to championing First Nations peoples’ rights and celebrating the diversity of regional communities. And is driven by the stories of regional South Australia to create experiences that can’t be made anywhere else in the world.
Anthony Peluso
Chief Executive / Executive Director
Kath M Mainland CBE
Chair
Globally recognised, Mainland has worked in and around festivals for over 30 years. She is currently Chief Executive of the Adelaide Festival. Prior to this, she was Executive Director and co-CEO of RISING, CEO of Melbourne International Arts Festival; Chief Executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Administrative Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival. She is passionate about the arts, their place in society and the unique alchemy that happens at festivals.
Kath M Mainland CBE
Chair
Victoria MacKirdy GAICD
Board Member
Victoria is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Victor Harbor. She has over 20 years experience in Local Government having worked with a number of Councils across the State, along with the Local Government Association of SA.
Victoria MacKirdy GAICD
Board Member
Stephanie Toole
Board Member
Owner, winemaker of Mount Horrocks Wines in the Clare Valley, Stephanie Toole is Country Arts SA’s Board member representing the Mid-North & Yorke Peninsula region.
Stephanie Toole
Board Member
Ian McKay
Board Member
A leader in the education space, Ian has spent the last 30 years as a school principal in both government and non government across 3 states. He is currently the Regional Manager at UniSA in Mount Gambier and is actively involved in his local community through his position as District Governor of Rotary District 9780 in 2023 -24 and Board Members with the Australian Rotary Health and Mount Gambier Pioneers Basketball Club.
Ian McKay
Board Member
Susan Betts
Board Member | First Nations Advisory Committee
Susan is a contemporary artist and designer with previous projects for Balarinji Designs, Susan created the Qantas 747 plane Nalanji Dreaming design plus 'Sweet water' design for Coca Cola. She also created the design for the Adelaide Crows's Indigenous Guernsey 2016. Susan's passion is working with school groups and teaching Aboriginal culture and art. She also worked with many communities in creating art in many designs and murals.
Susan Betts
Board Member | First Nations Advisory Committee
Shouwn Oosting
Board Member | First Nations Advisory Committee
Shouwn is a descendent of the Waanyi and Garrwa Nations and currently works as an Aboriginal engagement consultant. Shouwn also has over 25 years of experience working in both the State and Federal Public Sector with a strong focus on Aboriginal affairs policy coordination and program delivery. Shouwn is a trained facilitator and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Management), a Bachelor of Laws and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
Shouwn Oosting
Board Member | First Nations Advisory Committee
Darren Braund
Board Member
Darren lives in the town of Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula. He has served as an Elected Member for the Yorke Peninsula Council since 2014 and then elected as Mayor since 2018. Darren has been a strong advocate for the arts while being involved in various arts initiatives for a number of years as an administrator of events and exhibitions as well as a photographic exhibitor and musical performer. He comes from an artistic family with his father being a painter and sculptor.
Darren Braund
Board Member
Ella Winnall
Board Member
Mayor of Berri Barmera Council, Ella has experience in regional development, specialising in economic and community development of rural communities. Ella’s diverse portfolio of skills and experiences across community, tourism, local government, agriculture and innovation allows her to thread together the things that make communities tick to identify opportunities and deliver tangible outcomes. Ella has a passion for developing the future of regional Australia.
Ella Winnall
Board Member
Simone Bailey
Board Member
Mayor of the Mid Murray Council, Simone has an extensive background working in government in federal departments and prior to her appointment as Mayor working in the local government level at the Mid Murray Council. Simone has a passion for community and advocating for Riverland and Murraylands residents and is keen to foster collaboration within her community that addresses their multifaceted needs and aspirations.
Simone Bailey
Board Member
Staff Leadership Team
Anthony Peluso Chief Executive/Executive Director and RAP Champion[email protected]
Matthew Madden Leadership Coordinator[email protected]
Sam Yates First Nations Arts Director[email protected]
Anthony Jones Chief Financial Officer[email protected]
Jill Bolzon Head of People[email protected]
Merilyn de Nys Arts and Culture Leader[email protected]
Cassandra Barendregt Development Director[email protected]
Sussan Baldwin Arts Centres Leader[email protected]
Kyra Herzfeld Head of Marketing & Advocacy[email protected]
Arts Programming
Sarah Knight Executive Programmer[email protected]
Diana Maschio Associate Producer[email protected]
Lauren Mustillo Visual Arts Manager[email protected]
Asha Southcombe Visual Arts Coordinator[email protected]
Cultural Programs
Josh Trevorrow First Nations Arts & Cultural Manager[email protected]
Dominic Guerrera First Nations Producer[email protected]
Marika Davies Tarnanthi Regional Curator[email protected]
Kayla Perry Grants Program Administrator [email protected]
Teresa Coles Arts and Cultural Facilitator Country Arts SA (City of Whyalla) [email protected]
Ali Eckermann Arts and Cultural Facilitator Country Arts SA (Regional Council of Goyder)[email protected]
Gillian Steel Arts and Cultural Facilitator Country Arts SA (City of Port Lincoln)[email protected]
Jane Ellis Arts and Cultural Facilitator Country Arts SA (Naracoorte Lucindale Council) [email protected]
Middleback Arts Centre
Contact the team at the Middleback Arts Centre at [email protected]
Haylee Kuchel Operations Manager
Lisa Faulds Administration Officer
Chelsea Berriman Digital Projection Officer
Northern Festival Centre
Contact the team at the Northern Festival Centre at [email protected]
Bianca Roeters Theatre Services Officer
Paul Schrader Theatre Technician
Chaffey Theatre
Contact the team at the Chaffey Theatre at [email protected]
Sharlene Goodman Chaffey Theatre Manager[email protected]
Lara Vallelonga Administration Officer
Sophie Cass Administration Officer
Nicole Kruger Theatre Services Officer
Luke Meaney Theatre Technician
Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre
Contact the team at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre at [email protected]
Frank Morello Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre Manager[email protected]
Jo Smith Finance Administration Officer
Fay Cakebread Theatre Technician
Anthea Duryea Administrative Officer
Hopgood Theatre
Lauren Grant Administrative Officer
Anna Folkmer Administrative Officer
Relationships
For any marketing enquiries please contact [email protected]
Beth Wuttke Head of Design
Jess Costello Digital Strategist
Aden Shukla Digital Marketing Officer
Paula Backstrom Marketing and Community Relations Officer (Port Pirie)
Lisa Woolford Corporate Marketing and Publicity Officer
Jess Little Development Coordinator
Finance & Facilities
Please contact finance at [email protected]
Morgan Potter Finance Manager
Sandy Roach Payroll Officer
First Nations Advisory Committee
Country Arts SA is committed to the continued development of its First Nations program and in 2011 established an Aboriginal Reference Group (ARG) to support the program. In June 2019 the ARG became an official committee of the Board and was the Aboriginal Advisory Committee before developing into the First Nations Advisory Committee in 2021.
The First Nations Advisory Committee (FNAC) was established by the Board of Trustees (the Board) under Section 10 of The South Australian Country Arts Trust Act, 1992 to assist Country Arts SA in all aspects of decision making regarding First Nations arts, culture and people.
The purpose of the FNAC is to provide advice, governance and leadership to Country Arts SA Board and staff on First Nations people and the arts.
First Nations Advisory Committee Members
Shouwn Oosting (Chair)Waanyi Business Advisory and Consulting
Lee-Ann Buckskin Narungga, Kaurna, Wirangu, Wotjobaluk Lee-Ann Buckskin and Associates
Danielle Edwards A South Sea Islander, Gubbi Gubbi woman (Raised on Yuibera country)
Susan Betts Kokata, Wirangu and Mirning Artist and designer
Shania Richards Barngarla, Wirengu, Nao, Mirning, Ndjau, Gubrun, Bulang, Noongar, Wongutha woman Multidisciplinary Artist/Creator, and Port Lincoln City Councillor