About Us
Our Board > Board Members 2011-2012
Chair (co-opted)
Suzie Haslehurst
Suzie is a WAAPA graduate and has worked in the arts for over twenty years. Prior to moving to Broome with her family in 2001, she was the General Manager of Buzz Dance Theatre. Since then Suzie has been a passionate advocate and spokesperson for the arts in regional and remote areas. She was the elected Chairperson of the Country Arts WA Board from 2004-2009 and the national President of Regional Arts Australia from 2007-2009. Suzie is currently Chair of the Performing Arts Touring Alliance (PATA) - Australia and most recently, she was appointed to the Not-For-Profit Reform Council by the Federal Minister for Social Inclusion.
Suzie's day-job is at Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation, a national Indigenous publishing house based in Broome that enables Indigenous creators to tell their stories. She has been CEO since 2002.
Vice Chair
Simon Clarke Regional Community Organisation (Albany) 
Southern Edge ArtsSimon Simon is a professional theratre artist with 16 years experience in performance, dramaturgy, writing and direction. A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (Bachelor of Dramatic Art - Acting), he was a Board Member of the Performing Art Society (Blue Room Theatre) and has worked extensively in professional theatre with companies such as Southern Edge Arts, the largest youth performing arts company in regional WA, he champions regional arts as the chairperson for WA's Regional Arts Fund panel.
At the start of his second year, as a Country Arts WA director, he was appointed Vice Chair of the board, and the Chairperson of the Regional Art Development panel. He is passionate about the value of the regional communities and the ability of the quality arts experience to make significant contributions to the development of those communities.
Treasurer
Sari Jacobsen Individual (Geraldton) 
For much of the last decade Sari has worked in, or volunteered for, not-for-profit agencies and Local Government Authorities. This has provided Sari with a good understanding of governance, compliance and financial responsibilities, and also grant application and acquittal processes. Sari has been involved with the Arts and Cultural Development Council of Geraldton for the past eight years, two as the elected Treasurer, and she currently provides financial and planning advice to the organisation. Sari has a Bachelor of Visual Arts and has studied Arts and Cultural Management at a post-graduate level. She has a broad interest in the arts with a special enthusiasm for visual arts. Sari has been a member of the Country Arts WA Board since 2008.
Secretary
Katherine McLean - Professional Performing Arts Producer (Perth)
Katherine is the General Manager of Barking Gecko Theatre Company, WA's leading theatre company for young audiences. Katherine has been involved in the performing arts since she was very young, working as a performer on stage and television. Over the last eight years has built a career as a project manager/producer in festivals, the arts and community cultural development. She was integral in the establishment of the Abbotsford Convent, a major community arts and cultural precinct situated and was a member of the Community Cultural Development Advisory Panel of the City of Melbourne. Her first introduction to Western Australia was as the Manager of the Million Puppet Project, as part of UNIMA Congress, Conference and International Puppetry Festival (2008) where she was fortunate to experience the passion and beauty of the arts in regional communities. She is passionate about how the arts can benefit young people and dedicates her working life to her four great loves: the arts, community, the environment and Story. Katherine was appointed to the Board in April 2010.
Pippa Davis - Regional Arts Producer (Perth)
Pippa is the general Manager of Buzz Dance theatre, taking working shops and performances to the regions. She is always looking for ways to expand Buzz Dance's reach and presence. Previously, she was Artistic Administrator at Black Swan State Theatre Company and was responsible for their touring program and managing their yourth outreach program, Operation Pilbara.
She spent 8 years in the Pilbara, ranging from one man shows and cabarets to the Australian Ballet. Pippa was chairperson of Karratha Youth Theatre and created several festivals as well as opened an outdooor cinema. She was secretary of Circuitwest and the WA representitive on APACA for several years. She grew up in the country so she has a good understanding of the problems faced by the regions. She is interested in a ll aspects of the arts, not just performance.
Peter Rupp - co-opted Director (Finance) Perth
Peter Rupp (Bsc FCA FLWA) is a Chartered Accountant and currently practises as an Audit Partner with Deloitte in Perth. Peter was educated and commenced his working life at Deloitte in the UK with several periods of travel in Europe and the USA before settling in Perth with his family in 2003. As a Fellow of the 2010 Leadership WA Programme Peter has a deep appreciation of the opportunities that exist in Regional WA and believes that the Arts provides a means to enhance the development of community in the State.
Peter is a classically trained musician, playing both piano and clarinet, and a passionate supporter of the Arts.
Kira Fong - Marketing and Communications (Broome)
Kira joined Goolarri Media Enterprises in 2003 bringing with her 8 years of experience in marketing, public relations and event management. Kira ran her own business in Perth from 1997 prior to her returning to her home town of Broome to take up a position at Goolarri. As the Music, Marketing and Event Project Manager from 2003 to 2009, Kira managed and trained the events, marketing and music development teams. During her time at Goolarri Media Kira has been responsible for the development and project management of a number of high profile music and event activities including the Kullarri NAIDOC Festival, the Kimberley Indigenous Performing Arts Showcase, Shinju Matsuri, Gimme Fest and the planning and enhancement of Goolarri's Indigenous Music Strategy working with industry partners around Australia. Kira has also been the driving force in developing a number of new initiatives including the internationally recognised Kimberley Girl. In June 2009, Kira's hard work, dedication and passion for the industry saw her promoted to the role of Chief Operations Officer overseeing 28 staff in television, radio, training, new media, events, music and administration whilst continuing to focus on the organisation's strategic planning.
Fay O'Brien Regional Community Organisation (Ravensthorpe)
After a career in primary teaching spanning 40 years in Western Australia, with sojourns in England Canada and New Guinea, Fay retired in 1989. It wasn't quite the end of her teaching career. With her husband Peter, she completed CELTA studies and went off to Slovakia to teach English at the Bratislava campus of Washington State's City University. Besides enjoying the novelty of teaching adult students, living and travelling in Europe offered a wonderful opportunity to experience the arts in forms of music, sculpture, ballet and opera.
Returning to WA and ‘real' retirement in Hopetoun, Fay discovered a very active and enthusiastic group in the Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council. This volunteer group is responsible for bringing an extensive number of performances to the region for the community's enjoyment and are forever willing to support local artists.
In joining Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council (RRAC) Fay became involved in arts programs, taking the lead in some projects, such as the residency of Indigenous author Kim Scott. It was through her association with RRAC that Fay learned of the wonderful work being done throughout Western Australia by Country Arts WA, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to become a member of the board, in the capacities of volunteer and senior citizen.
Ross Beckett - Regional Performing Arts Venue (Esperance)
Born in Kalgoorlie and educated in Kununurra, Dowerin and Perth, Ross Beckett joined the RAAF in 1984 as a Radar Operator. After leaving the RAAF, in 1992 Ross studied at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and embarked on a career in commercial radio. Working in Northam, Bridgetown, Wollongong (NSW), Esperance, Albany and Launceston (TAS), the radio industry has given Ross a broad and diverse range of experiences, dealing with people from various artistic communities as well as the general public.
Since February 2009, Ross has run the Esperance Civic Centre - Esperance performing arts venue. Currently, Ross serves as a board director for Circuitwest (WA's Regional Performing Arts Venue's Network) and Esperance Community Arts and believes with his experience and diverse background he can bring enthusiasm and a different point of view to the Board of Country Art WA.
Kate Fielding - Individual (Warburton)
Based in the remote desert community of Warburton, Kate generates community cultural development opportunities across the Ngaanyatjarra Lands through the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku in partnership with diverse community organisations.Kate is passionate about collaborative, playful and diverse arts practice. She is a hip-hop performer and graphic novelist. Kate's collaborative graphic novel explores the early contact history of her country hometown on Victoria's coast and is currently published as a serial by MUP Meanjin. Kate has operated a creative history enterprise specialising in publications, youth voices and exhibition content for the past decade and has managed diverse client, staff and community teams. Her professional experience includes research and curatorial roles with the History Council of Victoria, National Museum of Australia, Heritage Victoria, Museum Victoria, Koorie Heritage Trust and the National Archives of Australia. Kate was appointed to the Board in April 2010 and is keen to share the rich perspectives and unique practice of arts workers from remote WA with a broader regional organisation.
Doone McAlary - Regional Community Presenter
(Arts Margaret River)
Doone has been the administrator for Arts Margaret River since late 2007 and is a member of the CircuitWest network. Arts Margaret River presents an annual program of events that supports performing, visual, literary and cinematic arts. Doone has studied graphic design and fine art and later in life museum practise. The arts have always been integral to her life and she is a visual art practitioner (when time allows), ardent reader and avid theatre goer. Doone was appointed to the Board in April 2010.
Tony Shaw - Co-opted Board Member (Perth)
Tony is a Wongutha man born on a reserve in Laverton, WA. A child of the stolen generation, he was raised on mission settlements and has spent most of his life in the north eastern Goldfields.
Tony has dedicated his life to improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people. He is an authority on corporate Indigenous programs in Western Australia and runs a consulting business called Indigenous Services Australia. Through this business Tony provides a range of services including Cultural Awareness Training Programs, Indigenous Recruitment, Corporate Representation and Team Building Programs. Tony has provided services to many blue chip companies including Xstrata Nickel, Goldfields Limited, Downer EDI, Jabiru Metals, Apex Minerals, St Barbara Mines, Agnew Gold, Minara Resources, Mincor Resources and many others.
Tony has been co-opted was co-opted to Board in 2009 to provide guidance in Indigenous arts and culture.
Annette Stokes - Co-opted Director (Kalgoorlie)
Annette Stokes is a senior woman of the Wongutha Tribe of the Goldfields of Western Australia. Annette was born in Kalgoorlie and spent her early life travelling around the Goldfields with her family living in the bush, and on stations. She trained as an early childhood education worker, then as an Aboriginal health worker, moving into research in 1995. She was awarded the Fiona Stanley Medal for Medical Research in 2005. Annette is a musician, artist and community arts worker in Kalgoorlie.
Christine Elaine - Regional Community Organisation (Northam)
Already a strong contributor to regional arts, Christine's passion and drive is demonstrated with the active role that she takes on a day to day basis within her hometown of Northam and its surrounding districts as far up as Mt Magnet.
Christine is an avid champion of regional arts by serving on a number of committees and panels. These include the Shire of Northam Cultural Precinct Advisory Committee, the Department of Culture and the Arts Peer Assessment Panel among others.
A past nominee of the Ros Bower award, Christine is an independent visual artist, the Vice Chair for the Northam Heritage Forum and a volunteer tourism officer at the Cultural Precinct. She is constantly driven by her belief that community arts need to provide core aims for every Shire to address, to enable accessibility and empower healthy creative communities across all artforms and cultures.