PP&VA Board & Management

Executive Assistant to CEO
Lauren O’Neill
lauren.oneill@penrith.city

Krissie Scudds has over 30 years of experience in the Australian creative industries. Appointed CEO of PP&VA in January 2023, she previously served as Marketing Director for eight years. With deep expertise in Western Sydney’s arts and cultural landscape, she is also a member of the Western Sydney Arts Alliance Working Group.

A strategic leader specialising in program development, branding, audience engagement, and digital strategy, Krissie spent over a decade managing Audience and Market Development for the Australia Council and she has a long-held passion for helping arts organisations and individual artists deepen engagement with their audiences.

Her work includes projects for Opera Australia, Vivid Ideas, Qantas, the Dictionary of Sydney, Arts Access Australia, Community Cultural Development NSW, CoFA, State Theatre SA and the Sydney Olympic Park Business Association and more.

toby.chapman@penrith.city

Toby leads the strategic and creative programming for visual arts across Penrith Regional Gallery as well as Penrith Performing & Visual Arts. He is an arts leader and curator who has worked with cultural organisations across Western Sydney for the past 15 years.

He has curated exhibitions and programs for major institutions and festivals including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Shanghai Biennale and Jakarta Biennale. His mission is for the Gallery to be locally valued and nationally valuable, through community-focussed programming and the sharing of its significant collection.

Toby has a Bachelor of Arts, Art History and Theory & Film Studies and is currently completing a Master of Arts, Curatorial & Museum Studies.

ryan.whitworth-jones@penrith.city

Ryan is a proud Wiradjuri man and an award winning Director. He holds a Masters Fine Arts Directing from NIDA and a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma Education from Macquarie University. His work emphasises the importance of community and connection, encouraging audiences to engage with complex and challenging topics.

His directorial work includes: The Queen’s City of the South (Qtopia), Sage to Stage (Scene Theatre, Pier 4 Walsh Bay), Venus in Fur (Sydney Fringe Festival, Nominee Best in Theatre),, Best Director Nominee), Life Cycle (NAISDA), Cheats and Liars – Jawbreakers Music Video (Triple J/ABC Rage, Award Winning), I’m Not Inspirational (PACT), How to Win a Plebiscite (and Tennis) (Festival of Emerging Artists), Extraordinary Unusual (Tom Mann Theatre) and Cloudstreet (Lane Cove Theatre Company).

His Assistant Directing credits include Cut Chilli (Old Fitz Theatre), the Australian Premier of the Broadway Musical ‘Natasha, Pierre and the Comet of 1812’ (Darlinghurst Theatre Company),  The Job I took (Triple J/ABC RAGE), What is wrong with us (Yellamundie Festival) and Picnic at Hanging Rock (NIDA). As a dramaturg Ryan has worked with Australia Plays Transform, Sydney Theatre Company and Moogahlin.

brian.kjim@penrith.city

Brian is a musician, educator, and neuroscientist with a unique career that integrates creative practice and scientific research. A skilled multi-instrumentalist with a background in performance, pedagogy, and arts management, he brings both expertise and enthusiasm to music education.

With experience teaching at all levels—from primary school to university, he is committed to supporting young and emerging musicians through meaningful and accessible learning opportunities.

Complementing his work as an educator, his research explores how music affects brain function, mood, cognition, and mental health, with a particular focus on addiction, compulsive behaviours, and cognitive development.

peta.downes@penrith.city

Peta has a strong background in theatre directing, producing, arts management, and education.

She has previously served as Tour Development Coordinator for Critical Stages Touring, Programs Producer for The Sydney Fringe, and Program Leader at the Australian Institute of Music. Her directing and producing credits include work with Brisbane Powerhouse, Metro Arts, La Boite Theatre, Queensland Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Darlinghurst Theatre, and KXT Broadway.

As an acting trainer, Peta has also taught at institutions such as QUT, UNSW, NIDA, CQU, and Charles Sturt University. From 2019 to 2022, Peta was also a Board Director for Theatre Network NSW.

e.murphy@penrith.city

Emma is an experienced senior executive with a strong track record leading finance, IT, company secretarial and other business services functions in not-for-profit organisations.

Her career spans senior roles at Sydney Symphony, Opera Australia, Australia Council and Wayside Chapel and her not-for-profit clients across the NSW and national arts sector are numerous.

Adam Porter is an advocate for contemporary art and artists, with almost 15 years experience leading large-scale contemporary visual art exhibitions and performance programs featuring multidisciplinary practices, innovative curatorial models with a focus on community and cultural engagement sensibilities.

Porter received a Bachelor of Arts (Double Major in Art History and Cinema Studies, and Social and Cultural Analysis) from the University of Western Sydney (2009). He also holds a Master’s Degree in Art Curatorship from the University of Sydney (2010).

Since 2019, Porter has held the position of Head of Curatorial at Campbelltown Arts Centre and was Curator of Contemporary Visual Art (2017-19). Prior to this, he worked at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre as Head of Curatorial (2017) and Curator (2010-17). Porter was co-curator of Laneway Art and City Spaces, City of Sydney (2012-13), which led to the permanent display and acquisition of ‘Youngsters’ by artist, Caroline Rothwell (2013). Porter is currently Chair for Penrith Performing & Visual Arts and Deputy Chair of Sydney Culture Network.

An experienced arts administrator based in the Blue Mountains, Dale Maxwell-Smith is a passionate advocate for the arts and environment. After completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts at Sydney College of the Arts, Dale travelled extensively and undertook several post graduate arts administration courses at UNSW Sydney Art & Design before going on to work as a producer and project manager for various organisations including Art Month Sydney and The Australian Centre for Photography. Dale is currently the Training and Engagement Manager at Museums & Galleries of NSW where she is responsible for the organisation’s professional and skills development programs for the arts and cultural sector, delivering devolved Create NSW funding and IMAGinE, the annual industry awards for museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres across NSW.

Retired financial planner, tax lawyer and company director Don Church is experienced in advising boards in matters of governance; legal matters including understanding and applying legislation and legislative process; tax and financial planning matters; accounts management and supervision; risk management; human resource management; senior management; and strategic planning in both private and public company environments.

Alison is the Deputy Secretary Veteran, Family and Stakeholder Experience at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. In this role Alison leads the Commemorations, Ministerial, Engagement and Communications and Royal Commission Implementation functions for the Department.

Alison has a strong background in program management, stakeholder engagement, communications and policy development and implementation. Alison graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Social Inquiry) and in International Studies and has a Master of Arts (MA) focused in International Relations (Security and Conflict) from Deakin University. Alison has previously worked for the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, UrbanGrowth NSW, the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office and Women NSW.

Melissa Matheson is currently the Editor of WHO, part of Are Media, one of Australia’s omnichannel content companies for women.

Melissa is a Western Sydney local and a communications professional with over 20 years’ experience in media management, editorial strategy, content creation, stakeholder relations and team leadership. Her career spans numerous print and digital publications and media, and includes Head of Editorial at Pedestrian Group and Senior Editor SBS World News.

Amanda Rudolf is Head Teacher Performing Arts at Nepean CAPA High School. A long-time Blue Mountains resident, Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and German before studying Teaching at WSU and beginning a long career as a High School Music teacher. Amanda plays piano, flute, sings and is now developing skills on the saxophone. She has conducted the PULSE Massed Choir at the Opera House and runs an a cappella group and vocal ensemble at Nepean CAPA High School. Amanda is deeply committed to providing opportunities for students to experience and engage in the Performing Arts.

A Penrith local, and creative industries practitioner since 1982, Cr Boerst is an experienced creative producer, founder and director of the StarBurst Film Festival. She is passionate about producing content that inspires audiences, changes lives, and educates others to do the same.

Kirstie is driven to help build a strong, resilient, inclusive and creative community. She is particularly focused on ensuring access to services and facilities for the community, including palliative and aged care, and resources and assistance for people living with disability.

Cr Fowler is currently Deputy Mayor of Penrith and is in his eighth consecutive term on Council after first being elected in 1991. He served as Mayor in 1995-1996, 2013, 2014 and 2018-2020. Cr Fowler holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a registered Company Auditor and Tax Agent and is the Principal of Ross Fowler and Co, a Chartered Accountancy firm in Penrith.

Robin Cook is passionate about the quality of life of the people of Western Sydney, she has lived in the Penrith area for 42 years, with her family being part of the community for several generations. As a former registered nurse and carer for a parent with disabilities, Cr Cook has a keen interest in the health and wellbeing of the community. She also has a deep respect for the Indigenous peoples of the area and is committed to advocating for members of the community who are marginalised.

Andrew Jackson is currently the Director, Planning & Regulatory Services at Penrith City Council. Prior to this appointment, he was the inaugural Director, Planning Partnership at Liverpool City Council. He has extensive experience at NSW State Government including with the Department of Premier and Cabinet where he was the Executive Director, Cities. He has held Executive Director roles with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and was Principal Advisor at NSW Treasury.