OUR PEOPLE
OUR BOARD
Gill has worked in social work and social justice for 30 years commencing her career as a residential social worker in Brixton, South London, moving to Cairns nearly 24 years ago. Gill is driven by a sense of social justice. Her career commenced in the days when social workers wore Doc Martens and dungarees and set about to change the world! Consequently, Gill believes that social work is both a creative art and a political activity. Gill’s career has included roles as a disability advocate, coordinator of a women’s refuge and in both the Human Rights and Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission. She has spent the last 15 years in the mental health arena with a particular focus on person-led service delivery and design.
Madhu Nair, a resident of Brisbane, is a Chartered Accountant, a husband and a dad. He is a Partner at Ernst & Young (EY), a globally esteemed professional services firm. As an accomplished financial auditor, Madhu has established himself as a dependable advisor to Boards and C-Suite executives, delivering superior audit, compliance, and accounting advisory services. His extensive experience across various sectors such as not-for-profits, technology, manufacturing, energy, and resources has been honed through his work in India, the UK, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Madhu prides himself on his cross-cultural intelligence and the insights gained from collaborating with a diverse array of individuals.
Saurav Kataria is a senior executive, adviser and Board Director with more than 20 years of experience across strategy, governance, transformation and commercial leadership in aviation, financial services, government, consulting and Defence. He has held senior leadership roles in major Australian organisations and is currently Managing Director of an Australian advisory firm. His experience spans enterprise strategy, financial and operational performance, major investment, innovation and organisational transformation, with a particular interest in strengthening organisations serving regional and remote communities.
John Paul brings extensive experience and skills in arts management to the Board. John Paul, better known as JP, was a well-known theatre director in Canada before moving to Australia in 2004. As the CEO and co-founder of Auspicious Arts Incubator, John Paul travels extensively around Australia as well as the US and Canada, helping independent artists, organisations, and venues make more money by learning to use value-based language for their marketing and communications. He has a long history of producing and directing theatre, film, festivals, and site-specific events, from the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival in Los Angeles to the International Puppet Carnival in Melbourne.
Leon is an experienced leader and board member with more than 20 years’ experience across Indigenous management, local government, health and the not-for-profit sector. He has worked predominantly in senior management and CEO roles and has served on a range of boards, committees and government-appointed bodies. His work has focused on good governance, leadership, community engagement and developing local solutions to local issues, particularly in regional and remote communities. Leon brings extensive experience working with diverse groups and organisations, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, practical outcomes and sound decision-making and is currently an Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow (Treaties, Agreements and Settlements) at The Mabo Centre at Melbourne University.
David has 18 years’ experience in Finance across professional services, commerce and government. David is a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and the Tax Institute of Australia. His university qualifications are in Business and Law (QUT) and Social Science (USC). David is currently the Tax Manager for Harmony Gold Australasia, and specialises in Taxation but has also worked as a Financial Controller, Management Accountant and Business Services Accountant previously. David has a passion for theatre, having been involved in local productions since he was a teenager and continues to be an avid supporter of the sector.
Sangeetha is currently a Senior Associate (Planning and Environment) at Sparke Helmore Lawyers with 5+ years PAE. Prior to this she was an Associate to a Judge of the District Court of Queensland. She has an LLB/BA (Honours) from The University of Queensland and has completed an AICD Foundations Course in Governance for Not-for-Profit Directors through a Scholarship. Sangeetha enjoys giving back to the community in which she began her legal career by volunteering for a Not-for-Profit organisation in the Creative Industries that has a significant social impact in regional Queensland.
OUR TEAM
Chris Kohn
Chris has over 25 years experience as a director, arts leader. Previous roles include AD/CEO of La Boite Theatre Company and Arena Theatre Company, and founding co-Artistic Director of Stuck Pigs Squealing. His work has been presented and developed with many organisations and presenters including Belvoir St, Sydney Theatre Company, Malthouse, Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, Brisbane Powerhouse, Perth Festival, Melbourne Festival, New Visions/New Voices at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, PS-122 New York and Centre International des Récollets in Paris. From 2017-2020, he coordinated the Master of Directing (Theatre) at the Victorian College of the Arts. His interests include First Nations-led theatre, Disability arts, theatre for young audiences, regional arts development and ambitious multi-artform collaboration. Chris is a Sidney Myer Creative Fellow.
Gaby Thomasz
Gaby is an arts and business professional of over 20 years, with a career spanning the creative industries, education, tourism, health and community sectors. Originally from the Netherlands, she holds a Master of Laws and a Master of Business Administration. She has worked across strategy, business development, marketing, fundraising, partnerships and major event delivery. A long-time contributor to Cairns’ cultural life, Gaby managed Johno’s Blues Bar, promoted live music performances, founded and directed Cairns Ukulele Club Inc. and the Cairns Ukulele Festival, bringing together artists and audiences from Australia and overseas. Outside the arts, she runs an amateur cycling racing team, supporting riders to achieve at a national level. Gaby joined JUTE in 2020.
Nadia Barker
Nadia is an experienced arts administrator and Operations Manager at JUTE Theatre Company, with expertise across operations, finance, human resources, governance, administration and organisational systems. Highly organised and adaptable, Nadia works across the business to ensure JUTE’s people, processes and operational requirements effectively support its creative program. She is passionate about positive workplace cultures, strong communication and building relationships with colleagues, artists, Board members and community stakeholders. Drawing on extensive professional and community volunteering experience, Nadia combines practical problem-solving and attention to detail with strong leadership skills, supporting effective teams, sound governance and sustainable arts organisations.
Monica Stevens
Monica is a mBabaram woman, and her Aboriginal ancestry is Yidindji, Kuku Yalanji, Muluridji and Guugu Yimithirr nations of Cape York Peninsula, Australia. She is a Master of Arts (Research) recipient and currently, a Creative producer at JUTE Theatre Company. Her life-long journey in the arts started in Innisfail, FNQ, dancing with her sister at their local dance studio. In Sydney, she had an extensive national and international performing career and is a founding associate of Bangarra Dance Theatre. Monica transitioned into parenting, teaching, choreography, artistic direction and administration in the arts sector. After her illustrious dance career, she ventured into academic life to pursue post graduate studies in dance and motion capture. Monica continues promoting and championing Indigenous performing arts, highlighting self-efficacy to reach optimum engagements.
Rachel Furlong
Rachel is a former state-level gymnast, performer, and creative director of live entertainment. She founded Tumbellina International, a British cirque company that performed across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. With 25 years’ experience creating highly visual live entertainment, Rachel developed bespoke cirque, silhouette and digital-performance work combining highly skilled performers, props, illusion and interactive graphics responsive to live performance. Her client-focused practice delivered custom shows for major international brands and events, with repeat bookings across film premieres, launches, corporate events, televised ceremonies and public performances.
Cassandra Ramsay
Cass is a creative producer, playwright, and arts marketing specialist based in Yuwi Country/Mackay. Over the past 15 years, she has worked in senior roles at organisations including HOTA, Brisbane Writers Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, and the Judith Wright Arts Centre, and co-founded Ipswich-based THAT Production Company, where she produced independent theatre and supported the development of award-winning new Australian work. Cass has delivered artist development programs and audience engagement initiatives across Queensland. At JUTE, she works as Regional Arts Advisor – Theatre through the Regional Arts Services Network (RASN), supporting regional artists and arts workers to build sustainable creative careers, develop projects, and strengthen connections with audiences and communities.
Sharon Hogan
Dr Sharon Hogan is a Queensland-based theatre maker, arts leader, educator and researcher with extensive experience in professional and regional theatre, community-led performance and arts development. As Artistic Director of Perseverance Street Theatre Company, she creates original work, develops artists and builds partnerships across regional Queensland. In 2025, Sharon was recognised as one of Queensland’s leading theatre directors through a Matilda Award nomination. Her practice spans directing, touring, mentoring, professional development, audience engagement and organisational capacity building. Passionate about supporting artists, Sharon brings practical industry knowledge, strong networks and a commitment to sustainable careers and a thriving, connected regional theatre sector.
Sasha Rozhkova
Sasha is a communications and marketing professional with experience across local government, higher education, the arts and creative agency environments. Her communications career has included work across digital content, campaigns, websites, publications, events and organisational communications, with a particular strength in making complex information clear and accessible. At JUTE, Sasha works across the company’s marketing and communications, supporting its productions, programs and broader organisational activity. She is especially interested in work that connects communications with culture, community, public purpose and the natural environment.