Our Board
Tim Winkler (he/him)
Chair
Tim started his working life sterilising infectious waste before graduating to weed counting, double-glazed window sales and rubbish collection. As life progressed to a less colourful state he worked as a journalist at The Age and as a government advisor before moving to the higher education sector, where he has worked for more than two decades. He is a marketing and communications consultant based in Shepparton, working with a wide range of organisations and while he believes he is untalented in most of the arts, he has a great love for them. Tim lives in Ardmona.
Laura Fry (she/her)
Treasurer
Born and bred in Shepparton with strong ties to the town. Currently resides in Bendigo. Laura is a dedicated and financial professional with a strong focus on budgeting and reporting. She is committed to providing the SAF board with detailed, transparent and valuable financial data and review.
Alex Cox
Secretary
Alex grew up in the Goulburn Valley, having only left to complete his university studies at Monash University. Alex practises as a Property Lawyer in Shepparton. He regularly advises clients on a wide range of property matters including residential, commercial and agricultural property transactions (including portfolio farm sales), commercial leasing, and agribusinesses and water related matters.
Alex is also a Board Member and the Treasurer of the Goulburn Valley Law Association where he assisted in establishing the organisation's structure as an Incorporated Association.
Nick Baylart
Committee Member
Nick is an arts project manager with more than fifteen years’ experience working in museums and galleries across Australia, in exhibition design, collection care, public programming, and commercial arts roles. Originally from Queensland, he joined the Shepparton Art Museum team in 2022 and has been based in Shepparton since.
Carolina Marin (she/her)
Committee Member
Carolina is a Communications Science graduate with 13+ years of experience creating and coordinating marketing campaigns and communication strategies across diverse industries. She currently works in a local organisation’s marketing team. Throughout her career, she has served as Communications Director at a non-profit and has contributed to international art festivals, as well as fashion, and film festivals in her hometown of Cancun, Mexico.
An avid art lover and community advocate, she truly believes in the power of art to unite people and strengthen community spirit.
Georgina Poort (she/her)
Committee Member
Georgina is a queer, neurodivergent and disabled local who lives on Yorta Yorta Country in Shepparton. Her passions extend to visual art, good coffee and advocacy across social justice.
As a local community development professional Georgina works with LGBTIQA+ young people in the non-profit sector, where her role includes group facilitation, professional education and advocacy. In 2024 she was awarded the Pride in Diversity 'OUT Role Model of the Year' award for her work championing the voices of local regional LGBTIQA+ young people.
Georgina has spent the last 15 years as a volunteer and board member of Goulburn Valley Pride Inc. spending the last 3 years as Vice President and leading the OUT in the OPEN Festival in 2024 as the Convenor.
Fiona Blick (she/her)
Commitee Member / Ambassador of Fundraising
Fiona was born in Broken Hill and studied music all through her school years.
She did work experience with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as a 14-year-old and went on to study music, majoring in performance, with the Elder Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide.
After many years of teaching and performing music, Fiona decided on a career change and studied journalism, working for McPherson Media, primarily with the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
Since then she has worked as a communications specialist with various media and local governments specialising in crisis communications and community engagement.
Fiona is the Community Connector Coordinator and Communications Manager with the Committee for Greater Shepparton and has developed close connections with the many and varied industries and organisations in the Goulburn Valley.
Ambassadors
Terri Cowley (she/her)
Ambassador of Communications
Terri Cowley is an experienced senior journalist with a passion for storytelling, in all its forms.
She works for R.M.Williams OUTBACK magazine, shining a light on the many positive things happening in rural and regional Australia, and is also host of the R.M.Williams OUTBACK podcast.
Locally, her community involvement includes President of Greater Shepparton Secondary College school council and a committee of management member of GV Hospice. She is a big supporter of the arts, including Shepparton Theatre Arts Group and Shepparton Arts Museum.
Ane Fotu (she/her)
Ambassador of Engagement & Volunteers
Ane Fotu believes in the power of community, culture, and storytelling to transform lives. Her work centres on community and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on building inclusive, diverse environments that celebrate art and culture. Proudly Tongan with Pacific Island heritage, Ane is deeply committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and builds connections across diverse communities. She actively contributes to Shepparton Culture Kitchen Women, and other community groups. Ane volunteers across a wide range of events and committees, she understands the importance of voluntary work. Ane is guided by her determination to learn, grow, and expand the impact of her service.
Our Team
Gareth Hart (they/them)
Executive Producer
We are thrilled to welcome Gareth Hart as the Executive Producer of the Festival, joining us at a truly momentous time as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary in 2026. Gareth brings a wealth of experience, having produced and managed over 30 independent creative projects and festivals, and held leadership roles including CEO and Creative Director of Burrinja Cultural Centre and Executive Director of Arts, Mildura. Gareth’s commitment to regional communities is notable, with recent roles as Chair of the Regional Community Recovery Committee (2022–23) and their appointment as Board Director of Regional Arts Victoria earlier last year.
Billy-Jo Royle (she/her)
Associate Producer / Administration
Billy-Jo serves as both the Administration Officer and a Producer for the Shepparton Arts Festival, drawing on her extensive experience in arts management, education, and performance. With a multifaceted background that includes work as a performer, producer, director, choreographer, and educator, she possesses valuable perspectives on both the creative and organisational demands of the industry.
Dedicated to supporting emerging talent, she remains active as an instructor in Ballet, Contemporary Dance, and Musical Theatre.
Firm in her belief that the arts play a vital role in society, Billy-Jo is deeply committed to fostering a dynamic and thriving arts community.
Life Members
John Head, Heather Gange, Carmel Johnson, Daphne & Ross Turnbull, Karen Parker, John Lewis, Angie Russi, Rob Robson, Paul Cathcart