Arts OutWest is an independent incorporated association, under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009.
Arts OutWest has two levels of governance: the Committee of Management (to be known as The Board) and the Advisory Council.
The Advisory Committee’s job is to help set and monitor strategic policy and to advise about the priorities which the organisation should be pursuing. Each of our contributing local councils has a nominated member on the Advisory, along with CSU.
The Board’s job is to manage the organisation including financial management and to ensure that the organisation is compliant and functioning well. The Board appoints and manages the Executive Director who is in turn responsible for managing the staff. We have an appointed skills-based board.
Applications for the Arts OutWest Board open in February each year for consideration by the Board and approval at the AGM in May/ June. Board terms are for two years with a maximum of six years. Contact the Executive Director for more information.
BOARD
As at the AGM, 21 June 2026
Chair – Jonathan Llewellyn, freelance performing arts producer (Lithgow/ Bathurst)
Vice Chair – Claire Albrecht, publisher (Parkes)
Treasurer – Rick Turnock, music producer (Lithgow)
Secretary – Felicity Wells – owner A Thousand Words Gallery (Carcoar)
Chair Advisory Committee – Heather Blackley, President Lachlan Arts Council (Condobolin)
Christine Weston, community leader (Cumnock)
Laura Baker – visual artist (Blayney)
Sally MacLennan – Public Engagement and Education Orange Regional Museum (Orange)
Fiona Schofield – creative entrepreneur, milliner and arts advocate (Orange)
Karen Purser – arts advocate, governance (Lithgow)
ADVISORY COMMMITTEE
Bathurst Region – Cr Elaine West, councillor Bathurst Regional Council
Blayney – Bradley Bradley, visual artist and gallery owner
Cabonne – Cr Kathryn O’Ryan, councillor Cabonne Shire Council
Charles Sturt University – TBC
Cowra – Cr Cheryl Speechley, councillor Cowra Shire Council
Forbes – Cr Michele Herbert, councillor Forbes Shire Council
Lachlan – Heather Blackley, President Lachlan Arts Council (Lachlan)
Lithgow – Cr Cass Coleman, Mayor Lithgow City Council
Mid-Western Region – Cr Katie Dicker, councillor Mid-Western Regional Council
Oberon – Fran Charge, Chair of Oberon Arts Council and member of Oberon Business and Tourism Association
Orange – Bradley Hammond, Director Orange Regional Gallery
Parkes – Cr Bill Jayet, councillor Parkes Shire Council
Weddin – Claire McCann, Art & Tourism Officer Weddin Shire Council
Jonathan Llewellyn is a creative producer and independent presenter in the performing arts.
Jono was Manager of Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre 2023-2024, and prior to this Manager of Cowra Civic Centre for just over 3 years. During this time, he transformed Cowra Civic Centre from a hall for hire model to a professionally run performing arts venue including an entrepreneurial program of live events and cinema screenings. He was successful in multiple grants for significant upgrades to the centre including lighting, sound, audio visual and cinema equipment, new carpets, automatic front doors, hearing loops, and new retractable seating in both spaces making the venue fit for touring shows and bringing cinema back to Cowra after a gap of almost 15 years. Annual attendances grew from less than 2000 to more than 21,000. He is enormously proud of this success story and the positive impact the change has had for the cultural lives of the community of Cowra.
Previous experience includes roles in front of house, technical, producing, and marketing. Prior to managing Cowra Civic Centre, Jonathan was the Marketing & Communications Manager at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta; Marketing Manager for Penrith Performing & Visual Arts at Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Marketing Manager of Education for Musica Viva Australia; as well as directing and producing independent theatre and arts events in Sydney, Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
His training and professional development is ongoing completing the Multicultural Arts Professional Development at RMIT School of Business Management, Lean Six Sigma Foundations, plus various leadership programs and workshops in Arts Law, Copyright and IP. University training includes Events and Production Management at Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne) and Theatre Nepean (now Western Sydney University).
He contributes to the national conversation about the arts though participation at national conferences, various network meetings, and as a committee member of NAPACA (NSW ACT Performing Arts Centres Association) and the co-coordinator of the Marketing and Box Office sub-committee.
Claire Albrecht is an award-winning poet and editor based on Wiradjuri Country (Parkes). She was the 2019 Emerging Writers Festival fellow at the State Library of Victoria, a 2020 Varuna ‘Writing Fire, Writing Drought’ fellow, a resident at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, New Mexico in 2022, and a Varuna/The Bridge Awards Climate Fellow in 2024. Her work investigates connections between mental health, the physical environment, and technology. Claire’s manuscript sediment was shortlisted for the 2018 Subbed In chapbook prize, and her debut chapbook pinky swear launched in 2018. Her most recent book handshake was shortlisted for the Puncher & Wattmann First Poetry Book Prize. Claire is Editor-in-Chief of The Suburban Review, Operations Manager of Red Room Poetry, and Manager of Australian Literary Studies.
Claire founded and ran Cuplet Poetry Night in Newcastle, which featured local, interstate and international artists and made a valuable contribution to Newcastle’s growing poetry scene.
She also assists arts organisations and creative individuals with digital tools and transformation through her consulting service, Arts Online Consulting.
Based in Lithgow, Rick Turnock has experience spanning music, small business, corporate retail and event production. Trained originally as an Audio Engineer, Rick’s journey has encompassed diverse roles within the music industry, executive positions within major Australian retailers, and small business ventures.
Despite his career path, Rick’s true passion has always been music. Now operating a recording and webcasting studio, and an event production business, he channels his experience and technical expertise to serve both creative and corporate clients, providing a platform for artistic expression and collaboration.
Rick’s commitment to supporting and empowering artists is evident in his work with First Nations talent and his involvement in local initiatives. With a strategic mindset and a deep understanding of the realities of being a regional artist, Rick is excited for the opportunity to support the Arts Outwest team in delivering the strategic plan.
Christine Weston is originally from Parkes and now resides on a cattle, sheep and cropping farm in Cumnock managing 5 Airbnb farmstays. She was awarded NSW Woman of the Year (2020) for her outstanding community contribution to regional tourism, arts and housing initiatives.
Christine is the co-founder for the “Animals on Bikes” 120km paddock art trail from Molong to Dubbo Zoo. She completed a BA DipEd (Fine Arts) from Sydney University and has taught Art at a primary and secondary level. Christine has completed various Visual Arts and Leadership courses, and is presently studying a Masters in Healthcare Leadership.
She is an innovative thinker with high emotional intelligence and 20 years expertise in business/product development and marketing strategy for both domestic and international direct response companies. She has travelled to over 60 countries for business, always ensuring a local Art gallery visit was on her travel agenda.
Christine is on the Regional Development Central West board, CWA and Cabonne Council Tourism Advisory committee. She is passionate about regional growth and creative endeavours promoting our well-being and unique country lifestyle.
Felicity Wells is the Director of A Thousand Words Gallery, now proudly based in Carcoar, where she curates compelling exhibitions that celebrate contemporary Australian artists and the power of storytelling. With a lifelong immersion in the arts and a career shaped by creativity and cross-cultural influence, Felicity brings a deeply personal and professional commitment to fostering artistic expression across the Central West.
Her 25-year career as a Creative Director in advertising saw her lead major campaigns in branding, not-for-profit fundraising, and strategic communications. Known for her ability to uncover powerful insights and translate them into meaningful engagement, Felicity has worked with organisations across sectors to strengthen their impact, grow support, and secure long-term funding. She now applies this expertise to the arts sector, where strategic direction and sustainable funding are more essential than ever.
As a board member for Arts OutWest, Felicity brings a unique value: the intersection of creative vision and practical strategy. She is passionate about supporting artists not only in their practice, but in navigating the systems that help their work thrive—whether through audience building, partnerships, or innovative fundraising. Her Insight Session methodology, used widely across the not-for-profit sector, is just one way she continues to help organisations clarify purpose and unlock new opportunities.
Felicity believes in the transformative power of the arts to enrich lives, tell important stories, and strengthen communities. Her role with Arts OutWest is an extension of her personal mission: to support those who strive to create and help ensure that regional arts remain vibrant, visible, and valued.
Heather Blackley is Chair of the Arts OutWest Advisory Committee.
Sally MacLennan is Public Engagement and Education Officer at Orange Regional Museum.
Sally is a museum educator, archaeologist and printmaker based on Wiradjuri Country in Orange, NSW. As Orange Regional Museum’s Public Engagement and Education Officer, she has built a growing program of curriculum-linked education programs for students in primary and high school, including large scale education events for hundreds of students during Science Week and NAIDOC Week. She also regularly works with families, preschools, tertiary education organisations and the general community through a range of public programs.
Sally is a creative program producer, devising and managing creative public programs at the intersection of history, science and technology, cultural education, visual arts and music. Sally is also an emerging curator, with two exhibitions showing at Orange Regional Museum since 2024.
Coming from a professional background in cultural heritage management and archaeology, Sally is passionate about sharing culture and history. She also has experience in grant administration and management, as well as collaborative project development with public sector organisations, volunteer groups and private partners.
Laura Baker is a visual artist, arts manager and communications strategist committed to strengthening creative communities in regional NSW. Based in Blayney on Wiradjuri Country, Laura brings together a deep understanding of local context with more than a decade of experience across the arts, storytelling, and strategic communications.
Her creative practice is grounded in hand-cut paper work, a slow and deliberate medium through which she examines how landscape, memory and place shape human relationships. Working with a knife and unmarked paper, Laura ‘draws’ by removing material. This process shapes light, space and shadow into scenes that emerge from absence. Her works often respond to the Australian environment, exploring themes of fragility, resilience and connection. She is drawn to the quiet tension in the process: the resistance of the blade, the delicacy of the strands left behind, and the way paper can hold presence and power. Recent exhibitions include Artists in Volatile Landscapes (Casula Powerhouse, 2023), Watch your step (Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 2023), While the World Waits (Arts OutWest touring exhibition, 2022–2024), and Cementa24 in Kandos.
Laura currently serves as President of Sidetrack Arts, a regional Artist Run Initiative supporting emerging and established artists through affordable studios in the heritage-listed Blayney Railway Station. Under her leadership, the group has focused on building creative infrastructure in a regional setting and creating a community of shared support and practice.
Professionally, Laura works in corporate strategic communications, delivering projects across the not-for-profit and commercial sectors with a focus on clarity, engagement and social impact. She has supported initiatives in regional development, the arts, housing and education: helping organisations connect with their audiences, articulate purpose, and drive meaningful change.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (UNSW Art & Design) and a Master of Commerce (Arts and Cultural Management), and has previously worked with Regional Arts Australia, Cowra Regional Art Gallery, and other cultural institutions in roles spanning communications, programming and advocacy.
Outside of formal roles, Laura is a passionate advocate for the arts as a force for regional strength. She regularly supports creative projects through exhibition installation, writing, mentoring, singing, and bringing people together – whether through public programs or good food around the kitchen table.
Fiona Schofield is a creative entrepreneur, milliner and arts advocate based in Orange, NSW. As the founder of Fiona Schofield Millinery and co-founder of Fresh Fodder, she has built successful creative enterprises that combine artistic practice with commercial sustainability.
Formally trained in Fashion, Design and Illustration, Fiona brings a strong understanding of both the creative and business aspects of the arts sector. Her experience spans creative practice, business development, marketing and community engagement, with a particular focus on creating commercially viable opportunities within the creative industries.
In addition to her business experience, Fiona has held a teaching role at The Whitehouse Institute, sharing industry knowledge and supporting skills development within the creative community.
Passionate about the role of the arts in regional communities, Fiona is committed to fostering opportunities for artists, makers and creative businesses to thrive. She brings to the Arts OutWest Board a valuable combination of creative leadership, entrepreneurial experience and a deep understanding of the cultural and economic contribution of the arts across regional New South Wales.
Karen Purser brings extensive experience in local government, community development, strategic leadership and regional engagement, along with a genuine passion for arts, culture and creative communities. Her career spans more than two decades across senior roles in local and state government, the tertiary sector and community organisations, where she has worked at the intersection of governance, strategy, engagement and innovation.
A long-time arts enthusiast and active creative practitioner herself, Karen strongly believes in the role arts and culture play in building vibrant, connected and resilient communities. While she jokes that her enthusiasm may outweigh her artistic talent, she has spent many years involved in creative projects, community events, arts initiatives and collaborations across regional NSW. Her involvement has ranged from community arts and cultural events to supporting local creatives, advocacy, storytelling, festivals and grassroots community development.
Karen is actively involved in a range of community and cultural initiatives in the Central West. She is a member of the Greater Lithgow Arts Council and participates in the Seven Valleys Creative Forum, where she works with artists, creatives and community organisations to identify opportunities for collaboration, advocacy and sustainable sector development. Through her role with the Central West Village Voice community newspaper, she also maintains strong connections with local stories, creative activity and regional issues.
Karen previously managed the Maldhan Ngurr Ngurra Lithgow Transformation Hub for Western Sydney University, where she led community engagement and partnership activities designed to strengthen connections between the university and the Lithgow region. She worked closely with community organisations, artists, businesses, schools, government agencies and Traditional Owners to deliver programs, events and initiatives that supported creativity, resilience and regional participation. During this time, she helped develop and deliver more than 40 community events and collaborative projects across the region, ranging from workshops and exhibitions to festivals, forums and community conversations.
Prior to this, Karen held senior leadership roles with the NSW Office of Local Government, where she managed the Council Engagement Team and worked directly with councils across New South Wales on strategic planning, governance, organisational capability and community engagement. Her work involved liaising extensively with General Managers, Mayors, councillors and senior staff from metropolitan, regional and rural councils, supporting sector-wide initiatives and responding to emerging local government challenges. She contributed to projects focused on leadership, diversity, organisational improvement and community capability, and was awarded the 2021 Minister’s Award for Local Government in recognition of work improving diversity in local government representation.
Karen’s earlier career included roles with metro councils, where she worked across strategic planning, community development, communications, organisational innovation, cultural initiatives and performance improvement. Her experience includes developing community programs and festivals, delivering engagement strategies, leading innovation projects and securing and administering grant funding across government and community sectors.
Karen also worked as Program Manager with the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government at the University of Technology Sydney, where she led national capability and gender equity initiatives involving councils and local government organisations from across Australia. This work strengthened her interest in leadership development, participation and collaborative approaches to complex social and community issues.
Her professional practice is grounded in strong relationship building, strategic thinking and a practical, hands-on approach to problem solving. Karen is particularly interested in the role arts and culture can play in supporting community wellbeing, regional identity, social connection and economic development. She enjoys bringing people together, building partnerships and helping connect ideas, opportunities and communities in ways that create lasting impact.
Karen continues to contribute to community organisations and boards in the Lithgow region, including as Chair of Lithgow Information and Neighbourhood Centre and as a board member of Lithgow Community Private Hospital. Through these roles and her broader community involvement, she remains committed to strengthening inclusive, creative and resilient regional communities.