Our People

Strategic Focus: Driving strategy, governance, financial resilience, philanthropy, and organisational growth. This pod ensures BGA is robust, future-ready, and impactful from the inside out.

CEO/Head of Operations, Strategy and Growth |  Ryan Taaffe
Leads overall strategy, philanthropy, organisational design, and growth frameworks.

Manager, Financial Strategy, Governance & Risk | Kristy Schloderer-Cheng
Oversees board, compliance, legal, and strategic finance.

Manager, Finance Operations | Céline Fitzpatrick
Manages operational and daily financial systems.

Strategic Focus: Leading BGA’s performance program with bold vision and future-form storytelling. This pod champions theatrical excellence, new work creation, and future performance plans.

Artistic Director |  Sam Longley
Leads new work creation and other supporting artistic programs.

Strategic Focus: Curating awe, joy, and connection through festivals. This pod stewards the strategic vision and delivery of the AWESOME Festival as a flagship of place-based, multi-arts, family-centred programming.

Festival Director |  Jenny Simpson
Leads strategic curation, commissioning, sector partnerships, and vision for the AWESOME Festival.

Strategic Focus: Delivering programs and productions with excellence, and leading BGA’s creative experimentation (digital, AR/VR, hybrid models). This pod is where imagination becomes real.

Production Manager/Head of Realisation & Innovation | Stewart Campbell
Leads production, delivery, and innovation capacity across all programs.

Producer, New Works, Tour Delivery & Artistic Programs | Rebecca Nelson
Manages day-to-day producing, rehearsal logistics, and artist scheduling.

Strategic Focus: Embedding creativity, equity, access, and deep engagement as the foundation of BGA’s reach. This pod connects community, school, audience, and cultural belonging strategies to ensure every young person sees themselves in our work.

Manager Impact, Inclusion and Evaluation/Head of Engagement, Access & Impact | Brianna Wotzko
Leads internal systems for planning, evaluation, and operational delivery of Barking Gecko Arts’ purpose, impact and learning agenda.

Manager, Audience & Belonging | Aiman Ridzuan-Morley
Drives strategies at the intersection of brand, marketing, audience data, and inclusion.

Manager, Creative Learning | Kim Walsh
Leads embedded school and out-of-school programs, teacher relationships, and creative pedagogy.

Manager, Community & Access | Nadia Bischof
Focuses on community engagement, equity partnerships, access logistics and planning.

Coordinator, Engagement & Access | Heather Bongiovanni
Supports delivery of engagement programs, school access logistics, and community-facing events.

Strategic Focus: Building the future of Western Australia’s creative sector by developing youth and artist pathways, supporting emerging talent, delivering market development and industry-facing programs, and enabling creative careers to flourish.

Manager, Pathways & Participation | Carla Nirella
Leads youth and artist pathway programs, creative careers development, and industry partnerships, with a focus on meaningful, inclusive transitions into creative work.

Manager, Festivals, Market Development & Growth | Natalie Di Risio
Produces the AWESOME Festival, leads market strategy and sector engagement, and contributes to philanthropy and partnerships. Assists with the business infrastructure for emerging artists and creative careers