Kent Morris

Kent is a Barkindji man, a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and an alumnus of the Wesfarmers Indigenous Arts Leadership Program. He has over 20 years experience as a practising artist and curator and has specialist knowledge of, and connections within, the Indigenous Australian arts and culture industry. Kent has a strong interest in the educational and healing potential of the arts and in 2011 joined The Torch to design, develop and deliver the Indigenous Arts in Prisons and Community program.

Susannah Day

Susannah is a Martu woman, originally from WA, living in Naarm (Melbourne) since 2016. Susannah has worked for sixteen years in cultural program management, arts programming, and producer roles, predominantly within small to medium arts organisations. Recent roles have included Head of Programs & Operations at Brunswick Mechanics Institute managed by Next Wave, Dance Massive Coordinator for City of Melbourne and Producer of The Blue Room Theatre. From 2019-2021 she held the role of Program Manager of The Torch, and in June 2022 stepped into the newly created role of General Manager, leading the strategic vision and operations of the organisation.

Tarsha Davis

Tarsha Davis is a Kuku Yalanji woman from Far North Queensland. She has spent most of her career in various support roles within Community Health Services and Youth Justice Qld. Tarsha’s painting practice, contemporary and narrative in style, is an act of reclamation and an expression of her healing journey. Since joining The Torch she has expanded her art practice to include weaving. Tarsha manages the Statewide Indigenous In Prison and Community Program for The Torch.

Sean Miller

Sean is a Gamilaroi man who brings a diverse range of art practices to The Torch having worked across a range of mediums over the past 25 years. Sean has a Certificate III in Graphic Arts and has been a part of the design of The Torch’s Confined catalogues since 2016. Sean was a finalist in the 2016 Indigenous Ceramic Art Awards, and his ceramics have also been acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria and Shepparton Art Museum for their collections. In 2020 he won the Emerging Artist Award at the Koorie Art Show hosted by the Koorie Heritage Trust. Sean provides art, cultural and mentoring support to Indigenous inmates in prison as well as in community across Victoria.

Matty Chilly

Matthew is a proud multi-clan nations man, a descendant from the Wemba-Wemba, Neri-Neri, Yiti-Yiti, Mutti-Mutti, Wuradjuri, Yorta-Yorta, Watti-Watti, Barapa-Barapa and Gubbi Gubbi tribes. He also has ancestral ties to the Maori Iwi’s of New Zealand. Matthew developed an appetite, a desire and a dream for the arts when he was young and realised that he could draw, paint and create. Matthew lives in Culture every day through his art practices that include painting, weaving, photography, Smoking Ceremonies, dancing and digital art. Matthew has worked for 11 years for Community in Housing, Admin and AOD work. Matthew will work with The Torch’s male participants in Ravenhall prison and as well as in the community.

Paul Kelly

Paul is a Gunditjmara man with a broad set of skills & experience ranging from screen-printing, Dj-ing, and cultural tourism which involved raising awareness of cultural biodiversity & geological information in the community. He also worked extensively as a community convenor for government agencies and high-platform sporting clubs. Paul brings a strong cultural connection through practices he learned growing up on Country in Framlingham and is still actively engaged in traditional dancing and community events. Paul’s art and cultural practice includes stone and acrylic paintings, artefact and necklace making, drone photography, along with making and performing the Yidaki. Paul is joining the Torch for three days per week and will be supporting the in-prison and in-community participants of the Barwon South region.

Bianca Baldwin

Bianca is a proud Gunnai-Kurnai woman from Bairnsdale who has experienced firsthand, the potential art can have in strengthening community connections. Having previously held roles in community healthcare, sports and youth events, Bianca joins the Torch with a passion for community engagement and Indigenous rights. Bianca has also been heavily involved in the Theatre industry in the past, working with Indigenous organisations to create campaigns for Indigenous safety and wellbeing. She is currently studying a Bachelor in Social Science with a major in Behavioural Studies and has completed her Certificate 4 in Aboriginal Health Worker Practitioner.

Bianca’s art practice includes painting and jewellery making, where she explores her connection to Country, healing journey, and the importance of family. Bianca joins The Torch team as an Indigenous Arts Officer supporting both In-Prison and In-Community participants and is responsible for all the female participants in the program.

Clare Williams

Clare Williams is a Wiradjuri woman with a passion for art and Indigenous advocacy. Clare grew up on Meanjin Country (Brisbane) and received a bachelor’s in Contemporary Australia Indigenous Art from Griffith University in 2011. Through her studies, Clare explored her Identity as an Indigenous woman and artist living in an urban environment. Clare’s contemporary art practice explores the notion of identity and femininity using watercolour paintings, drawing and photography. With a background in graphic design and youth work, Clare joins The Torch team as an Indigenous Arts Officer supporting both In-Prison and In-Community participants.

Christopher Austin

Chris is a Keerraaywoorrong man from the Gunditjmara Nation of south western Victoria. Chris is immensely proud of his culture and has found creating art and sharing stories has given him direction in his life. After over 30 years in and out of prison, Chris has now been In Community for over four years. He is an inspiration and has such an amazing amount of lived experience and cultural knowledge to support our In Prison and Post Release artists.

Chris Keeler

Chris has over 20 years of experience working in the field of Indigenous cultural heritage at the Koorie Heritage Trust and Museum Victoria, including researching, writing and editing cultural resources, project managing exhibitions and managing cultural collections. Her role at The Torch is to research and produce program resources and assist with the management of artworks and exhibitions.

Joel Birnie

Joel is a Pakana and Koori artist, academic, historian, writer and filmmaker. Joel has a multi-ethnic heritage that also includes Romani and European, and was raised on Peramangk and Kaurna Lands (Adelaide Hills, South Australia). Joel has a BA in Indigenous Studies from University of South Australia, a Master of Fine Arts at Monash University, and recently completed a PhD at Monash University, specialising in decolonising colonial narratives, documentation and literature.

Nicola Gracie

Nicola has experience working for an arts collective based in Mutitjulu Community, representing over 900 Indigenous artists from the Western and Central desert region of Australia. She then went on to successfully manage the local community art centre. During her time in the desert, Nicola facilitated an impactful volunteer art therapy project at the community primary school. Nicola is inspired by the multifaceted healing potential of art, and driven to create sustainable, impactful opportunities for Indigenous artists.

Sarah Hall

Sarah Hall has joined The Torch after working for a not-for-profit arts collective that represents over 900 Indigenous artists from the Western and Central desert region of Australia. In her role as Art Manager she will draw from her experiences supporting arts practice in remote communities, as well as her broader experience in theatre and the arts sector. Sarah provides exhibition management as well as overseeing collection management, art sales and licensing. She also leads the Art team staff members and continues to develop art sales and licensing opportunities for Torch participants.

Gabrielle Callan

Gabrielle is a recent graduate of the University of Melbourne where she completed a Master of Arts and Cultural Management and Graduate Certificate in Cultural Material Conservation. She has experience in collection management, conservation and art support in non-profit arts organisations including Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association and Arts Project Australia. Gabrielle facilitates licensing agreements, oversees artwork commissions and supports exhibition planning.

Melissa Petty

Melissa Petty has over 16 years’ experience working in the arts, including working for Arts Project Australia for close to 12 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Majoring in Fine Art – RMIT, a Diploma of Arts – Illustration (NMIT), and has studied Collection Management at Melbourne University.

She has depth of experience in arts administration, front-of-house customer support and sales, curation, communications, collections management, and arts program development and facilitation. Mel is taking on the role as Sales Coordinator at the Torch.

Danielle Hakim

Danielle has worked in the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) sector for over decade. Her experience in archives and arts spaces is wide ranging including roles at The State Library of Victoria and non-profit Arts Project Australia. She co-founded the Women’s Mural Documentation Project alongside Sally Northfield, producing the award winning “Re-imagining the Women’s Mural: a virtual tour”, a collaborative community arts project with Her Place Women’s Museum and artists Eve Glenn and Megan Evans. Danielle’s role at the Torch will continue her expertise as a Registrations Officer.

Leroy McLaughlin

Leroy is a Yorta Yorta artist from Echuca who first joined The Torch program in 2014. Leroy paints to share his story, and feel pride in having created art that others will enjoy. He states: ‘When I paint, all my problems go away, I lose myself in my art’. In 2017, Leroy exhibited at Museum Victoria in the exhibition ‘Yannae Wirrate Weelam: The Journey Home’, and in 2019 he was awarded the St Kilda Art Supplies Award presented by The Torch. Leroy’s 2018 artwork ‘Dingo’ was selected to be the first limited edition artist print released by The Torch. Leroy has been working as a part-time Art Support Assistant since Oct 2020. He is responsible for supporting the packing and sale of artwork, collection management and assisting the art-team with exhibitions.

Melissa Bell

Melissa is a Gunditjmara/Yorta Yorta artist from Cummeragunja who first joined The Torch in 2016. Melissa paints to maintain storylines and to connect to her Country. Melissa’s artwork has been purchased by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, the County Koori Court and Respect Victoria. She has also worked as an exhibition installer on The Torch’s Confined and Future Dreaming exhibitions. Melissa has been working as a part-time Art Support Assistant since March 2022. She is responsible for supporting the packing and sale of artwork, collection management and assisting the art-team with exhibitions.

Sophie Waincymer

Sophie has worked across the social justice sector for over 10 years. Over her career, Sophie has worked as a social impact consultant, within large and small not-for-profits, on a Taskforce led by the Commission for Aboriginal Children and Youth People and the Department of Justice, and within the philanthropic sector. She has recently been drawn to the unique impact that comes from community development work alongside the healing powers of the arts. Sophie manages the fundraising and development work at The Torch.

Gordon Watson

Gordon has many years of experience working in the fields of CRM Administration, Operations and Marketing. He was excited to join the not for profit sector and expand his knowledge on Indigenous art and culture. His role at The Torch is to coordinate operations and systems within the organisation, and focus on digital marketing strategy.

Lynda Lawson

Lynda has over 25 years of experience in bookkeeping and financial accounting. A team player who enjoys collaborations and working towards a common goal, Lynda has a Diploma in Business (Accounting), is a registered BAS agent, and runs her own business, working with not-for-profit organisations such as Fight MND, the Rural Press Club of Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages. She also has an appreciation of the creative process, designing, creating, and selling crocheted and knitted garments and homewares. She likes to explore colour and texture, and how crocheted items can be used in a sustainable way in the home. Lynda is working with The Torch while Felicity Chafer-Smith is on parental leave.

Felicity Chafer-Smith

Felicity Chafer-Smith is a Ngarrindjeri woman from South Australia, who is currently studying for a Bachelor of Business with Swinburne University. She is also an artist who enjoys sharing personal memories of growing up with her family though her acrylic paintings on canvas. Felicity was first introduced to The Torch during a term of imprisonment at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. Upon release and reintegration, Felicity has begun working as the Accounts and Operations Assistant with The Torch.