The final months of 2024 has seen exciting growth in The Torch’s team with the appointment of Kymbal McGrath, George Ironside, Tessa Spooner and Grace Perry.

Kymbal McGrath, a proud Wiradyuri man from Albury, New South Wales, is deeply rooted in his culture, drawing strength from his songlines and guidance from Elders. His journey has been one of learning, preserving, and living his culture every day. With a strong background in community work across both government and non-profit spaces, Kymbal has commenced in the newly formed role of Operations Manager at The Torch.

Tessa Spooner joined the team as Art Coordinator. Tessa is a senior arts administrator with expertise in curation, production and collection management. With over 15 years of experience in cultural productions and exhibitions and has a solid track record developing and executing high-impact cultural programs and events, with a strong emphasis on promoting First Nations art and culture. Prior to working with The Torch she held leadership roles at fortyfivedownstairs, La Mama theatre and Menzies. Tessa facilitates licensing agreements, oversees artwork commissions and supports exhibition planning.

We also expanded our sales team with George Ironside, a new Sales Coordinator. A graduate of RMIT with a Bachelor of Animation and Interactive Media, George is a multidisciplinary artist with years of experience in galleries and the arts, both locally and internationally. As a muralist and stop-motion animator, she has partnered with diverse communities, from collaborating with female Indigenous artists in a remote women’s shed to managing her own street art gallery in Berlin. In her role as Sales Coordinator, she strives to elevate awareness of the program and its talented artists.

Grace Perry joined the team as in the new role of Marketing and Communications Manager. She was previously at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art for five years managing ACCA’s media partnerships, leading marketing campaigns across digital and traditional media and crafting compelling funding applications and reports. In 2020–22, Grace was Artist Assistant to Gunnai/Waradgerie artist Robert Michael Young, preparing proposals, EOIs and managing day-to-day operations in consultation with the artist. She is passionate about using her skills and expertise to highlight creative work by First Nations artists in Victoria.

Earlier this year we also welcomed Amelia Easdale as Fundraising and Development Manager. Amelia brings over a decade of fundraising expertise from her tenure at two prominent nature conservation organisations, Trust for Nature, and Victorian National Parks Association. Known for her steadfast commitment to organisational growth, she thrives on nurturing donor and grants programs over the long term. With a focus on donor acquisition and stewardship, she has a proven track record in cultivating and maintaining strong relationships, driving supporter engagement, and securing vital funding to advance environmental conservation efforts. Amelia is excited to learn about the breadth of First Nations art and cultural practices as she supports the growth of The Torch’s philanthropic program.

We warmly welcome these new team members to The Torch and look forward to their contributions as we prepare for an exciting year ahead with four major exhibitions. We are also recruiting for an additional Indigenous Arts Officer to join the team of talented First Nations creatives who deliver our art and cultural programs to In Prison and In Community participants. Learn more about the role.