Committee Member
Term 2020 to 2022

Expertise

Hari Sivanesan

Hari Sivanesan has a grass roots understanding and contacts within the South Asian and UK expatriate community in Casey. Hari is a co-curator of Sangam: Performing Arts Festival of South Asia and Diaspora at Bunjil Place and Dancehouse (2019). Hari is also co-Director of Casey Pathways Program Bunjil Place (2019) and recently released an EP in partnership with Multicultural Arts Victoria (2018). A vocalist, Veena player, composer and teacher of South Asian Classical music for over fifteen years, Hari has over twenty years’ experience in Cross Genre/Multi-art form production in the UK and Australia and has toured extensively, working solo and on cross art form projects.

Sohail Yamin

Sohail Yamin has been a member of City of Casey Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee for past four years. Sohail has experience in arts, engineering and project management and in 2019 was a recipient of the Victorian Government Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs – Meritorious Service Award. Sohail is a practicing visual artist and has an appreciation for the developing the arts within a Council organisation.

Di Lockwood

Di Lockwood is a practicing visual artist, art tutor and has worked in the areas of Mental Health and Refugee Support. A past member of City of Casey Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee, Di has contributed to judging the Casey Creatives program and the Winter Arts Festival workgroup. As a current a member of Akoonah Park Management Board and SECAN, Di is community minded with strong links to cultural groups across Casey.

Jennie Toyne

Jennie Toyne has been a member of various choirs in the City of Casey for twenty-five years and has built up a considerable network of visual and performing artists over this time. Jenny has was a member of the Arts and Cultural Reference Group then Advisory Committee since its 2nd term, so has the knowledge of the development of the group and Council’s arts programs.

Georgia Mandarino

Georgia Mandarino has studied creative arts and has successful creative workshop business so understands how to foster creative opportunities to create successful business outcomes. Georgia has hands on experience in management, marketing and social media and instructing on most visual art forms. This will be Georgia’s first term on the City of Casey Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee, and she looks forward to helping the City realise it’s creative vision.

Gino Ciancio

Gino Ciancio is manager and owner of an Art and Design Studio in Casey and has been a practising digital artist for more than seven years.

Gino was an art and design lecture for twenty-seven years at Chisholm Institute and is currently a part time teacher at a private secondary college. Gino has been involved with the arts community across Casey over the last ten years and is a current committee member on the SECAN artist group.

Susan Bergman OAM

Susan Bergman has extensive knowledge of performing arts gained over a long period of time which includes experience as a roving entertainer and in amateur theatre as a performer and in production roles. Susan has knowledge of theatre layout through her contribution to the design of the Cranbourne Community Theatre and the original concept of The Factory - Rehearsal Centre for the Arts. Susan’s experience as a secondary school teacher gives her an understanding of education and the public service sector.

Committee Member
Term 2019 to 2021

Expertise

Charitha Dissanayake

Charitja has presented a weekly Sri Lankan radio program for
almost twenty years. He holds two Masters of Arts degrees and
is a current PhD candidate with a specialty in developing radio in
Australia for an ethnic audience.

Joy Sellars

A member of Yarn and Art based out of the Aboriginal Gathering
Place in Doveton Joy’s focus is to promote, encourage and
support understanding of Aboriginal people and their art to the
wider Casey community.

Stephanie Sacco

Stephanie has over a decade of arts industry experience with a
strong focus on arts and cultural programming. She currently
works as a gallery curator managing exhibitions and public
programs

Tannia McMartin (Nia)

Nia is a speaker, author and a performing singer-songwriter. She
is an experienced management professional across a broad
range of industries including corporate and not-for-profitorganisations and small to medium enterprises.

Verity Bosanquet

Verity is a young artist and current member of the Arts Agitators, a multidisciplinary youth arts collective that deliver creative
projects to the wider Casey community.