People

Hannah is an artist, curator and festival director with a focus on sound art, large-scale public art, contemporary music and live art. Prior to her role as RISING Artistic Director, Hannah worked as Artistic Associate at Melbourne Festival; and as the Associate Creative Director of Dark Mofo.

Her broad spectrum of work has included performance interventions for the Tate Modern, a Janes Addiction stage show, and choreographing cranes and forklifts for a large-scale car stunt show. She’s a founding member of the creative partnership Supple Fox, which currently collaborates with artist Byron J Scullin on work including the large-scale, outdoor sonic artwork Siren Song, which continues to be remounted in cities around the world.

Dr Kimberley Moulton is a Yorta Yorta woman and an independent curator and writer. She is Senior Curator Exhibitions at RISING and recently held tenure as the Adjunct Curator Indigenous Art for Tate, London (2023-2026). Kimberley was previously Senior Curator First Peoples Collection at Museums Victoria. Her recent exhibitions include the Tarrawarra Biennial : We Are Eagles (2025), On Country: Photography from Australia (Les Rencontres d'Arles France, co-curated, 2025), Emily Kam Kngwarray (Tate Modern, curatorial team, 2025), The Blak Infinite (co-curated, 2024) and Shadow Spirit (RISING, 2023). She has published extensively on contemporary Indigenous art, collections and curatorial practice. Kimberley works at the intersection of historical collections and contemporary art and her practice aims to extend what exhibitions, public art and research can be for First Peoples communities and artists globally. She holds a PhD in Curatorial Practice, Monash University and is an Emeritus Curator with Museums Victoria. In 2025 she was recipient of the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship.

Hayley Percy is a Wiradjuri woman living and working in Naarm/Melbourne. Hayley has twenty years of varied professional experience across the music and entertainment industry with a strong background in large high impact public events, music festivals as well as large scale project management. Additional to her current role as Senior Curator, Music for RISING festival, Hayley is also the Executive Producer and Co-Director of Blaktasia, Australia's first Aboriginal mobile game. 

Her background in major events has afforded her a vast network within the music, media, promotional and sponsorship landscape and she has a broad skill set in ensuring high impact launches of products and events alike.

Gideon is an artistic director, choreographer and performing arts curator. He founded dance company Chunky Move in the mid-90s and was CEO and Artistic Director until 2012. His diverse works for the company included stage productions, installations, site-specific works, participatory events and film. These have been performed in festivals and theatres around the world including Edinburgh International, Southbank London, BAM New York and all major Australian performing arts festivals.

Gideon was also Artist in Residence with Sydney Theatre Company, Artistic Associate with the Melbourne Festival, co-curator for ‘XO State’ at AsiaTOPA, and Chair of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Kate is a Taungurung artist, curator, and a founding member of the collective this mob. Interested in contemporary visual art, film and stories, Kate grounds her practice in self-determination, self-representation and collectivism. Earlier this year, she curated the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in Darwin, and in 2024 she co-curated The Blak Infinite for RISING Melbourne.

Yasmine is the force behind leading Melbourne label Cease and Desist. A DJ, musician, and ethnomusicologist, she explores sounds from beyond the Western canon, championing rare and overlooked music. Yasmine has programmed for iconic Melbourne venues including The Tote, The Gasometer, and The John Curtin, and currently hosts the weekly Cease and Desist show on Triple R, dedicated to unearthing forgotten gems and underground hits.

Through the VMDO fellowship, Yasmine takes creative lead on several key music projects, including The Listening Room at ACMI.

Simon Phemister is the Founder and Managing Partner of Frank Partners, a strategic advisory firm focused on bridging government and industry to deliver high-impact outcomes. He has held senior roles in both public and private sectors, including as Secretary of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, where he led reforms in housing, land use, and economic development. Simon is also a founding partner of the Dux Project and previously a Partner at EY Port Jackson Partners. With a career spanning policy, strategy, and major event delivery—including the Australian Open and Formula 1 Grand Prix—he brings deep expertise in public-private collaboration and a passion for building Victoria’s economy.

Craig is the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Whittlesea Council, and has held previous senior roles in Local Government, State Government and a range of emergency service agencies. He is also an award winning recording and performing country music artist, and songwriter. Craig is Member of the Music Victoria Board, and lives in Regional Victoria.

David is the founder of Media Arts Lawyers where he represents high-profile musicians, celebrities and entertainment companies. He chairs the board of Australian Independent Record Labels Association, is a board member of Australian Recording Industry Association and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia. He was previously a board member of the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Elizabeth M. Dax AM is a director and board chair with a focus on governance, finance, and risk in the not-for-profit sector. Formerly Director of Australia’s National Reference Laboratory, she has held leadership roles in national and international HIV/AIDS organizations. A physician and scientist, she also led a WHO Collaborating Centre on virus diagnostics.

Vicky Zaparas is the founder of Vicky Zaparas Interiors, exhibiting at the National Gallery of Victoria. Formerly Brand Manager at The Body Shop Australia, she helped establish the Hellenic Museum Ladies Society and is an Australian Ballet Ambassador. With expertise in design, fashion, and marketing, she champions Victoria’s creative industries on a global stage.

Martin Foley sits on a number of creative sector Boards bringing his experience as a senior Minister in the Victorian Government to assist organisations, communities, creatives and governments to deliver artistic, creative, social and economic value. He also works across a number of health and social care areas. He joined the RISING Board in 2023.

Kerri is a partner at Ernst & Young and focuses on providing CFO advisory services. Kerri has a keen interest in the arts and supporting various community activities in Melbourne. She has served on the boards for Malthouse Theatre board and the Centre for Contemporary Photography.

Brad is a CEO and Board Director with over 30 years’ experience working across Victorian events, venues, and member-based organisations. He’s the Chief Executive of Melbourne Royal, where he leads the team behind the iconic Melbourne Royal Show and oversees Melbourne Showgrounds—Victoria’s largest indoor-outdoor venue for events, festivals, and exhibitions. He also runs a calendar of events and awards celebrating excellence in food, drink, and agriculture.