Creative Careers 2017

Jonathan has worked in the film and television industry for over 15 years, as an editor on ABC TV programs such as 4 Corners and Triple J TV, to producing and shooting for his own business Cheap Music Videos. He is the director and producer of the upcoming feature film documentary, ‘Descent into the Maelstrom’, the untold story of Australian band Radio Birdman. 

Leah Benson AKA Lelash has over 10 years' industry experience and has been scouted and commissioned for work with local and international musicians such as Selwyn, Deborah Cox, Snuttock, Alphamama, Courtney Act, Zinzi Okenyo, Samantha Jade and more. After starting her clothing label Lelash in 2005, she quickly gained notoriety within the 'alternative' subculture and now has a vast international following and customer base. As well as Lelash's ready to wear range, Leah also specialises in custom costuming and couture for bridal, dance, theatre, film, and music.

Ross Tesoriero is a freelance artist, designer, animator and web developer with professional experience creating a wide range of media and projects. Education in fine arts, design, and multimedia. 19 years experience in website design and development of dynamic sites including online courses, e-commerce, blog, and CMS. Experience in digital animation including storyboarding, character design, and animation. Graphic design experience including CD and DVD packaging, business cards, logos, posters and pamphlet design. Illustration work including magazine cartoons and comic strips, T-shirt designs and book covers. Ross has worked in universities and private colleges teaching animation, multimedia and website development. 

With over 35 years of combined experience with Ryde Regional Radio, Matt and JoSh have produced an eclectic range of programs from more traditional music programs to VERY experimental radio. Matt’s experience and professionalism combined with JoSh’s taste for the bizarre have made for quite a unique team and quite a unique experience for their workshop attendees. Matt continues on 2RRR with his current show, Accidentally Curley’s Treat. JoSh plays with several Sydney bands, including Panic Syndrome, TRIANGLE and The Blue Eyed Ravens and also joins in with Matt as a guest presenter when he’s lonely. JoSh is also, on occasion, working on the New Australia Radio program at Eastside FM. 

With over 35 years of combined experience with Ryde Regional Radio, Matt and JoSh have produced an eclectic range of programs from more traditional music programs to VERY experimental radio. Matt’s experience and professionalism combined with JoSh’s taste for the bizarre have made for quite a unique team and quite a unique experience for their workshop attendees. Matt continues on 2RRR with his current show, Accidentally Curley’s Treat. JoSh plays with several Sydney bands, including Panic Syndrome, TRIANGLE and The Blue Eyed Ravens and also joins in with Matt as a guest presenter when he’s lonely. JoSh is also, on occasion, working on the New Australia Radio program at Eastside FM. 

Nikita Margarita is the boss lady at pop art accessories label: Doodad + Fandango. Inspired by contemporary artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring and Haruki Murakami, her playful perspex pieces, hand assembled in her Sydney studio makes bold and witty statements and straddle the divide between art and fashion.

Aletheia Casey has been working as a photography lecturer for over five years. During this time Aletheia and Paul MacDonald have worked on collaborative projects together including workshops, teaching, and lectures. Previously Aletheia worked as a visual journalist in the film and television industry for clients such as BBC London, BBC World, and SBS Television. During the last four years she has published and worked with The Sunday Times Magazine, The Financial Times Magazine, Getty Images Worldwide, Australian Associated Press, and various international publications.

Aletheia has exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Shakespeare Company (London), The National Geographic Society (London) and the Australian Centre for Photography. She was named a winner of The Magenta Foundation Flash Forward Emerging Photographer Award for the UK in 2012 and 2015, a finalist for the National Photographic Portrait Prize and bronze and silver winner in the documentary category of the PX3 Awards in France. Aletheia has twice been named a finalist for the Environmental Photographer of the Year Award.

Aletheia recently completed her Master of Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London College of Communication and graduated with distinction.

Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Dacchi currently lives and works in Sydney. He's a photographic artist, specialising in alternative photographic processes. Dacchi has participated in a number of artist in residency programmes nationally and internationally including Bundanon Trust; Hæfliger Cottage, Hill End; Metro Arts, Brisbane; Peel Island; Art Space; Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris; Performing Arts Forum (PAF) Research & Development, St Erme, France; Geidai University of Fine Arts, Tokyo and Ueno Town Museum, Tokyo.

His works are held in both public collections including: Bundanon Trust Collection, NSW; Sherman Gallery, Sydney; Horsham Regional Gallery, Victoria; Shanghai Educational Publishing House, China; and private collections in Australia, Europe and Hong Kong.

Pete and Ben started Code Camp in December 2013 and have since taught almost 20,000 Australian students to code and build their very own apps. Individually they have each launched and assisted multiple tech startups prior to Code Camp — from raising funds, exponential growth and international markets. Code Camp's mission is to inspire and empower future creators, innovators and change makers to create infinite possibilities.

Christina Mclean is a multidisciplinary artist based in Sydney. Working with both textiles and ceramics, Christina applies marks and pattern to create works that blur the line between art and functional ware. With a background in ceramics, fashion and textiles, Christina began studying ceramics in 1988 and established Chowk Ceramics for 12 years before applying her love for mark making to textiles.

From 2006 onwards Christina has been designing prints for many sort after Australian fashion brands. Her latest venture TRADE the MARK, sees Christina going back to her roots as a maker, crafting work to last the test of time with a contemporary twist. Christina hand makes all of her work in her studio in the Inner West.

A producer and performer, co-producing for electronic music project "The Nights", Tom has toured internationally and nationally as a multi-instrumentalist for Future Classic signed project, "Panama". He also freelances as a music technology consultant, having assisted in building the Ableton playback rig for the ARIAS, and serving as the Ableton Live playback technician for the artists performing at the ARIAs.

In addition to this, Tom has consulted with numerous popular bands/artists such as Tom Thum & SAFIA in implementing Ableton Live as the brains of their live show, from hardware and MIDI I/O routing to program change messages, or chain selecting instruments to SMPTE timecode for lighting and vision. With a broad range of skills and experience in terms of music and technology, Tom is also working producer/performer/teacher/music technology consultant based in Sydney, Australia. 

John Kilbey is an accomplished composer/musician that has been involved in a large body of renowned musical releases. After studying Screen Composition at AFTRS he is now focusing on writing music for film.  He established the niche record label, Karmic Hit as well as the innovative — song-a-week — Esoteric Music Club. He is soon to release his new solo album — Rozam Kobar.

Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion and Textile design and worked as a designer in the fashion industry for seven years, before turning her hand to teaching, initially as a part-time teacher whilst continuing to design for individual clients.

Holly has now made teaching her sole focus full-time — sharing her breadth of experience and knowledge, that ranges from designing directional daywear for a small manufacturer to mainstream product development for companies selling to chain stores like Sportsgirl, Jacqui E, Susans, Katies and the like, through to made to order special event dressing.