MEET THE TEAM
The strongest asset of The Junction Co. continues to be the people who built it and shape it.
Our team combines people who have lived in the Pilbara for many years with those who are new to the region; half of our employees speak English as their second language, and they come from a wide range of backgrounds… from WAAPA Graduates to fine art degrees, to professions as wide-ranging as community development, photography, marketing, communications and design. This diversity brings a richness in experiences and ideas and colours the offering of The Junction Co. in the most wonderful way.
At the Board level, while we have farewelled some integral founding members over the course of the year (thank you Shelley Blatch and Dani Airton), we have welcomed new
voices (hello Dr Gemma Booth and Patrycja Rosinska). We have a strong and stable leadership team made up of dynamic, highly skilled women who volunteer their time generously, and we are very proud of what we have created.
The organisational values underpin the team actions:
Growth and Empowerment
Capacity build through connection with creativity, encouragement and passion
Belonging and Connection
Model transparency, diversity, and inclusivity, celebrate and respect differences
Accountable
Responsive to needs, and apply an agile and adaptive approach
Evolutionary (Novel, Unique and Exciting)
Embrace intrigue, and deliver unexpected and captivating experiences
Authentic and Genuine
Do what we say, say what we do, are respectful, honest, value all contributions, and act with integrity
Performance
Hold each other to account, are enablers for high performance in the team and for other creatives.
THE BOARD
Miranda Cerich
Chair – Karratha/Perth
Miranda is versed in the ‘Human Capital space’ and has specialised in the delivery of transformational human resource and organisational development projects. She has managed engagements to develop operating models, aligning operations to strategic objectives and identify performance improvements in large, complex organisations. Miranda has extensive experience managing senior stakeholders and large teams. Miranda has worked within the Resource, Health and ‘Not for Profit’ sectors, most recently in the legal and community service environment. From 2015 she has worked in a variety of roles as both Acting CEO and CEO for a Pilbara based ‘NFP’s.
Melinda Sanders
Vice Chair – Hedland
Sally Cruiskshank
Secretary – Perth
Sally is a creative entrepreneur and visual arts educator. Now based in Perth, Sally lived in the Pilbara for nearly 10 years and was an active member and facilitator of The Junction Co. team specialising in teamwork facilitation, ukulele and resin art. Sally is the Secretary of the TJC Board and is passionate about empowering our communities in the creative industries.
Yvette McLean
Treasurer – Hedland/Perth
Yvette is an active member of the Pilbara community through her work as a financial advisor and chartered accountant.
Celeste Stephens
Board Member – Karratha
My experience involves strategic development and outcomes-focused community development through the lens of social impact, policy and building local capacity. Specifically to address the root causes of social problems through genuine relationship building, strengthening communities and political advocacy. Working collaboratively with all sectors to achieve systems change is at the heart of my work. My varied professional experience and tertiary studies provide me a resilient and adaptable work approach. My strengths lie in achieving positive social change through stakeholder engagement and relationship building, re-enforced by my Masters of Public and Social Policy and Understanding Behavioural Science to Create Change qualifications.
I am currently living and working in the Pilbara region of Western Australia utilising my expertise in advocacy, community development and social impact.
Dr Gemma Bothe
Board Member – Perth
An experienced qualitative researcher with expertise in academic and commercial settings. Strong research professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused on Communication & Media Studies and Sociology & Anthropology from The University of Western Australia. Demonstrated experience in impact assessment, surveys, focus groups, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, project management, leadership, and research skills.
Danielle Airton
Board Member
(Finished September 2021)
THE TEAM
Katie Evans
Executive Officer
With over a decade of experience in the creative industries, and tertiary studies in business and design, Katie understands the needs of those establishing a creative enterprise and how best to support the growth and development of artists and makers. Leading The Junction Co. team, Katie specialises in strategic planning, audience engagement, place activation and community collaboration.
Katie went on parental leave April 2022.
Patrycja Rosinska
Activation Coordinator
Acting Executive Officer
Board member
Patrycja is passionate and experienced Community Development, Business Development, Place Activation and Community Engagement specialist built on a foundation of two decades delivering programs that create opportunities for the community to connect and engage and improve liveability of local communities. She has a great understanding of a Placemaking, Asset Based Community Development and Social Inclusion that focus on community strengths and assets and building social capital. She strongly believes in the power of art, culture and place activation to transform lives and make our community a better place.
Valeria Scoponi
Courthouse Gallery+Studio Manager
An established member of the Hedland community, as Manager of the Courthouse Gallery+Studio, Valeria strives to ensure community connection through creativity. A skilled musician, and talented ceramicists and photographer, Val combines her community development experience, creative passions and wealth of local knowledge, to engage, grow and empower regional creative industries.
Caitlin Dominey
Courthouse Gallery+Studio Manager
Trained in fine art, with a background in arts education, social work and more than a decade experience in ceramics, Caitlin manages and leads the Courthouse Gallery+Studio team. Her passion for developing communities and robust knowledge of hand built and slab ceramic work will lead in the development of this valued art form, providing opportunities for community engagement and creative enterprise.
Elisa Trifunoski
Regional Curator
Elisa blends her tertiary studies in Fine Art, with more than 6 years managing and operating a small snack goods company, to bring a wealth of knowledge to the creative industries. As Regional Curator, Elisa leads the exhibition and artistic excellence program, and specialises in conceptual art+design, audience engagement and artistic growth.
Kaiya Ashworth
Activation Manager
Kaiya is a project manager, facilitator and community arts engager. She has experience working at large scale events and festivals across Australia and overseas, as well as driving community development and youth focussed projects in regional WA.
Joo Tan
Exhibition Coordinator
Joo is a recent Arts Management graduate (WAAPA), who has a tertiary background in business management, communications and creative development. She brings her worldly experience to the Pilbara, as well as learnings from her time working with DADAA, Sculpture by the Sea, Gallery Central and ArtStage Singapore. Joo is responsible for the exhibition and stockroom coordination with the Courthouse Gallery+Studio team.
Rose Barton
Regional Coordinator
Rose studied fine arts and marketing, bringing her recent experience as a marketing and events officer, and demonstrated history in the arts and culture sector. Based in Karratha, working across the Pilbara, Rose brings her skills as both a practising artist, and a psychology student working within arts and health, promoting accessibility, diversity and inclusion.
Leslie Rigot
Regional Coordinator
People-oriented, adaptable and resourceful, Leslie is an experienced digital marketer and events enthusiast coordinating arts and community activities as the Junction’s Regional Coordinator. Leslie uses her extensive expertise and interpersonal skills to contribute to the success of growing the creative industries for the Pilbara.
Samantha Boon
Communications Coordinator + Graphic Designer
Sam has a keen understanding of the role visual design and brand plays in growing and establishing businesses. Drawing on her Diploma of Graphic design, website development and systems experience, Sam leads the online, print and radio communication and marketing activities of The Junction Co, including the Courthouse Gallery+Studio, Portside Town Team and Regional communications.
Nadia Hanna
Ceramics Coordinator
A creative and guider of ideas and passions, Nadia has a deep love of ceramics, and has been channelling this passion into her role as Ceramics Coordinator. Alongside keeping the Ceramic Studio ship-shape, Nadia also facilitates workshops, collaborates with studio members and helps grow this wonderful ceramics community by making it accessible and fun for everyone.
Mel Neville
Production Officer
Communicative and precise, are the top skills which Mel brings to her role as Portside Soap and Oils Production Officer for the Junction. Coordinating, making and selling the Junction’s social enterprise wares, Mel brings a smile to all her tasks, with strong experience in customer service, creative production and logistics to make the Portside brand continue to grow nationally.
Amy Morton
Creative Practitioner
Amy is a creative entrepreneur, who specialises in community engagement, creative facilitation and customer service. With a keen design flair, Amy leads the children and disability program facilitation for the Courthouse Gallery+Studio team, while also overseeing the Store retail management. She is an active member of the Hedland community and ensures that the programming is tailored to the local needs.
Raquel Carvalho D’avila
Coordinator
Raquel brings more than twenty years’ experience in marketing, customer relations, creative enterprise and communication, leading the Gallery+Studio programming to build businesses and develop Store+Stockroom offerings. A business owner as well, Raquel understands the relationship between the community and enterprise, providing opportunities for both to work together and help diversify the Hedland economy.
Adele Ahmat
Ceramics Coordinator
Adele is a recent high school graduate, performing exceptionally in the Specialist Arts Program for her grade. Commencing as an Amine facilitator, she quickly started facilitating more of the Gallery+Studio’s youth focused workshops. More recently, Adele has taken on the role of Studio Technician, coordinating the Ceramics Studio logistics, and supporting the ceramic members.
Lisa Goessmann
Creative Practitioner
Lisa’s passion for the arts comes from her family’s strong creative roots, which ignited her to pursue an education in Fine Arts. After graduating university in Toronto, Canada, Lisa built her career around photography in Perth. Now, Lisa combines her experiences and skill-set to facilitate various community engagement workshops here in Hedland.
Maya-Rose Chauhan
Ceramics Coordinator
Maya is an avid maker and creator, with a strong connection to people and place. Leading the Ceramics Studio operations as part of the Courthouse Gallery+Studio team, Maya coordinates the studio operations, including firing and glazing schedules, membership and our monthly Open Studio. She brings joy to the role, and during her workshop facilitation, ensures participants have gained ceramics knowledge and passion for clay.