PP&VA Board & Management

Executive Assistant to CEO
Lauren O’Neill
lauren.oneill@penrith.city

CEO of Penrith Performing & Visual Arts, incorporating The Joan, Q Theatre, Penrith Conservatorium and Penrith Regional Gallery.

Krissie Scudds has over 30 years of experience in the Australian creative industries. Appointed CEO of PP&VA in January 2023, she previously served as Marketing Director for eight years. With deep expertise in Western Sydney’s arts and cultural landscape, she is also a member of the Western Sydney Arts Alliance Working Group.

A strategic leader specialising in program development, branding, audience engagement, and digital strategy, Krissie spent over a decade managing Audience and Market Development for the Australia Council and she has a long-held passion for helping arts organisations and individual artists deepen engagement with their audiences. Her work includes projects for Opera Australia, Vivid Ideas, Qantas, the Dictionary of Sydney, Arts Access Australia, Community Cultural Development NSW, CoFA, State Theatre SA and the Sydney Olympic Park Business Association and more.

toby.chapman@penrith.city

Toby leads the strategic and creative programming for visual arts across Penrith Regional Gallery as well as Penrith Performing & Visual Arts. He is an arts leader and curator who has worked with cultural organisations across Western Sydney for the past 15 years. He has curated exhibitions and programs for major institutions and festivals including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Shanghai Biennale and Jakarta Biennale. His mission is for the Gallery to be locally valued and nationally valuable, through community-focussed programming and the sharing of its significant collection. Toby has a Bachelor of Arts, Art History and Theory & Film Studies and is currently completing a Master of Arts, Curatorial & Museum Studies.

peta.downes@penrith.city

Peta has a strong background in theatre directing, producing, arts management, and education.

She has previously served as Tour Development Coordinator for Critical Stages Touring, Programs Producer for The Sydney Fringe, and Program Leader at the Australian Institute of Music. Her directing and producing credits include work with Brisbane Powerhouse, Metro Arts, La Boite Theatre, Queensland Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Darlinghurst Theatre, and KXT Broadway.

As an acting trainer, Peta has also taught at institutions such as QUT, UNSW, NIDA, CQU, and Charles Sturt University. From 2019 to 2022, Peta was also a Board Director for Theatre Network NSW.

brian.kjim@penrith.city

Brian is a musician, educator, and neuroscientist with a unique career that integrates creative practice and scientific research. A skilled multi-instrumentalist with a background in performance, pedagogy, and arts management, he brings both expertise and enthusiasm to music education.

With experience teaching at all levels—from primary school to university, he is committed to supporting young and emerging musicians through meaningful and accessible learning opportunities.

Complementing his work as an educator, his research explores how music affects brain function, mood, cognition, and mental health, with a particular focus on addiction, compulsive behaviours, and cognitive development.

An experienced arts administrator based in the Blue Mountains, Dale Maxwell-Smith is a passionate advocate for the arts, heritage and the environment. Dale has worked across the arts and cultural sector as a festival and events producer and project manager for various organisations including Art Month Sydney, Art Money & The Australian Centre for Photography. Dale is currently the Training and Engagement Manager at Museums & Galleries of NSW, responsible for the organisation’s professional and skills development program, sector research, partnerships across national and state institutions, local government organisations and private business, and administrating devolved funding. Dale also oversees the IMAGinE Awards, the annual industry awards for museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres across NSW. Dale has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from The University of Sydney.

Retired Financial Planner, tax lawyer and company director Don Church is experienced in advising boards in matters of governance; legal matters including understanding and applying legislation and legislative process; tax and financial planning matters; accounts management and supervision; risk management; human resource management; senior management; and strategic planning in both private and public company environments.

A Penrith local, Cr Boerst is an experienced creative producer, founder and director of the StarBurst Film Festival. She is passionate about producing content that inspires audiences, changes lives, and educates others to do the same.

Cr Boerst is driven to help build a strong, resilient, inclusive and creative community. She is particularly focused on ensuring access to services and facilities for the community, including palliative and aged care, and resources and assistance for people living with disability.

Cr Cook has lived in the Penrith area for 42 years and her family’s association with Penrith spans many generations. Her great uncle was elected to Penrith Council in 1936.

As a former registered nurse and carer for a parent with disabilities, Cr Cook has a keen interest in the health and wellbeing of the community. She also has a deep respect for the Indigenous peoples of the area and is committed to advocating for members of the community who are marginalised.

Her support for the Arts and her belief that art holds a mirror up to society and can bring about meaningful change.

Cr Fowler is in his eighth consecutive term on Council after first being elected in 1991. Cr Fowler holds qualifications in Accounting, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a registered Company Auditor and Tax Agent and is the Principal of a Chartered Accountancy firm in Penrith.

Andrew Jackson is currently the Director, Planning & Regulatory Services at Penrith City Council. Prior to this appointment, he was the inaugural Director, Planning Partnership at Liverpool City Council. He has extensive experience at NSW State Government including with the Department of Premier and Cabinet where he was the Executive Director, Cities. He has held Executive Director roles with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and was Principal Advisor at NSW Treasury.

An action oriented Senior Executive, effective relationship builder and supportive leader of people. Alison oversees and directs the provision of high-quality executive management services; overseeing policy, planning and operational advice, manages significant Group and Cluster projects, and provides strategic and professional support to the Group Deputy Secretary Housing and Property and the Executive Leadership Team. Alison was a Finalist in 2013 in the NSW Women in Local Government Awards and won the University of Western Sydney Woman of the West Award that year.

Amanda Rudolf is Head Teacher Performing Arts at Nepean CAPA High School. A long-time Blue Mountains resident, Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and German before studying Teaching at WSU and beginning a long career as a High School Music teacher. Amanda plays piano, flute, saxophone and sings. She has conducted the PULSE Massed Choir at the Opera House, runs an a cappella group and vocal ensemble at Nepean CAPA High School and is a member of Bird Yard Big Band and Harmoni a cappella group. Amanda is deeply committed to providing opportunities for students to experience and engage in the Performing Arts, and is the Chair of PP&VA’s Education Committee.