We are a small team supporting researchers in the field, and engaging with the public, project partners, and donors to support Rock Art Australia’s objectives. As a Not for Profit organisation, RAA relies on the generous support of donors to enable current and future programs. Fundraising is therefor at the core of what we do.
Samantha joined Rock Art Australia as CEO in September 2023 and brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of strategic and operational leadership, philanthropic engagement and grant funding, business development and planning, community engagement and partnership and higher education research and training. She has led transformational and innovative large-scale projects, increased partnership and investment and successfully developed organisational culture, implemented change management and professional development.
Samantha has worked in numerous international and national cultural organisations and has extensive professional experience in the preservation of cultural heritage. She has held leadership roles in the public and private sectors through employment and volunteer committee positions including Arts Centre Melbourne (ACM), Museums Victoria, and the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM), the Australian Museum and Galleries Association (AMaGA Vic) and as a consultant for numerous local council and remote community organisations.
Samantha has years of experience in engaging and partnering with Aboriginal stakeholders and communities across Australia to create impact and outcomes which benefit all partners. She has worked with remote arts centres including in the Kimberley and Arnhem Land and led the conservation program for Museum Victoria’s award winning First Peoples exhibition. She developed and delivered practical conservation training to Aboriginal community members through peak bodies such as the Arnhem Northern and Kimberly Artists (ANKA), the University of Melbourne’s Grimwade Centre for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (GCCMC) and La Trobe University’s Certificate IV in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management.
Samantha holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in the Conservation of Cultural Materials and received her PhD for her thesis about the need and impact of preserving remote Aboriginal community cultural collections: ‘Before it is too late: A strategic framework for the preservation of remote First Nations community collections.’
She has received numerous awards for advanced training and academic research in Australia and overseas, has presented at national and international conferences and published in peer reviewed journals and books.
Nick joined the team at Rock Art Australia as Operations Manager in July 2024. He is passionate about the role that he plays in maintaining business activities, delivering projects and supporting the CEO, Board and Science Advisory Committee to help realise the strategic aims of the organisation.
With over 15 years’ experience in the cultural sector, Nick has led conservation and heritage management projects across Australasia and Southeast Asia. He has worked in a variety of settings, including large collecting institutions (Australian War Memorial, Museum of Contemporary Art, Australian National Maritime Museum), academia (University of NSW), government enterprise (Artlab Australia) and private business (International Conservation Services).
Nick’s experience extends to a range of leadership and committee positions in local government (Willoughby City Council), professional associations (Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM)) and not-for-profit organisations (Walter Burley Griffin Society).
Nick holds formal qualifications in business administration and project management (Master of Business Administration), conservation (Master of Cultural Materials Conservation), chemistry (Bachelor of Science) and philosophy (Bachelor of Arts). He is a Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, a Professional Member of the AICCM and an active part of the conservation, scientific and academic communities.
Anisha joined Rock Art Australia in March 2024, initially as a consultant, and then as Marketing and Communications Manager in August 2024.
She is responsible for building the brand awareness of Rock Art Australia, increasing partnerships and philanthropic support and delivering our program of national events.
Anisha has extensive experience in marketing, communications and event management, building innovative partnerships and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. She has worked in regional and remote areas of Western Australia and the Northern Territory across the arts and environment sectors.
Prior to joining Rock Art Australia, she worked in organisations including Artback NT, Territory Natural Resource Management, ANKA – Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists Aboriginal Corporation, and several Indigenous Art Centres, including Tangentyere Artists in Alice Springs, and Kayili Artists in the Gibson Desert, WA.
