Julie Woodward – Chief Executive Officer
As the CEO of YAQ, Jules has the overall leadership responsibility of the organisation. She makes sure that YAQ meets its organisational goals and works to provide the resources we need to achieve what we set out to do. Jules works closely with the Management Committee and YAQ staff members so that they too can achieve their goals. It is her responsibility to manage and lead YAQ’s relationships with a range of partners including local, state and federal government agencies.
What inspires you? I’m inspired by art that is in some way surprising, unexpected or even shocking. From a YAQ point of view, I’m inspired daily by the countless young people who come through our doors with big dreams and great ideas.
What’s your favourite arts website? My current favourite is the newly discovered Berlin Philharmonic website and in particular their Digital Concert Hall. You can watch live concerts from the archives, sometimes for free and sometimes for a few Euros. On the other end of the musical scale you can’t help but be amazed by the vegetable playing skills of the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra!
What’s one thing that people wouldn’t know about you? Hmmmm, I know how to use a welding iron!
Anna Jones – National Programs Manager
Anna manages the national JUMP program – that means liaising regularly with the Australia Council and state delivery partners, writing a large body of program materials and reports, and building relationships with a range of program stakeholders. Anna’s also part of YAQ’s management team and always on the lookout for ways to profile, improve and grow our business.
What inspires you? People who create and perform.
What’s your favourite arts website/blog/YouTube clip? The Project Blue: Smarties 8 colours of fun
What’s one thing that people wouldn’t know about you? I have completed an ornamental fruit carving course.
Kath Quigley – Training Manager
Kath is our new Training Manager, looking after all things Navigation Arts Business Training. She is an active independent producer, currently working on The Danger Ensemble’s Hamlet Apocalypse as part of La Boite Indie. She is passionate about supporting young artists running micro businesses. Kath is based on the Sunshine Coast, but will be in the YAQ office twice a week, as well as doing the rounds throughout Queensland during Navigation delivery.
What inspires you? Challenge and change.
What’s your favourite arts website/blog? Twitter.
What’s the one thing people wouldn’t know about you? I am a gym-junkie and health freak.
Caro Jende – JUMP Marketing Manager
Caro is JUMP’s Marketing Manager. As part of her role, Caro works with the JUMP team to promote and profile all of JUMP program activities. Caro engages with a range of industry professionals, community organisations and individual artists on a day-to-day basis and and loves getting out there to see some of the shows, exhibitions and events that fill her inbox every day.
What inspires you? The creativity and passion of the people I work with every.
What’s your favourite arts website? I love Creative Choices for all its amazing articles, profiles, videos and podcasts.
What’s one thing that people wouldn’t know about you? I have a thing for elephants and whales and dream about travelling to Africa and experience the wildlife, colours, people, food and music of this amazing continent.
Tara McGrath - Program Coordinator
As the coordinator for the JUMP program, Tara liaises with mentees, mentors and alumni on a regular basis. She also help coordinate major events and application rounds throughout the year. Tara works closely with Anna and the marketing team to help support the management and day-to-day delivery of the JUMP program.
What inspires you? The wonder and power of nature. People living life to the fullest. The physicality of creating art and individuals who express their deepest selves in their work.
What’s your favourite website? There are far too many to have any true favourites, except maybe Google. What did anyone do before Google?
What’s one thing that people wouldn’t know about you? I’m a bit of a pyromaniac, I really love watching bonfires, fireworks…
Alexandra McCallum – Program Coordinator
Alex is YAQ’s career pathways coordinator. If you have questions about getting a creative project off the ground, editing an arts industry resume, a job or grant application, feel free to get in contact with her.
What inspires you? The smell of soil after rain, companionable silence on the phone and hearing what inspires other people.
What’s your favourite website? TED – you have to check it out.
What is one thing that people wouldn’t know about you that you are happy to share? I’d secretly like to design robots.
Cassey Russell – Project Coordinator
Cassey runs the music programs for YAQ’s Transit Lounge project in Caboolture. She develops programs and events in response to what is either a strong suggestion from a group of young people within the Moreton Bay Region OR ideas that she thinks could benefit local musicians. Some have included Band Camp, Band Aid, Giggidy Gigs, Amplify (song writing) and Amplify (Industry). What she loves most about her job is the networking that happens. To see a mentoring opportunity for a band turn into a long term partnership with their mentor is awesome.
What inspires you? My inspiration would be lyrics, a good story or thought provoking ideas in songs, which is something I find more in local bands than on mainstream radio. So I spend a lot of my free time heading to local gigs.
What’s your CD top five collection? Apart from local music, my CD top five collection includes Tracey Chapman, Alanis Morissette, P!nk, The Fray and Dubmarine.
What’s your favourite YouTube clip? My favourite YouTube clip would have to be the one of Ukrainian Kseniya Simonovah performing sand art on her family’s experience in World War 2.
What is one thing that people wouldn’t know about you? I have a deep love for peanut butter and ice cream.
Sarah Keating – Project Officer
Sarah is a Project Officer at Transit Lounge Caboolture. Her role involves creating new ways for TLC to provide support to local creative young people and helping to connect emerging artists with each other, local networks and networks outside the Moreton Bay region. Her role also involves providing professional development, showcasing and networking opportunities for young creative folks and foster partnerships with other local and national events, festivals, forums and industry professionals.
What inspires you? People who have great ideas and get out there and do it. Companies such as Punch Drunk, Woodford Folk Federation, Strut and Fret, Polytoxic Loves You, Circa and projects / programs such Renew Newcastle are great inspirations to me.
What’s one thing that people wouldn’t know about you? I used to be terrified of dogs (even the tiny yappy ones). There was no reason, it was totally irrational. When I got to the age of 10 and realised how silly I was being I asked my parents if we could get a dog to help me over come my fear, it worked and now I have three.
What’s your favourite arts website/blog/YouTube clip? hmmmm…I should put something arty and inspirational here but I don’t really surf the web apart from facebook, email, google and the odd bit of online shopping. I’ll sound a bit repetitive here as so many YAQ staff love TED but I recently checked it out and it’s very awesome.
