firstdraft
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Directors

Julia Mendel

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Chairperson

Julia Mendel is a creative producer whose work is focused on socially engaged practices and community led projects. She is currently Public Programs Producer at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Previously she held the position of Community Engagement Producer at Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE), Parramatta, where she initiated the All Girl Electronic program for Western Sydney female, transgender and non-binary youth, offering training and mentorship in electronic music production. From 2015-2017 she co-directed the Critical Animals Creative Research Symposium as part of This is Not Art, Newcastle. In 2012 Julia graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Art History and Curatorship (Honours).

Past Firstdraft Directors
Geirthana Nandakumaran
2023–24 Co-Director
Geirthana Nandakumaran
2023–24 Co-Director

Geirthana Nandakumaran is an artist and arts worker, whose practice investigates liminal identity, relating her environments through spatial and cultural investigations of selfhood, and Sri Lankan Tamil-Australian cultures.

2023–24 Co-Director
Brian Obiri-Asare
2022 Co-Director
Brian Obiri-Asare
2022 Co-Director

Brian Obiri-Asare is a creative writer of Ghanaian descent, with a particular focus on engaging with the complexities and contradictions of a multiracial society.

2022 Co-Director
Laura Couttie
2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Chairperson
Laura Couttie
2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Chairperson

Laura Couttie is an arts manager, writer and curator. Over the past ten years Laura has worked in creative, administrative and management roles in a variety of galleries and arts organisations.

2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Chairperson
Holly Farrell
2021–22 Co-Director
Holly Farrell
2021–22 Co-Director

Holly Farrell is a Newcastle-based creative producer, with extensive experience coordinating multidisciplinary arts festivals and community led projects.

2021–22 Co-Director
Dennis Golding
2021 Co-Director
Dennis Golding
2021 Co-Director

Dennis Golding is a Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist from the north west of NSW, born and raised in Sydney.

2021 Co-Director
June Golland
2021–22 Co-Director
June Golland
2021–22 Co-Director

June Golland is a Central West NSW-based artist working across sculpture, installation and textiles. She is a founding member of WAYOUT artist collective, developing and delivering professional opportunities for regional artists.

2021–22 Co-Director
M. Sunflower
2021–22 Co-Director
M. Sunflower
2021–22 Co-Director

M. Sunflower is a culturally diverse Australian artist who identifies as living with disabilities. She is founder and curating contributor of Off The Wall Gallery, Sydney, an outdoor and online exhibiting initiative centred on creating opportunities for marginalised artists, including those living with physical and mental disability.

2021–22 Co-Director
Gillian Kayrooz
2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Deputy Chairperson
Gillian Kayrooz
2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Deputy Chairperson

Gillian Kayrooz is an artist whose practice reflects both her personal experience of and ongoing engagement with the local personas, neighbourhoods, cultural motifs and movements of Western Sydney.

2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Deputy Chairperson
Heather Tralaggan
2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Treasurer
Heather Tralaggan
2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Treasurer

Heather Tralaggan is a curator and arts professional living and working on Gadigal land. In 2017 she co-founded Collab Gallery at Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, a curatorially-supported exhibition space for emerging artists.

2021–22 Co-Director, 2021–22 Treasurer
Julia Mendel
2019–20 Co-Director, 2019–20 Chairperson
Julia Mendel
2019–20 Co-Director, 2019–20 Chairperson

Julia Mendel is a creative producer whose work is focused on socially engaged practices and community led projects.

2019–20 Co-Director, 2019–20 Chairperson
PastFirstdraft2019–20 Co-Director, 2019–20 Chairperson