Governance

The Board

Tuggeranong Community Arts Association (TCAA) manages the Tuggeranong Arts Centre (TAC). The TCAA Board meets quarterly, and its work is shaped by the TCAA Constitution and its Strategic Plan. TCAA Board positions are all voluntary, and all must be members of the TCAA and have a Director Identification Number.

Board Members

Averil Templar, Chair

Averil has 17 years of experience leading major change programs and communications campaigns at both the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Her professional experience is underpinned by a First Class Honours degree in Commerce at the ANU and a Bachelor of Law including admission as a legal practitioner in the ACT Supreme Court. As an active participant in the performing arts for over 30 years in both the ACT (Canberra Raiders, Fresh Funk) and Adelaide (Australian Company of Performing Arts) she is passionate about the longevity and growth of the arts industry.

Ray Watt, Treasurer

Ray has a background of accountancy and finance having worked both in public practice and in various Commonwealth Government departments. He is currently the Treasurer of the Riverina Travelling Bowlers. During his working life he was a member of various professional bodies associated with accounting and secretarial practice and in retirement has retained his membership as a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants.

Don Cumming, Chair (Acting)

Don was a journalist and communications manager in print, radio, television and the public sector for many years. He is a former ABC Canberra News Editor and Political Correspondent for Radio Australia. He spent 25 years in various Federal Government communications roles including as a Ministerial Press Secretary before he (semi) retired to the quiet life of freelance journalism in 2009. Don served for over 20 years as the ACT Branch President of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

Henry Austin-Stone, Board Member

Henry Austin-Stone is a legal practitioner and company director with experience in government, regulatory compliance, not-for-profit governance, human resources and policy. Henry has held senior roles in a number of prominent membership-based organisations including as a member of the National Executive Committee of Scouts Australia, an executive role in Australian Air Force Cadets National Headquarters, and as Chairperson and Non-Executive Director of an early childhood education and care charity in Tasmania. Henry is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Georgia Briggs, Board Member

Georgia Briggs is the Principal Solicitor of Briggs Law, which operates in offices in both Canberra and Wagga Wagga. She completed her Masters of Law in 2021 and became an accredited Independent Children’s Lawyer in 2022. She has a keen interest in community engagement, and has worked in volunteer capacities, such as with Camp Quality who she has volunteered with for over 6 years, and with her own initiative Paperback Planes, which aims to give the gift of second-hand books as a surprise!

Jennifer Kirkaldy, Board Member

Jennifer Kirkaldy is a strategic leader with extensive experience in public policy, governance and social impact. She is currently the National General Manager, Policy & Advocacy at The Salvation Army Australia, where she leads the organisation’s national social policy and advocacy agenda and engages with government, parliament and civil society on key social issues. Jennifer previously held senior executive roles at the National Disability Insurance Agency, contributing to the design and implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and supporting board and ministerial governance processes. Earlier in her career she held legal and policy roles across several Australian Government departments. Jennifer is also a sessional lecturer in advocacy and communications at the University of Canberra. Jennifer holds degrees in law and political science from the Australian National University and a Master of Laws. She is passionate about strengthening communities and supporting organisations that create opportunities for connection, creativity and social inclusion.

Stephanie McAlister, Board Member

Following the completion of a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at Newcastle, Stephanie performed in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra across opera, music theatre and theatre. She was General Manager of National Opera, Canberra’s professional opera company for over five years and has considerable executive business and government management experience.   Stephanie holds various professional qualifications and certifications including a Master of Professional Education and Training. She currently runs two businesses including her human resources and learning consultancy.

Paul Murray, Board Member

Paul is a visual artist and educator working across sculpture, installation, drawing, painting, mixed media and digital practice. He holds postgraduate qualifications in visual art from UNSW Art, Design & Architecture and has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions throughout NSW and the ACT since the late 1980s. Alongside his studio practice, Paul has built a long standing career as a senior visual arts educator and program coordinator at the Canberra Institute of Technology, bringing over three decades of tertiary teaching experience to his work. He has also served on several Sydney and Canberra based arts boards, including First Draft and ANCA.

Annika Romeyn, Board Member

Annika Romeyn is a practising artist who creates immersive works on paper that combine printmaking, drawing and watercolour to convey her experiences of being in the landscape. Her work is represented by Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne. Annika also works as an Artist Educator at the National Gallery of Australia and has previously served on the Boards of Australian National Capital Artists and M16 Artspace.