Meet the BREC Board | BREC

Meet the BREC Board

Amanda Yip
Board Chair

Amanda Yip is the current Chair of the BREC Board and also the Festival Director of the Bunbury Chinese Lantern Festival. She also recently held a position as an Elected Member in the City of Bunbury.

She graduated from ECU with a Bachelor of Business (Tourism) and worked in hotels and hospitality for many years, including a stint on private yachts in the Mediterranean.

She currently sits on a number of diverse committees, championing the future of an artificial reef, new art gallery and urban greening.

Through her role as Chair, she is able to advocate for the performing arts industry, welcome all people to experience the magic of live theatre, and ensure the sustainability of BREC for future generations.

Amanda was born and bred in Bunbury and has seen it change from a sports-focussed small town to a city that has embraced its artistic heart. She sees the benefits of live theatre experiences in her own children and is passionate about ensuring all South West children have the same opportunity.

Paul Springate
Deputy Chair

Paul Springate has been a Board Member of BREC since 2014 and currently holds the position of Vice/Deputy Chair. He has spent over 25 years creating effective business solutions and successful customer outcomes at a large corporate company. With a background in program management and strategic transformation, a strong analytical mind, and a keen eye for detail, Paul has lent his expertise to numerous boards and committees – including 10 years on Bunbury’s International Relations Committee from 2013 to 2023, where he focused on spreading awareness of Bunbury’s thriving cultural scene and welcoming visitors from around the world.

Through his role as Vice Chair, he is able to support the wealth of local talent that exists in the South West, welcome new audiences and performers to experience the magic of Bunbury, and work strategically to ensure the sustainability and growth of BREC for future generations.

Originally from the UK, Paul relocated to WA in the 1990s with his wife before settling in Bunbury to raise a family. His family are great supporters of the arts, and you’ll often find them attending or participating in events across the South West.

Jacqueline Ross
Relationship Development Commitee Chair

Jacqueline Ross has enjoyed a wide ranging career in arts, events, education and health. She has been a Bunbury resident for 30 years, having moved to WA as the Director of Music for Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School in 1994. A lifetime of engagement with the arts in a ranges of contexts and capacities eventually led Jacqueline to complete a Masters in Music Therapy and she now works as a Neurologic Music Therapist at St John of God, Bunbury and through private practice.

She also brings to the BREC Board experience in fundraising and governance through an earlier professional role as Executive Director of the Lishman Health Foundation. Jacqueline is an exercise enthusiast, an advocate for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes and acts as Musical Director of a variety of community productions.

Angelique Fransen

Angelique Fransen is a respected figure in the field of Indigenous tourism and has made significant contributions to the industry.  Her tenure as the first CEO of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) saw it grow to an Incorporated Association and the only group of its kind in Australia.  She played a crucial role in the growth of the organisation from an initial 11 members to over 280 Aboriginal tourism experiences, establishing it as the peak body for Aboriginal tourism in Western Australia.

Angelique started her consultancy Moontide Management in July 2007 after an extensive public sector career.  Angelique returned to Bunbury from Perth in 2013 with a particular focus on tourism, events, destination promotion and Aboriginal economic development through her consultancy.

Currently Angelique is with the South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) assisting with the rollout of the new Kwaba Bidi Community Foster Program for the South West.

Angelique has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and is passionate about the artistic and cultural growth of the South West region and is looking forward to being part of BREC’s journey growing the cultural footprint in the South West.

Craig Holland

Craig Holland has a rich background in corporate services, strategic planning, and community engagement. As Director of Corporate Services at Pilbara Institute in Karratha, Craig was responsible for the operations of the Walkington Theatre, where he gained an in-depth understanding of theatre management, funding, programming, and financial oversight.

This role included overseeing the theatre’s committee and working closely with the theatre manager, which provided a unique insight into the operational and strategic requirements of a performing arts venue. Craig currently serves as the Corporate Services Manager and Systems Implementation at IPS Management Consultants, where he is responsible for steering the organisation towards the forefront of artificial intelligence, focusing on policy development, implementation, and the deployment of AI systems. He is also the CEO of the IPS Foundation. These roles have honed his abilities in strategic visioning, governance, and managing complex projects.

His previous tenure as Managing Director of innovation hub and consultancy, Maker + Co, demonstrated his ability to manage a diverse portfolio, including co-working operations, commercial leases, program delivery for government bodies, and venue hire. Maker + Co also provided a venue for a variety of cultural activities including live performances, film screenings, visual art displays and the sale of creative products. Craig holds a Masters in Business Administration and various certifications, including Governance and Government Investigations.

Dr Lynette Narkle

Dr Lynette Narkle is a respected Elder, and professional actor and director of Indigenous theatre, film and television.  She has been a pivotal force in theatre since the late 70s, starring in Jack Davis’ plays Kullark, The Dreamers, No Sugar, Our Town, and The Honey Spot.

Over the years she has worked tirelessly to promote indigenous filmmakers and programming and found herself on a number of boards where her passion for the arts has been celebrated.

Her lifetime of work was recognised in 2017 when she received the Australia Council’s prestigious Red Ochre Award.

Her goal has been and still is, to empower up and coming Australian practitioners in all genres and use contemporary theatre, film and television to tell The True Australian Story.  ‘Song lines and stories for over 60,000 years have held Australia’s history, now we can bring them from the past, into the present and on to the future.’

Michelle Noake

Michelle is a professional actor, singer and voice over artist. Her career spanning three decades. She is a graduate of the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and immediately forged a strong reputation in the theatre and became well known on the Sydney mainstage. She has worked for Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Ensemble Theatre, MTC, Griffin Theatre, Playbox and Perth Theatre Company. She has performed in most cities and regional centres across Australia and toured internationally. She holds multiple awards in this discipline.

She has been granted a number of fellowships which enabled her to study at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, HB Studio in New York and The International Film Workshop.

Film and television credits include Oscar And LucindaBackberner, Corridors of Power, The CooksAll Saints, At Home with Julia, Puberty Blues, Tricky BusinessDoctor Doctor, Rake, Fallout, Home and Away, RFDS, The Twelve and the WA based family film Runt.

She has recored voices in various animated series, most recently Alice Miranda, Kangaroo Beach and Space Nova. She was heard on Media Watch on the ABC most weeks for a decade.

She is delighted to now reside in the West and to share her enthusiasm and passion for the Arts here in Bunbury. She is thrilled to support BREC in her capacity as an artist who is actively engaged and employed as an industry professional. She feels she has much to contribute within an already thriving Artistic community.

Robbie Potter

Robbie Potter is one of our newest Board members commencing in July 2024. Originally from Boyanup, Robbie studied English and Media at ECU in Bunbury before commencing a career in Human Resources where he holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in HR Management. Before moving away from Bunbury in the mid-2000s, Robbie had enjoyed gracing our stage for several BREC supported musicals, as well as with productions by Stark Raven Theatre Company. He was a regular actor at the Bunbury Repertory Club.

More recently, Robbie was the owner of an events hire company based in Fremantle for nearly 10 years and enjoyed sound engineering for live band performances, event management and supporting community events. He has a love of music and the arts and is an average DJ. Robbie is the Human Resources Manager at South32. He has spent the last 20 years working in other senior HR roles across WA including Piacentini & Son, WesTrac and Serco.

Robbie hopes to combine his love of the arts, the local community and his professional experience to help support BREC’s standing in the South West as the premier space for showcasing local, national and international artists, and further promote the benefits of the arts to a diverse audience.

Parthasarathy Ramesh

 

Saira Zahiruddin

As an educator, I am dedicated to fostering a positive learning environment and supporting both students and colleagues. I am passionate about the Arts and take an active role in our school’s engagement with BREC’s Arts programs. I believe that creative expression is essential to a well-rounded education and strive to ensure our students have meaningful opportunities to explore and appreciate the Arts.

At my school, I also manage the Math and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, focusing on innovative teaching strategies and curriculum enhancement to best meet our students’ needs. My role includes mentoring graduate teachers, leading school improvement efforts, and integrating best practices to enrich our educational approach.

With a background in performance management and curriculum development, I am committed to continuous improvement and creating a supportive learning environment. As a Board member of BREC, I am excited to contribute my experience and enthusiasm to our community. I look forward to collaborating to support and advance our educational initiatives, including the vibrant Arts programs that enrich our students’ lives.