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
Vice Chair
& Finance, Risk and Audit Committee 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
Co Relationship Development Commitee Chair
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.
Michelle Doake
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 Lucinda, Backberner, Corridors of Power, The Cooks, All Saints, At Home with Julia, Puberty Blues, Tricky Business, Doctor 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.
Alison Piacentini
Alison Piacentini is a passionate advocate for arts, culture and community development in the South West and is the proud Patron of the South West Opera Company. Through her professional and philanthropic work, she has supported a wide range of community and cultural initiatives that create lasting social impact.
As Manager of Charitable Giving at Piacentini & Son, Alison works closely with community organisations and stakeholders to develop meaningful partnerships and deliver strategic philanthropic programs. Her experience spans corporate, marketing and executive support roles, bringing valuable expertise in stakeholder engagement, relationship management and governance.
As a long-time supporter of arts, culture and community initiatives across the South West and beyond, Alison values the important role BREC plays in bringing people together through shared cultural experiences. As a Board Member, she is pleased to contribute to the organisation’s continued growth and long-term sustainability, while helping to strengthen relationships with partners, supporters and the broader 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
City of Bunbury Representitive
Dr Parthasarathy Ramesh FRCP (Lon, Ire) FRACP is a Councillor for the City of Bunbury and the City’s representative on the BREC Board, bringing a strong commitment to community wellbeing, inclusion and cultural connection.
He is a Consultant Physician and Geriatrician at Bunbury Hospital, with specialist interests in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, memory loss syndromes, stroke, complex geriatric assessment, and telemedicine to improve access to specialist care across the South West.
Dr Ramesh is also President of the South West Indian Group Inc (SWIG) in Bunbury, where he has played a leading role in delivering vibrant multicultural events and initiatives including Diwali celebrations, yoga programs and community tree planting. He has a deep love of art and culture and believes strongly in the role of shared experiences in building stronger communities.
Outside of work, he is passionate about cricket and sport and captains his indoor cricket team, the Spice Warriors.
Ben Talbot
Ben Talbot is a commercial lawyer based in Bunbury with a lifelong passion for the arts and strong ties to the region. He trained at WAAPA and has performed in leading roles with SWOC, including The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and most recently Carmen. His early artistic career included performing in bands that achieved notable success, including supporting Jimmy Barnes and the Hoodoo Gurus.
Alongside his artistic pursuits, Ben has built a diverse professional career spanning aviation, finance, consulting, property development and law. He began as a pilot and flying instructor before establishing and growing an accounting and consulting firm. Following its sale, he moved into property development and later fulfilled a long-held ambition to become a lawyer, now practising in commercial law.
Having recently returned to the South West, Ben is passionate about giving back and contributing to a vibrant, connected arts and cultural sector. He holds postgraduate qualifications and an MBA, and brings governance experience from roles across private and public boards.
Philip Vuong
Philip Vuong believes arts and cultural experiences play an important role in building vibrant, connected communities. As a member of the BREC Board, he is committed to supporting opportunities for people across the South West to engage with diverse, high-quality entertainment, creative experiences and cultural events.
Philip brings extensive leadership experience in healthcare, governance and organisational management across regional and metropolitan Australia. As General Manager of Clinical Operations at Oseca Health, he leads clinical governance, quality improvement and risk management frameworks that support the delivery of safe and effective community health services. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions including Director of Nursing, Health Service Manager and Quality and Compliance Manager. [oseca.com.au], [au.linkedin.com]
Born to Vietnamese refugee parents, Philip has a strong commitment to service and community. He also serves as a Nursing Officer in the Australian Army Reserve, bringing additional experience in leadership, governance and organisational resilience.
Dr Lynette Narkle
Elder in Residence
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.’