TMN Conference #3

Please check the discussion forum for more information.

Date: Sunday 26th October – Tuesday 28th, October.
Location: Monash University (Wellington Rd, Clayton VIC 3800)

• Agenda HERE

Guest Speakers 

Steph Cox
Manager
Circus Centre Melbourne 

Steph Cox (she/her) is an arts leader, producer and advocate with over 15 years’ experience across the Australian performing arts sector, specialising in circus. She has worked with leading organisations including Circa, NICA, Legs on the Wall, Na Djinang Circus and Theatre Network Australia, and most recently served as Executive Director/CEO of Women’s Circus. Steph is currently the Manager of Circus Centre Melbourne, where she continues her commitment to inclusive practice, sector sustainability and artist wellbeing.

Caroline Bowditch
Cultural Equity Consultant and Advisor

Caroline Bowditch is an internationally acclaimed performance maker, director, teacher, and consultant. She has redefined how disability and performance intersect on stages in Australia and across the world. Formerly CEO of Arts Access Victoria and Artistic Director of her own practice, Caroline is celebrated for combining bold creativity with fierce advocacy for access, equity, and representation in the arts.

Laura Hook
Freelance Production Manager

Laura Hook has worked in the Theatre Industry in the UK for over 20 years.

She graduated with a BA(Hons) in Performance Design and Production from Bretton Hall, University of Leeds in the UK. She then began her career as a casual technician with the Birmingham Hippodrome and held the role as a stage and props technician with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, which is where she honed her skills in all aspects of Theatre craft. She was a Senior Technician at the Peacock Theatre for Sadler’s Wells (London), the UKs leading dance organisation, for 6 years.

Laura also worked internationally, as a Production Manager and Technician, with artists such as Caroline Bowditch, Joan Cleville Dance, Claire Cunningham and with the British Paraorchestra on the ‘transformative’ show The Nature of Why.

In 2016, Laura began collaborating as a set, lighting and stage designer and co-creator with Caroline Bowditch on various works including two works for children, The Adventures of Snigel and Snigel and Friends. Both shows toured to festivals and venues around the UK, Europe and Singapore. In the 2017 run of Snigel and Friends at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival it was nominated for a Total Theatre Award.

Since arriving in Australia she has worked with Arts Access Victoria to deliver everything from live music events, exhibitions and various shows. Looking after their portable accessible arts space, Nebula, at festivals and events. Including the Checkpoint programme at the award winning, inaugural, Alter State Festival in collaboration with Arts Centre Melbourne.

Laura continues to be driven by a passion for innovation and inclusivity in the arts. In January 2023, Laura took over as Production and Technical Manager at Theatre Works in St Kilda. One of Australia’s longest running Independent Theatres in the heart of St Kilda, in the historic Parish Hall on Acland Street. Under Laura’s direction she implemented a new lighting system in the main venue and upgraded and improved equipment and systems in both venues.

She has also had the pleasure to work with independent artists Vanessa di Natale on the Green Room Award nominated show ‘Breeders’ and with celebrated cabaret artist and performer Artemis Muñoz on their work ‘Artemis: Utter Mess’. Most recently she worked with Olivia Muscat on her show ‘Is Anyone Even Watching?’ at Melbourne Fringe 2025.

Jess Ekserdjian and Sophie Curtis
Co-Founders
ensō Workplace Wellbeing

Jess and Sophie are both clinical psychologists and co-founders of ensō Workplace Wellbeing. They have contributed to the initiation, development, implementation and evaluation of large-scale workforce wellbeing programs and are passionate about supporting the wellbeing of the arts sector. They understand the unique needs of the industry and are proud to partner with Entertainment Assist to deliver research-informed education and support programs.

Jess and Sophie bring a breadth of mental health knowledge and facilitation experience to their work and enjoy actively engaging employees in important conversations about wellbeing in the workplace.