Board of Directors

Warwick Shanks OAM (Chair)
Warwick is an Audit and Assurance Partner in KPMG’s Enterprise division where he provides external audit, internal audit and risk management services to a wide range of clients, with a particular focus on the Not for Profit and Education sectors, as well as privately owned businesses.
Warwick is also Deputy Chancellor of the University of Wollongong and he oversees the judging of the Illawarra Business Awards. In January 2024 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to business and the community.

Kerry Hunt (Deputy Chair)
Kerry Hunt is the Director Community Services at Wollongong City Council. A graduate of the University of Wollongong with a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), and a Master of Policy (Social), Kerry started her career in neighbourhood-based youth work and went on to work across various community and corporate service roles for Wollongong City Council. Kerry is passionate about the role local government can play in the revitalisation and transformation of cities and places through community and industry partnerships, enabling policy frameworks, service excellence and leadership. Kerry was appointed to the Director role in 2018 and has oversight of the revitalisation and activation of Wollongong’s City Centre, events and engagement, community and cultural development and services for the City. As part of her role, she works with others to secure commitment and investment in flagship global events for the city such as the 2022 UCI- Road World Championships and the upcoming World Triathlon Championships. Kerry has held various voluntary board positions over the past two decades and is a current member of the CatholicCare Advisory Council, an organisation delivering social services to the south coast, Illawarra and Macarthur regions.

Alicia Battestini
Alicia’s career spans two connected worlds: circus and physical theatre, and relationships counselling. She is currently team leader of the Counselling and Parenting Orders Programs with Relationships Australia Illawarra. Prior to this she was team leader of RANSW’s Ability Groupwork and Disability Counselling Program, to support people involved with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with a Disability. Before and throughout her ten years with Relationships Australia, Al has been a performer and director with several circus and physical theatre companies and collaborators. She was a performer with, and Artistic Director of, Circus Monoxide. Other performance credits include My Bicycle Loves You with Legs on the Wall at the Sydney and Perth Festivals, Dead Man Break, and The Man Who Dreamt the Stars with Merrigong Theatre Company, and early versions of Elsie with collaborator Vestri Mendum. A first draft of the show Elsie for Vestri, with video artist Mic Gruchy, was a part of the MERRIGONGX 2022 program. Al is now particularly interested in exploring the intersections of these two major areas of her career – how her more recent deep experience of working with people in the relationships and mental health space can inform the development of new works of theatre that address and help with the healing of traumatic experiences.

Brian Jenkins
Brian Jenkins is the Chief Financial Officer of Wollongong City Council, having previously held that position at Penrith City Council.
He holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and has attended the Australian Institute of Company Directors, completing the Company Directors Course.

Joseph Alessi
Joseph Alessi is an international executive with proven experience in the creative industries, education, government and not-for-profit sectors. He has held key leadership positions in nationally significant institutions, including Creative Australia, Screen Australia, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and the Australian Trade Commission in Sydney, London and Frankfurt. Joseph’s expertise encompasses strategic planning, business optimisation, investment attraction and market development. A highly regarded and longstanding arts advocate, he is committed to fostering artistic excellence, social impact and access for all.
Joseph is currently the Chair of IPAC’s Risk and Audit Committee.

Leisa Hicks
Leisa Hicks is a proud Kamillaroi/Yuin woman who has lived on Dharawal country her entire life. With 18 years of teaching experience, she works for the Department of Education as a PDHPE/Dance teacher and Aboriginal Education leader, serving at school, regional, and state levels. Leisa is also a member of the First Nations Advisory Group for Merrigong Theatre Company and sits on the board as the First Nations representative, where she advocates for and advises on matters concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture, and community.

Suzanne Shepherd
Suzanne brings a wealth of experience in corporate arts sponsorship and government and industry relations to the Merrigong Board. With a strong background in supporting Australia’s leading arts organizations, she has successfully built strong partnerships making it possible for artistic initiatives to thrive.
Suzanne is passionate about fostering creativity and accessibility in the arts, believing in the transformative power of theatre. Her strategic vision and commitment to building lasting relationships with sponsors will be instrumental in advancing the mission of Merrigong Theatre.
In addition to her role on the board, Suzanne is an active theatregoer. You will regularly see her enjoying Merrigong productions.
Suzanne is currently the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for Symphony infrastructure and lives locally.
Merrigong Staff
Artistic Director / CEO | Simon Hinton |
General Manager | Rachel Francis |
Executive Team Coordinator | Nicole McLennan |
Artistic Development Manager | Leland Kean |
Producer - New Works | Annie Clapton |
Emerging Producer - First Nations Program | Lillie Paton |
Director - Strangeways Ensemble | Anne-Louise Rentell |
Artistic Associate - Artist Wellbeing | Bonnie Curtis |
Program Manager | Penny Watts |
First Nations Engagement Coordinator | Danielle Moylan |
Program Coordinator - Artistic & Strategic Program | Samson Soulsby |
Program Coordinator - Hirer Events | Dayna Huber & Jasmina Naumovski |
Marketing Manager (Maternity leave) | Samantha Conridge |
Acting Marketing Manager (Maternity leave cover) | Amandine Durrant |
Marketing Coordinator - Artistic | Grace De Liseo |
Marketing Coordinator - Digital Content | Mina Albert |
Marketing Coordinator - Hirer & Development | Eileen Stapleton |
Marketing Coordinator - Strategic | Eliza Swan |
Production & Technical Manager | Pip Rigter |
Technical Lead | Elly Upsall |
Senior Lighting Technician | Corey Potter |
Technical Coordinator | Hayley Metcalf |
Theatre Technician | Annika Bertinat |
Facilities Coordinator | James Clarke |
Visitor Experience Manager | Andrew Bell |
Box Office Manager | Linda Hanbury |
Box Office Supervisor | Eliza Swan |
Food and Beverage Services Manager | Kellie George |
Front of House Manager | Flynn Mappleback |
Finance and Business Manager | Eleise Hale |
Accountant | Janki Dave |
Finance Assistants | Jeannine Mulligan & Rupak Niroula |