THE BOARD
GILLIAN LEVETT
Being identified as having a high IQ at age 10 in the 1950’s was fundamentally important as she knew from then that her brain was equal to that of any male at a time when the word “feminism” did not exist.
Gillian was active in the formative years of Macquarie University (following a short stint at NIDA), and predictably became highly involved in student politics whilst also forming the University’s Drama Society, directing, writing and producing. After completing a BA she moved on in the 70’s to become partner in a major rock ‘n’ roll agency, and not content with a full-time business she studied acting under Hayes Gordon for 3 years at the Ensemble Studios, then adding an acting wing to the music agency.
The 80’s saw Gillian developing a very successful agency managing highly regarded comedians through two decades and finishing her entertainment business career owning and directing her own major acting establishment: Australian Academy of Dramatic Art with the Pilgrim Theatre in the centre of Sydney.
Unsurprisingly her unconventional but fortunate life has always included a dedication to promoting feminist issues culminating in 2022 with her writing E=Quality – a play specifically designed to hasten the progress of gender equality and reduce violence against women by “contributing to the enlightenment of men and boys and to the empowerment of women and girls”. She considers this the most important work of her life!
AARNE NEEME
AM for services to theatre, director of over 300 plays, plus television drama. Acclaimed acting teacher. Aarne’s directing career commenced with SUDS (Sydney University Drama Society) and Dramsoc (The UNSW drama society) in the 60’s and has continued unabated till now. His most recent high profile directorial work was with Jonathan Biggins in The Gospel According to Paul which was a sell out around the country. Aarne has worked for most of the major theatre companies and taught at leading tertiary institutes (both vocational and academic) in New Zealand and Singapore and throughout Australia.
Aarne’s broad range of expertise in theatre and his willingness to make a contribution to E=Quality, which he quickly labelled as “important”, has meant that the development of the project has thrived with his generous and knowledgeable input and guidance. We are so pleased that he has agreed to direct the play when performance time comes.
PATRICIA AMPHLETT
OAM for industry contribution; multi-award winner; former MEAA President, Collaborator; Board member. Patricia serves or has served on the Boards of the National Film and Sound Archives, the Australia War Memorial and the Whitlam Institute. She is Patron of Forces Entertainment, Australian Women in Music Awards and Friends of Newtown High School of the Performing Arts. She is also Trustee of the Jesse Street Trust and for thirteen years was National President of Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance (the entertainment industry and journalist’s union).
Patricia’s extraordinary and generous work has brought her many awards including the Aria Hall of Fame, Australian Women in Music Lifetime Achievement, and most importantly an OAM for her services to the entertainment industry.
LYNDA STONER
Former star of Television dramas, but now an animal rights activist and CEO of Animal Liberation NSW. Lynda has had two very successful but different career paths. The first twenty five years of her working life as a respected and highly acclaimed actress shot her to stardom and fame starring in some of the most popular television series of the time – The Young Doctors, Cop Shop and Prisoner amongst them, and she was also in big demand for wonderful roles in film and theatre.
During this time in the public eye Lynda became a passionate spokesperson on animal rights issues and this led to her second career as an animal rights activist. Indeed it practically led to a third career as a Parliamentarian when she stood for election to the Australian Senate for the Animal Justice Party. However that was not to be and she has continued her work as CEO of Animal Liberation NSW which benefits enormously from her passion, dedication and determination.
SOSEH YEKANIANS
PhD JP Arts educator, director and writer. Currently Lecturer in Performance at Charles Sturt University. Soseh is an educator and theatre director with a collaborative ideology. Currently a senior lecturer in Performing Arts at Charles Sturt University (Bathurst), Soseh has a long string of qualifications stretching from a Science of Well Being Certificate from Yale University to a PhD from West Australian
Academy of Performing Arts and a BA in Performance from the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art as well as graduating from the 2 year acting program at Atlantic Acting in New York.
Soseh’s work has included writing and directing in abundance, starting with her work in Perth during her PhD study period, teaching performance in Christchurch and directing and writing whilst she was there, and now repeating this performance work whilst teaching at Charles Sturt in Bathurst.
BRIAN TODD
Former music business artist manager and businessman and Mr. posters extraordinaire
Having dropped out of University in the 70’s to manage a band Brian did as everybody did in that era - he flew by the seat of his pants to put together a successful agency, music management company and record label, learning and figuring out as he went the skills he needed to promote, market and manage the personal, creative and financial affairs of talented performers.
This fertile environment led Brian to fill another gap in the market place. There being a dearth of quality poster printers and back then, when posters were the primary form of advertising for the music industry, he read a chapter on screen printing and that led to the evolution of Sydney’s Mr. Posters as, not only was he skillful with the printing, his large factory often running through the night, but he also became known for his great creative skills in the design of the art work. Some of his work now hangs in the Victorian Arts Centre.
BRITT SEDGMEN
Britt is a clinical psychologist with 17 years experience working in the violence abuse and neglect sector. Over this time she has worked in frontline, management, supervisory and strategic roles across services providing counselling to children & young people and their families, and adults who have been experienced physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect or exposure to domestic violence. Britt’s work focuses on ameliorating the impacts of early developmental and complex trauma exposure, current emotional functioning, skill building with the person who has been subjected to violence abuse and neglect; and educating parent/ carers, school, health, other professionals, as well as identified informal supports on the multi-faceted impacts of violence abuse and neglect and the crucial role of reparative, trauma-informed and violence-informed care.
All of the above make Britt an extraordinary expert in the issues that result from gender inequality and the violence and abuse that is suffered by women and girls as a consequence, which are the very issues that have given rise to the development of E=Quality. We are so pleased to include Britt as a member of the Board. The project has greatly benefitted from her involvement and contribution with her input and expert advice and guidance.
STEVE PHILP
A proud Gamilaroi man and very clever standup comedian and television presenter bringing a sharp vision. Steve is your quintessential Aussie. He would give his shirt off his back and is the first to drop everything for someone in need. He is passionate about fairness and justice. He is a loud and proud feminist, and always first to defend minority groups. His most successful role has been over the past 10 years as primary care giver to his two children and teaching them about their indigenous heritage.
Steve began his career on a high note as he worked with the The Wiggles in “ The Dorothy the Dinosaur show”. From there he moved into Stand-Up Comedy and has been touring the country for the last 15 plus years. Steve then added radio to his skill set and went on to having an ACRA award nominated show on NOVA 969. Steve is bringing his creative input to E=Quality as a Gamilaroi man and ardent feminist to advise and assist in producing the work in a way suitable to aboriginal audience members and to collaborate in the follow up project designed specifically for indigenous audiences.