ABOUT FORM

Our Mission:
To be a leader in developing a vibrant creative economy for the benefit and wellbeing of all Western Australian communities.

Our Vision:
FORM is a major contributor in ensuring Western Australia is a vibrant, thriving, and connected participant in a global creative economy. Our work is world-renowned for its ability to catalyse unique cultural expression, arising from our State’s healthy and prosperous communities.  

Berndnaut Smilde
Image courtesy of FORM

OUR VALUES

Creativity

We embrace change with a sense of possibility and positivity, using the creative process to generate new ideas, re-imagine old ideas, and express those ideas to inspire others.

Excellence

We take pride in making the time to ensure our work is of great quality and value to its beneficiaries; in each endeavour, we understand the definition and measure of its success.

Integrity

We are honest and true to our values. We do what we say we are going to do, learning from our mistakes and making amends, guided by elders and community across the State.

Community Empowerment

We aim to embed self-determination, grounded in cultural awareness and respect, as the basis of our work in all communities. FORM recognises that the Aboriginal peoples of Western Australia are the Custodians of the Country, their Culture, and their Communities, in all respects.

Collaboration

We can accomplish greater things together than any of us can alone. We embrace the power of diverse perspectives in achieving shared goals.

Our People

Our team is a collective of professionals from a wealth of backgrounds. We are writers, architects, content producers, designers, artists, educators and curators and we deliver our projects across the state.  

CEO and Board of Directors

Tim_Shanahan_FORM_Chair
Tim Shanahan
Chair

Tim Shanahan is a respected Western Australian leader involved in a broad range of industries. He has previously led organisations in Minerals and Energy, Higher Education and Local Government. Currently Tim is Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Future Battery Industries (FBI CRC), Kwinana Energy Transformation Hub and Zetta (ICT) Group. He is a Director of RACWA Holdings which runs financial services, tourism assets, and roadside services. He Chairs the RAC Investment Committee and is an Honorary Life Member of the RACWA, and is a past President. Tim is also a member of the External Advisory Board of School of Medicine, Fremantle at The University of Notre Dame.

Tim is a qualified lawyer, an experienced company director (FAICD) and was honoured with a Public Service Medal in 2001 and a Centenary Medal in 2003.

“FORM has a wonderful trackrecord of success and creativity. It has a deep capacity to connect with communities,to draw out and re-present powerful insights about how we feel about ourselvesand how we live together.”

Ron Bradfield Junior
Director

Ron Bradfield Jnr is a saltwater man from Bardi Country, north of Broome but grew up in Geraldton, Western Australia. He now calls Whadjuk Boodjar (Perth) his home. As a respected cultural worker, Ron has spoken and shared stories, locally, nationally and internationally and can be found relatively easily, wandering WA in his colourful shirts and red ‘blunnies.’ He is currently the Community Engagement Coordinator at John Curtin Gallery. Previously, as the CYO (Chief Yarning Officer) of “Yarns R Us”; Ron facilitated cultural conversations across all levels of our communities, helping Australians to revisit and explore their own personal stories, so as to better consider their own connections to this place, their home. He has worked in the arts & culture, youth and education sectors for over 25 years.

Nicolette Casella
Director

Nicolette Casella is a passionate communicator with a deep knowledge of WA business, politics and arts communities, and extensive local and national contacts.

She is a collaborative leader accustomed to managing small and large teams, and diverse stakeholders, with proven results. With 25 years’ experience in journalism, Nicolette is an expert storyteller and a keen generator of creative ideas, driven by engagement with confidence and flair. A recent pivot into philanthropy has seen her thrive on nurturing and growing relationships.

An Asialink Leaders Fellow with a BA degree, double majoring in journalism and international relations, Nicolette joined UNICEF last year as Philanthropy Manager – the United Nations Children’s Fund’s first representative in WA.

Prior to that she was Editor of the Sunday Times Magazine from 2016 to 2021; Deputy News Editor of The West Australian from 2011 to 2016; and Deputy Managing Editor of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and mX from 2009 to 2010. She also held the unrelenting role of Chief of Staff for The Daily Telegraph for two years, charged with running a bustling newsroom of more than 50 reporters, plus international bureaux.

“I have long admired FORM and its dedication to nurturing and elevating creativity in Western Australia. It is a joy and a privilege to champion our immensely talented artistic community, including our extraordinary First Nations’ artists. The breadth and consistently high quality of their work, and FORM’s outstanding projects and programming, never ceases to fill me with pride.”  

Stedman Ellis, FORM Board Member
Stedman Ellis
Director

Stedman has 40 years’ experience across commercial, government, industry association, research and creative industries – in Australia and internationally. He has skills in areas such as advocacy, policy development and research partnerships, and an interest in how the creative economy, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation can contribute to our prosperity. A relevant career highlight was as Vice President External Affairs for BHP Iron Ore at a time when FORM began its engagement in the Pilbara. Stedman has served on a number of boards and industry liaison groups and has a significant network across government and industry sectors. As CEO, he led the successful bid and establishment of Australia’s Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre and the development of its research program and partnerships. He is an independent advisor to several government organisations.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (UWA); Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors; Cranlana Ethical Leadership Colloquium; Oxfam Corporate Community Leadership Program(India).

"I’m inspired by an organisation with ambitions out of all proportion to its resources and capabilities – but which consistently delivers outstanding projects for diverse communities across WA.  It is a pleasure to be involved."  

Narelle Grinceri
Director

An experienced finance professional with 20+ years of corporate, property, leverage, and project finance experience; Narelle Grinceri focuses on leading deal teams and collaborating with product partners in originating, structuring, negotiating, and delivering a broad array of complex and high value transactions. She has been a consultant to Hesperia, and previously worked at ANZ in the Institutional Property Group; Lloyds Bank; and spent nearly nine years with BOS International.

Paul Kotsoglo
Director

Paul Kotsoglo is a Town Planner with close to 4 decades of experience. He has held in Principal and City Planner roles in regional and metropolitan authorities in Western Australia. He is Founder and Managing Director of Planning Solutions. Paul has both Undergraduate and Post Graduate qualifications in Planning. He is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and has been the President of its Western Australian Division. Paul is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has also been the presiding member of numerous Development Assessment Panels since their inception in Western Australia, including the City of Perth Local Development Assessment Panel. 

With a keen interest in photography with over a decade of active experience in photography working closely with the natural and built environments, Paul is also a member of photographic associations including Image Makers Association Australia (Foundation Member), Pro-Photography WA and Perth Centre for Photography.

I’ve admired the creativity and inclusivity of FORM. Particularly, how the organisation has applied itself from the State’s capital to its most remote locations. FORM has provided world class events and experiences for the whole community without pretense. FORM has introduced art and creativity to places it would never have reached without the motivated team which stands behind it. Many eyes are opened by the opportunities provided by FORM.”

Peter Lee, FORM Board Member
Peter Lee OAM
Director

Peter Lee is a West Australia narchitect who has extensive experience with large scale developments both in Australia and internationally. 

As a Principal of Hassell Peter has been involved in the design of major developments. In Perth some of these include, The Westin, Optus Stadium, New Stadium Events Railway Station, one40william (Gordon Stephenson House), Brookfield Place, ABC Headquarters, People’s Republic of China Consulate, Parliament House Northern Extensions, Casino Expansion and Perth Metro Rail. Peter is currently working on a number of projects which will further transform the city – these include Langley Park Masterplan, Burswood Peninsula Masterplan, along with Chevron Tower and Lots 5 & 6 at Elizabeth Quay.

Peter is also on the boards of the Rottnest Island Authority, Foundation Housing and Open House Perth.  He is an Adjunct Professor at Curtin University and is on the WA State Design Review Panel as well as the Development Assessment Panel. 

“The wonderfully innovative team at FORM continually stuns me with their brilliant and inspiring creative works that change our understanding of and experiences of the stories that are all around us.  To be involved in those processes is truly a gift.”

Executive_Director_FORM_Tabitha_McMullan
Tabitha McMullan
Secretary

Tabitha McMullan is a passionate visionary for arts and culture. Prior to joining FORM she held leadership roles in Activation & Cultural Experience; Community Development; and Arts, Culture & Heritage at the City of Perth. With over seventeen years’ experience in the international creative sector, across not-for-profit, university and local government organisations, she strongly believes in Western Australia’s place as a cultural leader on the world stage. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has previously served as Chair of the CCCLM Culture and the Arts Policy Advisory Group and Principal Partnership Advisor for both the Perth Public Art Foundation Board and Heritage Perth Inc Board. For Tabitha, collaboration is critical to realising the state’s potential and driving ambitious cultural development programs.

"FORM embodies the deep love and passion I have for building creativity in Western Australia. The organisation drives a strong vision for our state to share its creative potential and cultural identity with the world. It is an honour to have the opportunity to work with FORM’s partners, board and staff to build meaningful connection and cultural experiences with communities across the state."


Jenn Morris, FORM Treasurer
Jenn Morris
Director

Jenn is an accomplished corporate executive and non-executive director, who is a strong communicator and has extensive experience in team effectiveness and leadership programs. She has experience in strategy development, large-scale business transformation, human capital related work, human rights, the embedding of ESG related policies and the understanding of high-performance environments learned during her elite sporting career.

Jenn is a former partner of Deloitte, currently serves as a non-executive director on a range of publicly listed and private companies, including global copper company Sandfire Resources, lithium miner Liontown Resources, and recently Fortescue Metals Group and the Minderoo Group. Jenn is also a Director of Levin Health, a start-up world-class sports science company focusing on research related to solving chronic pain and concussion issues, Argonaut, a private integrated investment house, and The Leisure Collective, a coastal and surfing lifestyle wear company. Prior to this, Jenn was a member of the Australian women’s hockey team where she won gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games where she developed a keen understanding of what makes for effective leadership, exceptional performance and high-performing teams and has applied this from the board/executive level throughout an organisation

“Creativity, Excellence, Integrity, Community Empowerment and Collaboration…. what an important and powerful set of attributes and ones that we need more than ever before to help shape, lift and guide our people, our communities and our world. These are the values of FORM and ones that I personally hold tightly and work by. FORM contributes so richly to our environment, our thoughts, our visual senses and brings to life so many stories of our past, our present and how we navigate the future. I am delighted to join the  brilliant team at FORM and one with such a strong purpose.”

Kathy Reid
Director

Kathy Reid is an experienced, energetic and hardworking professional who is passionate about strategy, governance and risk management. Kathy has been a Non-Executive Director since 2012. She brings to the board table the skills of composure and clear thinking when faced with complex challenges. Kathy has experience as a board member in transformational change, corporate transactions and culture development. She is currently a Partner at MinterEllison and a member of its national board, which oversees a legal and consulting business with 2,500 staff nationally. She is a qualified lawyer and represents corporate clients in workplace and safety law matters.

Kathy leads MinterEllison’s Workplace team in Perth, which is recognised by clients and peers as one of Perth’s pre-eminent practices in this field. Through the diversity of organisations she has acted for and been associated with, she has gained experience in a wide range of industries, including energy and resources, construction, health and aged care, government at all levels, universities and schools, Indigenous corporations, sport and recreation.

Our Team

The FORM team.

Aboriginal and Islander Advisory Committee

Ron Bradfield Junior
Chair

Ron Bradfield Jnr is a saltwater man from Bardi Country, north of Broome but grew up in Geraldton, Western Australia. He now calls Whadjuk Boodjar (Perth) his home. As a respected cultural worker, Ron has spoken and shared stories, locally, nationally and internationally and can be found relatively easily, wandering WA in his colourful shirts and red ‘blunnies'. He is currently the Community Engagement Coordinator at John Curtin Gallery. Previously, as the CYO (Chief Yarning Officer) of “Yarns R Us”; Ron facilitated cultural conversations across all levels of our communities, helping Australians to revisit and explore their own personal stories, so as to better consider their own connections to this place, their home. He has worked in the arts and culture, youth and education sectors for over 25 years.

Gladys Kuru Bidu, AIAC Member
Gladys Kuru Bidu
Committee Member

Gladys Kuru Bidu is a Karimarra women, born near Wantili (Canning Stock Route Well 25). Gladys and her family were picked up in Yulpu when she was a baby and taken first to Parnngurr, then to Jigalong, where she attended the mission school. From there she travelled with her family, first to Strelley Station, and then to Camp 61, an outstation on Bilanooka Station. 

“We stayed there with the old people, so many old people, they set up a Martu school there. Then we heard Martu were going back to their homeland, their Ngurra, so then we came to Punmu with those old people.”

Settling in Punmu during the Return to Country movement of the early 1980’s, Gladys assisted with the establishment of the Punmu School in the Community’s bough shelter. Today’s Gladys is an accomplished teacher and respected cultural advisor and board member for the Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Martu Ranger program, Punmu School, Martumili Artists and Spinifex Hill Studio. Gladys was taught to paint in Jigalong by her aunt, renowned senior artist Jakayu Biljabu, and the two now regularly paint together. Gladys paints her ngurra [home Country] of Wantili, a large round junru [soak] and linyji [claypan] near Well 25.

Photograph by Claire Martin, 2022.

Lorraine Coppin
Committee Member

Lorraine Coppin is a Yindjibarndi artist, filmmaker, archivist, and recorder of cultural history and knowledge. Lorraine and her partner Michael founded Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation and its archive,language and cultural centre in 2000. Since then, Lorraine has established and coordinated Juluwarlu projects which include cultural mapping on Country, and the nationally recognised Yindjibarndi archive. In 2017, together with senior Yindjibarndi artists and language workers, Lorraine conceived and developed the Nyinart Yinda project, was the Executive Producer and cultural and project lead of the major performance work Ngurra Nyujunggamu, When the World Was Soft, and established Juluwarlu Art Group. Lorraine paints on canvas, creates Yarranga Marni carvings and has exhibited at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

Photograph by Claire Martin, 2022.

Brett Nannup, AIAC Member
Brett Nannup
Committee Member

Brett Nannup is a printmaker who was introduced to, taught, and trained in the art form by his mother, respected Noongar artist Laurel Nannup. Brett’s main focus is to investigate and interrogate ideas of what it means to be a man in today’s society, as well as exploring his identity and place in the duality of the Noongar and Western worlds. He also makes Noongar artefacts. In addition to his art practice, Brett consults for various cultural organisations including the State Library of Western Australia.

Anne Riley, AIAC Member
Anne Riley
Committee Member

Anne Riley is a Ballardong Noongar woman from Quairading, who with her husband Grant runs Wuddi Aboriginal Cultural Tours in the Wheatbelt town of Dumbleyung. Anne manages the Wuddi Cultural Centre and gift store, which celebrates the area’s ancient Aboriginal history, keeping it alive by sharing local cultural traditions, bushfoods, stories, artworks and artefacts.

Grant Riley, AIAC Member
Grant Riley
Committee Member

Grant Riley is a Wilman Noongar man, who with his wife Anne runs Wuddi Aboriginal Cultural Tours in the Wheatbelt town of Dumbleyung. The third youngest of 14 children for Henry and Ruby Riley, Grant was born and grew up in Dumbleyung. He is passionate about sharing his culture with visitors. Grant would follow his father out bush where he learned lots of knowledge about the people of the area, their food, their tools and their way of life.  

Allery Sandy, AIAC Member
Allery Sandy
Committee Member

Allery Sandy is an accomplished Yindjibarndi Elder, artist, educator, performer and community leader, and Director of Yinjaa-Barni Art. Her distinctive aerial perspectives typically celebrate the wildflowers, creeks, rivers, and bush foods of her Country. Allery was a finalist in 29th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards, she exhibits at public and private galleries across the State and nationally and is a multiple award winner at regional art awards. Allery’s works have been collected by Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, Flinders University Art Museum, Parliament House of Western Australia Collection, Australian Embassy in Yangon, and Restore Hope Foundation.

Alongside her visual arts practice, Allery is an accomplished singer and founding collaborator of Songs for Freedom produced by Big HART. She has performed with the ensemble across Australia for events including the Perth Festival and Mona Foma.

Photograph by Claire Martin, 2022.

Our Team

The FORM team.

Our Team

Tabitha McMullan
Chief Executive Officer
Stephanie Xiao
General Manager Finance & Operations
Faraday Boydell
Manager Cultural & Artistic Programs
John Clark
Consultancy Manager
Jerome Lee
Creative Development Manager
Laura Motherway
Strategic Creative Learning Manager
Andrew Nicholls
Strategic Curatorial Lead
Ruby Djikarra Alderton
Arts Worker
Phil Berrick
Senior Designer
Vanessa Bradley
Project Lead Creative Schools
Samantha Burston
Spinifex Hill Studio Coordinator
Emily Coy
Project Officer
Layne Dhu-Dickie
Studio Assistant
Seven Gao
Accountant
Rekeshia Goodwin
Arts Worker
Annabel Gunson
Engagement & Relationships Officer
Lyndsay Humphries
Project Lead - Youth Engagement & Professional Learning
Aimee Ko
Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist
Victoria Levadoux
Scribblers Festival Coordinator
Yasmin McDonald
Senior Arts Consultant
Claudia Ottobrino
Manager Partnerships
Stephanie Staer
Arts & Cultural Consultant
Mags Webster
Senior Writer & Researcher
Holly Whitehouse
Marketing & Communications Officer
Ashleigh Whyte
Senior Arts & Cultural Consultant
Karen Zhang
Bookkeeper
Oonagh Zimmermann
Senior Human Resources Advisor
The FORM team.

Our Team

Our Team

Spinifex Hill Studio & Project Space

Spinifex Hill Studio is an Aboriginal art centre that stands on Kariyarra Country in South Hedland and works with over 100 artists from diverse language groups, presenting contemporary art which covers a breadth of styles. In July 2021, the Studio expanded to include Spinifex Hill Project Space, a place for the local community and visitors to connect with the Pilbara’s dynamic creative practice, and to further the preservation and promotion of the local culture, heritage, and traditions. FORM manages Spinifex Hill Studio in consultation with the Spinifex Hill Artists.

FORM Gallery & Café

A space for creativity, learning, culture and community. A place to connect with people, ideas and imaginations. 
Gallery. Creative project space. Café. All owned, managed and programmed by independent cultural not-for-profit FORM.

Erica Loh
Café Manager
Isabel Seton-Browne
Barista
Kieran Leong
Barista
Gia De Martinis
Gallery Assistant
Graham Mathwin
Barista
Shannon Lloyd
Gallery Assistant

"All of us want to connect with the sense of being part of something larger than our single selves"

Bruce Munro
Field of Light

"Break rules, be passionate, think about your community's legacy"

Jason Roberts
Tactical Urbanist

"I love that the work was inspired by environmental issues and made us think about how we live our lives and encourage us to live more consciously"

Survey Respondent