MAV People
Representing diverse cultures, the MAV team reflects the community it serves. Its staff are committed to connecting and creating opportunities for creatives and communities on the lands of the Kulin Nations.
Lauren Mullings
ACTING CEO
Lauren Mullings is a multi-arts professional working extensively across the creative sector, designing and leading contemporary art and cultural projects. Her work has spanned twenty years in major International events and festivals, public and performance art, creative strategy, and community-engagement.
Her arts development practices in community, local government and other settings uphold values in excellent cultural care, equity and self-determination. She is part of THIS IS WHO WE ARE (TIWWA) a UK-Australian movement of intergenerational and intersectional thought-leaders, co-funded by the British and Australia Councils for the Arts.
Her Afro-Caribbean heritage - she migrated from the UK with her British-Australian mother and Jamaican father - is the foundation for many of her critical responses as an artist and collaborator; examining and amplifying unseen contributions to The Arts, cross-cultural education and pathways for emerging cultural leaders.
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Miriam Abud
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Miriam has worked in arts, communication and education. She was born, lives and works on Wurundjeri Country. She has been a musician most of her life, and is inspired by the power of art and community to transform lives and places.
She has held a variety of roles at MAV, from administration to project officer, community engagement coordinator to festival programmer, and has elsewhere produced events, radio programs and established a catering business.
She has a Graduate Diploma of Education, a Diploma of Music Performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree.
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Renata Zimbarg
PROGRAM MANAGER
Renata is a kaleidoscopic cultural manager, researcher and educator.
She has worked as a producer in several sectors of the cultural and creative industries in Latin America, as well as with academic research. She has a Bachelors in Pedagogy at University of São Paulo, Brazil, and has a Masters of Cultural and Creative Industries from Monash University.
As an educator and cultural manager, she is passionate about designing and carrying out creative, innovative, and transforming experiences for people and organisations. What drives her in her career and life is her desire to contribute to sustainable and equitable cultural development and promote cultural diversity through multi-sectoral and international cooperation.
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Theresa Angela
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Theresa Angela (Tea) is a Filipino-Australian multidisciplinary artist and wellbeing facilitator born and raised in Naarm/Melbourne.
Tea’s artistic practice spans across a variety of mediums, including visual art, filmmaking, writing, and theatre-making. Her creative expression is deeply rooted in an ongoing exploration of cultural identity, belonging, and feminism. Born to activist parents, Tea is driven by social justice issues and champions the genuine representation of culturally diverse expression and artforms.
With an interest in the intersection of mental health and art, she has previously consulted for organisations SANE Australia and the Dax Centre. She is also a facilitator for Collective Being, an organisation that delivers trauma-informed well-being programs throughout the state.
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José Tortabú
ADMINISTRATOR
José Tortabú is a Venezuelan Drummer and music producer who has been in Australia for more than 12 years touring and sharing his passion for music with many projects and audiences.
His newest venture Scarycake combines all his experiences as a musician and composer and creates a powerful blend that he shares with other culturally diverse musicians.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Administration and a Diploma in Music Production, he is bringing more than 15 years of experience in arts administration and arts development to the MAV team.
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Adriana Garcia
ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT
Adriana is a skilled finance from Colombia, she holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University Libre of Cali.
With 10 years of experience in various finance positions where she led projects involving the implementation of the Initial Financial Statement Under International Standards (IFRS) and introducing a new accounting software ERP SAP.
She is passionate about continuous professional growth and exploring new cultures, both of which drive her desire to help people through her knowledge. This shapes her commitment to making a positive impact.
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Oscar Jimenez
MUSIC PROJECTS PRODUCER
Oscar Jimenez is a Colombian born musician and music producer with a passion for social and cultural development.
Oscar has a Multimedia Production Degree with a focus on Recording Arts (SAE) and more than 16 years of experience in the music industry.
As a self-managed artist and performer (Watussi, Amaru Tribe, ChibCha) he has performed and toured in major Festivals around the world. Oscar also runs Vibrating Planet, a music production and events company through which he has recorded and produced various culturally diverse artists and projects creating new collaborations and increasing community engagement in cultural experiences.
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Damon Paraha
CULTURAL AGENCY COORDINATOR
Damon Paraha, professionally known as Nomad222, is a Melbourne-based artist.
With a background in curating events, producing engaging content, and running community programs, Damon has a love for empowering emerging artists from diverse backgrounds.
In his current role, Damon serves as an artist broker, facilitating connections between emerging diverse talents and new audiences. His commitment lies in fostering cultural diversity within the arts, creating inclusive spaces, and amplifying underrepresented voices.
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James Emmanuel McKinnon
CREATIVE LEAD
James Emmanuel Mckinnon is a Filipino Australian producer who grew up on Wathuarong country in Western Victoria, and now lives and works in Naarm/Melbourne.
James is deeply passionate about arts education and its ability to empower individuals, artists, and communities. His artistic and educational practices centre cultural safety and intelligence, decolonisation, and social justice.
James graduated with honours in Ethnomusicology where he completed protest music in prisons during the Marcos regime in the Philippines. James completed his Masters in Arts and Cultural Management and tutors in Music Entrepreneurship at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne.
James has produced, stage managed and designed for independent, student, and community art. He is a freelance composer, podcaster and musician, and outside of work they are a photographer keen on telling visual stories of people, wildlife, and land.
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Ane Fotu
SHEPPARTON CULTURE KITCHEN COORDINATOR
Born and raised back home in the Kingdom of Tonga, Ane and her family moved to Australia in 2013. She is first and foremost a dedicated mother to her 6 beautiful children and a supportive wife to her New Zealand born but of Tongan ethnicity husband, Latu.
She has worked in various areas including the Freight and Shipping industry, the Hospitality and Tourism industry as well as starting her own small business known as Malieta Gift Shop. She currently works for GOTAFE Shepparton as a Student Attraction Officer, as well as at Point of Difference as a Senior Community Development Worker.
She hopes to be able to educate the community of Shepparton about her Tongan culture, whether through her gifting business or through the Tongan traditional food. She is grateful for every opportunity that allows her to help others and make Shepparton, which she now calls home, a better place.
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Noah daCosta
DIGITAL MEDIA OFFICER
Noah daCosta is a Guyanese-Ghanaian UK born multidisciplinary artist, presenter and content creator.
He has an extensive background across a myriad of art & media based industries such as radio, music, theatre and more. Combining his production skills and penchant for words and oration, Noah also works as an MC/host, poet and performer as well.
He runs a podcast known as Bourne & Bred which is dedicated to highlight local artists and creators. He is a member of the international creative collective Converse All-Stars as well as a freelance writer & music journalist across multiple publications.
His diverse diasporan background along with multi-national life experience - having grown up across the UK, United States and Australia - informs his open perspective and passion for cross-cultural storytelling across varying mediums.
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