We are fortunate to have many high-profile Creative Ambassadors who have volunteered their time to help inspire students across Queensland.
These Creative Ambassadors will perform a valuable role throughout the Year of Creativity.
They come from all walks of life and from all occupations: musicians, designers, chefs, entrepreneurs, architects, photographers, television presenters, actors, scientists, writers, and reporters.
Our Ambassadors will visit schools, talk to students and teachers, judge competitions, share their experiences and help out at the many Year of Creativity events across the state.
To find out more about these innovative and creative leaders, read their bios and be inspired!
Paul Bishop
Actor / Chief Inspiration Officer
Arts Evolution
Paul Bishop is an actor, storyteller, social entrepreneur, advocate for 'active sustainability' and the 'art of living with passion and purpose'. He has 25 years experience as an elite master of empathy, story and creativity having worked on stage, screen, TV, radio and new media throughout Australia and is best known for his role as Sgt Ben Stewart on Australian television's Blue Heelers.
Paul Bishop is Chief Inspiration Officer of social business Arts Evolution, which is committed to creative sustainable human futures.
Melissa Downes
Television Presenter
Channel Nine Network
Melissa joined the Nine Network in 2001 and is currently the weekday reader for Nine News, and host of Nine's Weekend Extra program.
As well as her work in television, Melissa has a strong commitment to charity. She regularly hosts fundraising events and is an ambassador for a number of charities, including the Down Syndrome Association of Queensland and AEIOU, a charity for Autistic children.
Timothy Hill
Director and Founder
Donovan Hill Architects
Donovan Hill is the Brisbane based practice directed by Brian Donovan and Timothy Hill. They established the firm as graduates from the University of Queensland in 1992, where they are now Adjunct Professors. Recent projects include the redevelopment of the State Library of Queensland (in association with Peddle Thorp Architects).
Timothy was appointed 'Creative Director' of the 2007 Royal Australian Institute of Architects annual conference and is a Curatorial Panel member of Art+Place, the Queensland Government's Public Art Fund, and a Board member of the Institute of Modern Art (IMA) Brisbane.
Drew Jarvis
Television Presenter
The Shak (Curio)
After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Arts at Griffith University, Drew gained the role of Curio in Channel Nine's The Shak. Curio's love of science is not only fun and informative but also entirely infectious.
Drew has appeared in many theatre productions around Brisbane, winning awards for his role as 'Trev' in Reg Cribb's 'The Return'. He has also been involved in numerous locally produced short films, scoring a 2007 Queensland New Filmmaker's Award Best Male Lead nomination for his role in 'Imaginary Ordinary' and a Best Male Lead second runner-up award in the 2007 48 Hour Film Festival. Drew is also a member of the 'Edge Improvisational Troupe' who perform weekly shows throughout Brisbane.
Philip Johnson
Executive Chef
e'cco
Food can only be as good as the produce you use and Philip's style is definitely produce driven. Philip firmly believes that food should not need to be fussed over. If we rely on fresh, quality ingredients the need for extravagant and pointless additions are eliminated. The result is very much his trademark at e'cco – pure flavours and simple, uncomplicated dishes. Philip has also authored five cookbooks.
"Good cooking, like all the fine arts, is still a matter of doing simple things well."
Philip Johnson
Michael Lavery
Director
m3architecture
Michael is the Project Leader for complex and large-scale building projects including programming and project delivery in Australia and south east Asia. Responsible for maintaining design input at all stages of the building delivery process, Michael is experienced in pre-design services, master planning and strategic planning, sketch design, design development and documentation.
His design work and interests also include furniture design and work with paper. In addition to awards won as a director of m3architecture, Michael was a finalist in the Design Institute of Australia (Qld), Designer of the Year 2006.
Michael has also addressed industry professionals at the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
Alastair McLeod
Executive Chef
Bretts Wharf
Classically trained at a number of Michelin restaurants in Europe, Scotland and Ireland, Alastair moved to Brisbane with his family largely because of the stunning produce we have at our doorstep. 'Going local' with local produce not only means a reduction in the carbon foot print, but it tastes better!
He is also a regular presenter on numerous television programs including Ready Steady Cook and Queensland Weekender.
John Lee
Company Director
Cutting Edge
After taking over Cutting Edge in 1992 with three staff, John Lee has fostered the company's growth to more than 150 full time employees. He also employs an average of 300 freelancers per week with facilities in Brisbane, Sydney, UK and Darwin. Cutting's Edge's astounding growth is largely due to John's focus on pioneering new procedures for editing for television and film.
Cutting Edge has post-produced and delivered many finished television shows to Australian and international markets. John has personally won ACS Gold Awards for his cinematography and numerous state and national editing awards for commercials and documentary work. He has served on the board of the film industry advisory body 'Ausfilm' for two years.
Kendal Rae
Television Presenter
The Shak (Picasso)
Straight out of school, Kendal added Television Presenter to her list of credits when she joined the cast of The Shak in the role of Picasso – the art, music and celebrity lover.
A former drama student at Kingscliff High School, she was one of ten New South Wales HSC students nominated for the prestigious On Stage Awards.
In 2007, she and Drew Jarvis (Curio) toured the country hosting the state finals for the Rock Eisteddfod Awards, co-hosting the 2007 grand final television special with Toni Pearen.
Kendal is also a qualified speech and drama teacher, and trained singer and dancer.
Rebecca Sparrow
Author
Over the past 15 years Rebecca Sparrow has earned a living selling touch lamps, working as a nanny, a travel writer, a television publicist, a marketing executive, a magazine editor and a secret shopper (once). In her spare time she is an Ambassador of War Child Australia - a not for profit agency dedicated to giving aid to children affected by war and The Pyjama Foundation which sends 'reading angels' into the homes of foster children.
Rebecca's first novel, The Girl Most Likely, was published in 2003 and is currently in development with Icon Films to be turned into a feature film starring Pia Miranda. Her second novel, The Year Nick McGowan Came To Stay was published in 2006 and debuted as a stage play at La Boite in 2007. Her third novel Joel & Cat Set The Story Straight was co-written with Nick Earls and published in July 2007
Rebecca also writes a weekly column for The Sunday Mail. She graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of Business (Communication) in 1993.
Daniel Tobin
Co Founder
Urban Art Projects
After graduating from Visual Arts at QUT, Daniel went on to study theatre and film design at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art
(NIDA) in Sydney. He applied those skills with the equally renowned Sydney Theatre Company and Opera Australia, before joining Matthew to co-found Urban Art Projects in Brisbane.
Daniel Tobin is largely responsible for the marketing of Urban Art Projects both in Australia and worldwide. He supervises activity at Urban Art Projects in Los Angeles while continuing to practice as lead creative on many projects, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Skyline, and Resurgent. Daniel is also highly regarded as a speaker and lecturer on the role of art within the public realm.
Matthew Tobin
Principal
Urban Arts Project
QUT Visual Arts graduate and Urban Art Projects founding Principal, Matthew Tobin, manages client relations, design, operations and construction management. As a practicing artist, he has been instrumental in realising several artworks designed and fabricated by Urban Art Projects including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the National Police Memorial, Sydney International Airport, Emporium, and Deutsche Bank.
Matthew is also a board member of Artisan, the organisation promoting and growing the design and hand crafted product sector in Queensland.
Elleni Toumpas
Music Photographer
An emerging music photographer, Elleni currently shoots for Tsunami Magazine, Rave Magazine and music website FasterLouder. Elleni has freelanced directly for local and international musicians. In 2008 she travelled to Los Angeles where she documented the recording of Kate Miller-Heidke's album, Curiouser, and exhibited her first solo exhibition as a result of this body of work.
In 2009, Elleni is collaborating with fellow music photographers, musicians and arts businesses to launch UnderExposed: An Exhibition by Brisbane Music Photographers.
See Elleni at the Brisbane Music Photographers exhibition Underexposed for the youth forum and workshop April 16 and at the Cre8ive Women's Conference April 28.
Sam Wagan Watson
Writer/Poet
Samuel Wagan Watson is an award-winning poet and professional raconteur. Born in Brisbane in 1972, Samuel began his writing career in Grade 7, when a teacher entered one of short stories in a Queensland-schools competition. The judges remarked that it was the worst writing they'd ever encountered!
Samuel's 4th collection of poetry, 'Smoke Encrypted Whispers' won the 2005 NSW Premier's Award for the Book of the Year and the national Kenneth Slessor poetry prize. He has performed his poetry throughout the world and was recently commissioned by the Japanese Aeronautical Exploration Agency to write haiku for the pleasure of the astronauts on the International Space Platform.
He was also the poet-in-residence on the ABC's Sunday Arts show before his current position as the principal writer for Brisbane's 98.9FM…
Sam can be seen at the NAIDOC week celebrations on the Bright Sparks tour 6-10 July. And at the Musgrave Park (Brisbane) Family Fun Day July 10.
Beau Walker
Television Presenter
The Shak (Nitro)
He was ranked among the top four surfers in Australia both in the under-16 and under-18 categories and came fifth in the world titles.
Three years on and Nitro has become entrenched in Channel Nine's television show The Shak. His iconic dreadlocks have become synonymous with the show and he is arguably the most recognizable character.
Owen Wareham
UN Youth Conference Convener
BA Political Science (Honours)
Owen Wareham has a favourite quote that sums up his philosophy: "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped" (Hubert H. Humphrey). The Sydney-born Brisbanite has clocked up time as convener of this year’s United Nations Youth Association National Youth Conference, been involved in Youthspeak - the largest ever consultation with Australian young people, acted as an adviser for the 2009 Brisbane Ideas Festival, and taken on the role of campaign manager for Queensland Labor MP Phil Weightman.
He was also selected for the governance stream of the 2020 summit, and in January of 2009 led a group of 17 High School students to Europe for The Hague International Model United Nations. Owen has a BA (Political Science) with 1st Class Honours from the University of Queensland and is currently completing a Law Degree. He is passionate about working with people to build a better democracy.
Graeme Wood
Founder and Executive Director
Wotif.com
Graeme Wood revolutionised the travel industry in Australia when he created the concept for Wotif.com. With a background in information technology, Graeme has more than thirty years' experience in the field of information systems and software development.
He is a frequent speaker at functions covering topics relevant to the travel industry as well as entrepreneurship and innovation.
Graeme Wood's not-for-profit Wot's Next Program will be supporting Australian Opera's Wot Opera program in regional Queensland during 2009.
Dr William Tan
Neurosurgeon, Medical Scientist
Para-Olympian
Majoring in Biology and Psychology, Dr William Tan joined the Civil Service after graduation in 1980. In pursuit of his dream to become a scientist and medical doctor, he ventured abroad for postgraduate studies in 1989. Holder of a First Class Honours in Physiology, this Harvard University's Fulbright Scholar and Oxford University's Raffles Scholar has also trained at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in USA.
Dr Tan is also an accomplished sportsman. A Singapore wheelchair marathon champion, he has competed in many international games including the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, the Commonwealth Games as well as the Asia-Pacific Games. Last April, he competed in both the London Marathon and Boston Marathon within a week, which is a rare accomplishment.
He had also received widespread international recognition including the Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award (Humanitarian/ Voluntary Leadership) given by the Junior Chamber International, USA in 1997; the Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Youth Work in 1998 and the ASEAN Youth Award in 2000.
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