Our People

Strategic Focus: Driving strategy, governance, financial resilience, philanthropy, and organisational growth. This pod ensures BGA is robust, future-ready, and impactful from the inside out.

Ryan Taaffe – CEO/Head of Operations, Strategy and Growth
Leads overall strategy, philanthropy, organisational design, and growth frameworks.

Team Members:
Kristy Schloderer-Cheng – Manager, Financial Strategy, Governance & Risk
Oversees board, compliance, legal, and strategic finance.

Céline Fitzpatrick – Manager, Finance Operations
Manages operational and daily financial systems.

Strategic Focus: Leading BGA’s performance program with bold vision and future-form storytelling. This pod champions theatrical excellence, new work creation, and future performance plans.

Sam Longley – Artistic Director
Leads new work creation and other supporting artistic programs.

Strategic Focus: Curating awe, joy, and connection through festivals. This pod stewards the strategic vision and delivery of the AWESOME Festival as a flagship of place-based, multi-arts, family-centred programming.

Jenny Simpson – Festival Director
Leads strategic curation, commissioning, sector partnerships, and vision for the AWESOME Festival.

Strategic Focus: Delivering programs and productions with excellence, and leading BGA’s creative experimentation (digital, AR/VR, hybrid models). This pod is where Imagination becomes real.

Stewart Campbell – Production Manager/Head of Realisation & Innovation
Leads production, delivery, and innovation capacity across all programs.

Rebecca Nelson – Producer, New Works, Tour Delivery & Artistic
Programs
Manages day-to-day production, rehearsal logistics, and artist scheduling.

Strategic Focus: Embedding creativity, equity, access, and deep engagement as the foundation of BGA’s reach. This pod connects community, school, audience, and cultural belonging strategies to ensure every young person sees themselves in our work.

Brianna Wotzko – Manager Impact, Inclusion and Evaluation/Head of
Engagement, Access & Impact
Leads internal systems for planning, evaluation, and operational delivery of Barking Gecko Arts’ purpose, impact and learning agenda.

Aiman Ridzuan-Morley – Manager, Audience & Belonging
Drives strategies at the intersection of brand, marketing, audience data, and inclusion.

Kim Walsh – Manager, Creative Learning
Leads embedded school and out-of-school programs, teacher relationships, and creative pedagogy.

Nadia Bischof – Manager, Community &Access
Focuses on community engagement, equity partnerships, access logistics and planning.

Heather Bongiovanni – Coordinator, Engagement & Access
Supports the delivery of engagement programs, school access logistics, and community-facing events.

Strategic Focus:
Building the future of Western Australia’s creative sector by developing youth and artist pathways, supporting emerging talent, delivering market development and industry-facing programs, and enabling creative careers to flourish.

Co-Heads of Creative Careers and Sector Development

Carla Nirella – Manager, Creative Pathways & Practice Leads youth and artist pathway programs, creative careers development and industry partnerships, with a focus on meaningful, inclusive transitions into creative work.

Natalie Di Risio – Manager, Creative Sector, Development & Growth
Produces the AWESOME Festival, leads market strategy and sector engagement, and contributes to philanthropy and partnerships. Assists with the business infrastructure for emerging artists and creative careers