The Board

Dr Bonny Cassidy (regional, Vic) lectures in Creative Writing at RMIT University. Her third collection of poems, Chatelaine (Giramondo) was shortlisted for the 2018 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. Bonny’s critical essays on Australian poetry and culture have been widely published, and she’s presented her work at numerous festivals and fellowships internationally. Bonny joined the Board in 2020.

Michael Dixon (Perth, WA): MBA (UNSW), MIR (Griffith University), GAICD (AICD),  GCCM (UNSW) is a Management Consultant specialising in commercial and innovation strategy, policy advice and advocacy; he is the Principal of Apexsa Advisory; having also been Operations Lead at BHP, and Project Manager at the WA Department of Culture and the Arts, and at the WA Water Corporation. He is a poet and screenwriter. Michael joined the Board in 2019.

Martin Dolan (Canberra, ACT) is a poet who has been writing and publishing for twenty-five years, alongside a 36-year-long federal public service career, which included being CEO of the Australian Energy Markets Commission and the first Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. He retired to write full time in 2016. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Canberra. Martin joined the Board in 2019.

Yvette Holt (Alice Springs, NT) is current Chair of First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN). A poet, academic, stand-up comedienne and photographer, she heralds from the Yiman, Bidjara and Wakaman Nations of Queensland. A multi-award winning poet, her poetry has been widely anthologised and translated. Yvette joined the Board in 2019.

David Musgrave (Newcastle, NSW) is an award winning poet, critic and publisher. He has published several books including To Thalia (Five Islands Press, 2004), On Reflection (Interactive, 2005), Watermark (Picaro, 2006), Phantom Limb (JLP, 2009), Concrete Tuesday (Island, 2011), and Anatomy of Voice (GloriaSMH 2016), which was awarded the Arts Queensland Judith Wright Calanthe Prize for Poetry. He has won the Newcastle Prize (twice), the Grace Leven Prize, the Josephine Ulrick Prize and the Bruce Dawe Poetry prize, among many others. He is also the author of the novel, Glissando: A melodrama (Sleepers 2010), which was short-listed for the Prime Minister’s Award for Fiction in 2011. In addition, he is founder and publisher of Puncher and Wattmann, which has published many significant Australian poets as well as fiction, criticism and biography. At present he teaches creative writing at the University of Newcastle. David joined Board in 2011 as a Foundation Board Member.

Luke Rowett (London, UK) has 12 years’ experience in corporate finance, business integrations, divestments and carve-outs. He holds a Master of Finance degree, and Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) degree. Luke joined the Board in 2016.

Paul Scully (Sydney, NSW) is an actuary by training and has enjoyed a long career in financial services. His last executive role was as Managing Director and CEO of ING Investment Management (INGIM) Asia Pacific and a member of INGIM’s global Board. For some 15 years he has pursued a portfolio career of non-executive directorships and consulting roles, and has lectured at Macquarie University. He has served on the Boards of listed entities, superannuation funds and financial services companies. Paul was awarded a Master in Creative Writing from Sydney University in 2015 and is a Sydney-based poet with two collections to his name. His most recent collection, Suture Lines, was published by Guillotine Press in late 2016. His first collection, An Existential Grammar, was shortlisted for the Anne Elder Award in 2014. His work has appeared in various online and print journals in Australia and the USA. Paul joined the Board in 2014.

Kate Stephens (Adelaide, SA) is a senior Human Resources practitioner, with many years of experience at the Executive level.  At a professional level, Kate has a strong interest in organisational change, leadership development and culture creation.  Kate’s academic qualifications consist of a combined Arts/Law degree, with Arts majors in Philosophy and Classics, as well as post graduate qualifications in public sector management. Kate joined the Board in 2017.