Michele is Head of Visual Arts at Wesley College, Glen Waverley and has been a teacher and examiner for the Visual Arts International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for ten years. She holds a master’s in Arts Management, with an expertise in Australian Indigenous Art. Prior to relocating to Melbourne, she has held positions as Head of Art and Design in Perth and Darwin, places which deepened her knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories and artforms. Michele is a passionate and proactive arts educator who understands the nuances across curriculums and focuses on teaching creativity in addition to key aspects of art history across a variety of mediums. In addition, she has studied Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s in London and currently assists with a variety of art organizations. Michele brings a passion and enthusiasm for the arts across education, workshops, curating and art writing.  

Megan has taught in a variety of International Schools teaching the IBDP Visual Arts course since 2000 in countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore and now Australia at St Leonard’s College. She has been an examiner for the Visual Arts International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the Process Portfolio since 2004.  Also helping to examine the Comparative Study and moderating the Exhibition when required. She holds a master’s in visual Arts (Studio), and is a practicing artist. Megan enjoys engaging students as they start to learn to think holistically about their own art.

Sandra Tobias is an Artist and Art Educator currently teaching IBDP Visual Art  

at Macrobertson Girls’ High school. With thirty years’ experience teaching across secondary and higher education, Internationally, in Hong Kong and Japan and in regional Australia. She has tutored at RMIT school of Architecture, Interior Design and project managed community arts projects as well as co-directing an Art Walking Tour business specialising in diverse exhibition spaces. A professional practicing artist with a successful exhibition history and a belief in the power of creativity to empower all.

"Drawing gives you nowhere to hide, but everywhere to run." - Nic Plowman

Nic Plowman’s work is full with observation and insight, describing time, memory and lived experience with both intimacy and visceral energy. Plowman is primarily known for his dedication to both traditional and experimental drawing. His broader practice includes painting, printmaking and sculpture.

His narrative interests stem from his own life experiences which include two lots of open heart surgery; a six meter fall; and a recent punch-on with cancer. He uses these lived realities to approach his subjects with empathy and curiosity, and often explores themes of fear, triumph and vulnerability in himself and others - seeing his artmaking as both symptom and remedy.

Nic Plowman has had 17 solo exhibitions and exhibited work in more than 60 group shows. He has been a finalist in many art prizes, including the prestigious Dobell Drawing Prize (2023), The Kedumba Drawing Award (2023), The Doug Moran Portrait Prize (finalist 2012, semi finalist 2018), twice in the coveted Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship (2006; 2002,); and was selected with a distinction in the Lloyd Rees Memorial Youth Art Award (2000). He has been awarded residencies in Australia and Internationally. Nic's work has been acquired into many local and international collections, both public and private.

Ara Dolatian holds a Bachelor of Fine Art (Sculpture) from RMIT University (2012) and a Master in Social Science Environment and Planning (2014). This work delves into the cultural ecologies surrounding lost and stolen Mesopotamian artefacts. Through tangible and visual means, it serves as a vivid representation of sculptural deities, architectural forms, and vessels that have been lost to time. Rather than replicating the pieces, the intention is to draw inspiration from them. The resulting eccentric forms boast unique colour schemes, pleasing curves, and delicate edges, inspired by archaeological figures and decayed architectural sites. Ara exhibited his work at both national and international exhibitions. His body of work has been supported by organizations such as the Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria, and the City of Melbourne. Ara is represented by James Makin Gallery in Victoria. 

Instagram @aradolatian 

www.aradolatian.com

Brodie Ellis (born 1979, Lismore) is a multidisciplinary artist living and working on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Castlemaine. Attending to contemporary ecological concerns between science and ethics, her interest in social and environmental issues is applied to site-specific explorations, resulting in works that question the use of natural resources and pursuit of technological progress at the expense of the environment. Ellis has exhibited in public and commercial spaces across Australia and internationally and her work is held in public and private art collections including MONA, Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart. 

Instagram @BrodieEllisArt

www.brodieellis.com