Our Staff & Board

Aimee Smith is an award winning choreographer and climate change professional working for 20 years at the intersection of these two fields. As a choreographer Aimee has created over 15 professional productions including Borderline, Wintering, Accidental Monsters of Meaning and The Futures Project, and has an extensive community arts and cultural exchange practice. She is inspired by the capacity of art and creative experiences to hold spaces for dialogue about the issues of our time, and to imagine the kind of future(s) we want to create. With a Masters in Sustainability and Climate Policy, Aimee has also worked as a climate change professional across government, business and academia. She has supported arts companies and festivals to develop and implement sustainability strategies and climate action plans, and co-founded Arts and Cultural Workers for Climate Action (ACWCA). She is a board member of WA Climate Leaders and previously served on the board of STRUT Dance.

Elliott Brannen is the Director of Tempo Tax and Accounting, a boutique accounting firm that specialises in the creative industries. He trained as a journalist and worked in media analysis for six years before turning to accounting, working in both Perth and Melbourne, before starting Tempo Tax and Accounting in 2016. A lifelong musician, he has played in bands that have won several music awards, including WA Song of the Year, has toured interstate and overseas, played festivals, and is still active in Perth’s live music scene to this day. He is the treasurer and life member of a community youth arts body, currently sits on the board of RTR-FM 92.1 Ltd and has served on both the Economic Development Committee and Audit and Governance Committee of the Town of Bassendean.

Currently a board member of the WA Chamber of Arts and Culture and Deputy Chair of Art On The Move, Jim has had a long varied career in the arts.

Previously long-serving Director of Fremantle Arts Centre, Acting-CEO of PICA and Manager of the North Melbourne Town Hall Artshouse  Jim has also worked as venue manager, producer, programmer, learning coordinator, artists' manager and agent as well as journalist and publicist.

He has a BA from Melbourne University and Advanced Diploma of Journalism from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Julia Dobson is an Entrepreneur and Brand & Marketing Strategist who has worked internationally for some of the worlds most loved luxury brands.

Julia’s career in fashion includes working in Switzerland with Bally and London with various surf and skate brands.  She completed an MBA in International Luxury Brand Management in Paris and joined the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Group leading brands CELINE and then Acqua di Parma in the UK and Ireland. Julia launched her own leather-goods brand Village England, selling in boutiques and department stores across Europe, America, Canada and Australia. She sold the business to facilitate a move back home to Perth.

She brings a detailed understanding of brand design, development, communications, campaign strategies and leveraging coverage by using technology and creativity to ensure an extension of reach.

She returned to Perth with a husband and two sons and spends far too much time repeatedly asking them to put their shoes on.

Tim Watts is a performer, deviser, director, puppeteer, improvisor and animator from Perth, Western Australia. He is a founding member of The Last Great Hunt and a Sidney Myer Fellowship recipient. He has a passion for creating and performing original, imaginatively engaging theatrical experiences born from improvisation and experimentation.

Since graduating from Notre Dame University, Fremantle with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2005, he has participated in international workshops, including studying clown and physical comedy with Dell’Arte International in Blue Lake California, as well as Puppetry workshops with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in Fremantle, Western Australia, and Blind Summit in the UK. He has co-created and performed in a plethora of shows, some of which won awards and toured all over the world.

These include: The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer (2009), It’s Dark Outside (2012), BRUCE (2014), Monroe and Associates (2015), New Owner (2016), The Irresistible (2017), Stay With Us (2018), Lé Nør [The Rain] (2019), and Whistleblower (2021).

Gita Bezard is a playwright, devisor, director and performer. She’s a founding member of The Last Great Hunt and mother to a tiny artist in the making.

For The Last Great Hunt: As a Writer/Director - PERPETUAL WAKE, THE TALK, THE ADVISORS, YOSHIS CASTLE and ALL THAT GLITTERS. As a co-devisor/performer - WHISTLEBLOWER (Perth Festival, 2021), LÉ NØR (Perth Festival, 2019), STAY WITH US, MINNIE AND MONA PLAY DEAD (Fringe World 2013 Martin Sims Award for Best New WA Work; Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Brisbane International Festival) and ELEPHENTS.

In 2016 her play GIRL SHUT YOUR MOUTH debuted at Black Swan State Theatre Company and was nominated for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award.

Playwriting Comissions - THE PAPER ESCAPER (Terrapin Puppet Theatre), THE PERFECT BOY (Black Swan State Theatre Company, LEMON and IN A BONY EMBRACE (Curtin University), REMARKABLE (WAAPA).

Jacquelin studied Communications at Murdoch University before graduating from the WA Academy of Performing Arts (Acting). Prior to joining The Last Great Hunt, Jacquelin lived and worked in Naarm (Melbourne) where she held executive leadership roles across the Victorian arts sector. Jacquelin was the inaugural General Manager and Interim Director of Contemporary Arts Precincts where she was instrumental in developing the operational capacity of the organisation to redevelop the old Collingwood Tech site into Collingwood Yards.

Other executive roles include Acting CEO and Director of Operations of Regional Arts Victoria, and Acting Director and General Manager of Writers Victoria, Victoria's peak body for writing. Jacquelin has consulted for arts organisations specialising in budgeting, financial reporting and business development.

She is excited to be working with The Last Great Hunt, and contributing to the West Australian arts sector through her proactive inclusive practices, and contributing to positive workplace culture.

Jessica Russell is a director, producer and maker based in Boorloo. With a Bachelor in Performing Arts from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and a Masters in Screen Studies (Directing & Cinematography) from the WA Screen Academy, Jess has worked in marketing as both an independent and within large-scale arts organisations.

She is currently a freelance videographer, specialising in bridging the gap between live theatre and the digital audience.

Lauren Brunswick has had a thriving and ambitious freelance career in the WA film & arts industries for the past 11 years, working primarily as a film producer & director, mentor, and board member for various Arts organisations. With a passion for storytelling and artistic expression in all its forms, she is thrilled to be able to exercise her creative business, development, and strategic skills as the new General Manager of The Last Great Hunt.

"This organisation has built a reputation for creating awe-inspiring work that captures audiences around the world, while demonstrating an artist-led, collaborative, and inclusive working environment. It is a privilege to be appointed to steer the next phase of their development."

Adriane Daff is an actor, writer, theatre-maker and Core Artist of The Last Great Hunt. Some notable theatre credits include ‘Lé Nør’ which was nominated for two 2019 Helpmann awards (including best new Australian work) and ‘The Irresistible’, which was also nominated for a 2018 Helpmann Award (best new play) and had a seasons at Dark Mofo (2019) and the Sydney Opera House (2019). The creators Adriane Daff, Zoe Pepper and Tim Watts also created ‘The Big Spaghetti’ a 5-part web series that made its international premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2019. Adriane won Best Actress for ‘The Big Spaghetti’ at the NextGen Webfest awards in 2018.

Adriane has studied in Perth (WAAPA BA in Theatre Arts), New York City (Ward Meisner Studio) and Paris (Ecole Philippe Gaulier). In 2018, Adriane wrote, produced and performed in ‘Era of New Paradise’ for the Griffin Theatre’s Batch Festival in Sydney. Adriane also co-wrote the audio works ‘Into the Jungle’ (DreamBig festival in Adelaide), ‘The Turners’(Sydney Writer’s Festival), and ‘The Confidence Man’(Arts House and Perth Theatre Company).

In 2021, Adriane’s first commission, an adaptation of ‘The Cherry Orchard’ (co-written by Katherine Tonkin) was staged by Black Swan State Theatre Company and premiered at Perth Festival. She also made and performed in ‘HYPERDREAM’ for Redline’s season at The Old Fitz and ‘Young & Gorgeous’ for ERTH and Griffin Theatre Company’s Mini Studio Program at Brand X. In 2023 Adriane will appear in ‘IDK’ for Sydney dance theatre company Force Majeure.