Our Team

toby.chapman@penrith.city

Toby leads the strategic and creative programming for visual arts across Penrith Regional Gallery as well as Penrith Performing & Visual Arts. He is an arts leader and curator who has worked with cultural organisations across Western Sydney for the past 15 years. He has curated exhibitions and programs for major institutions and festivals including the Museum of Contemporary Art: Sydney Festival: Adelaide Festival: Shanghai Biennale and Jakarta Biennale. He currently sits on the Arts and Cultural Advisory Board, Bradfield City Centre; Western Sydney University’s Western Sydney Creative Advisory Board and regularly advises on public art projects across Western Sydney.

joanna.gilmour@penrith.city

Joanna is a curator and writer with 25 years of experience in cultural and collecting institutions. Born and raised on Gundungurra and Dharug Country in the Blue Mountains, she has worked in curatorial, exhibitions, registration and visitor experience roles with Museums of History NSW, the National Trust SH Ervin Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. As Curator, Collections, Joanna leads projects foregrounding the story and significance of the Penrith Regional Gallery site and the enduring resonance of the Lewers Bequest, while also developing programs to facilitate accessibility, management and awareness of the Gallery’s collection.

Joanna holds a Bachelor of Arts (Communication), a Master of Letters (Women’s Studies), and a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies.

tia.madden@penrith.city

Tia is an artist, writer and researcher based on Dharug Land in the Blue Mountains. As the Assistant Curator at Penrith Regional Gallery, Tia works closely with artists and the curatorial team to support the research and development of exhibitions. She has prior experience working with artists as a research and studio assistant, in arts education roles, and in a front-of-house capacity both at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Penrith Regional Gallery.  Tia has exhibited both nationally and internationally as an artist, has curated for artist-run spaces in western Sydney, and has written for several arts publications.

Tia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours, and is currently completing a Master of Fine Arts by Research— both at the University of New South Wales Arts, Design & Architecture.

gemma.mckenzie-booth@penrith.city

Gemma leads creative experiences for children, young people, families and schools with a focus on inquiry-based, participant-centred and experiential learning. Previously, she worked in educational and public programming roles with the Fairfield Museum and Gallery, Powerhouse Museum, Kaldor Public Art Projects, and private art studios. She holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours and a Master of Creative and Cultural Industries Management.

ernest.aaron@penrith.city

Ernest is a practicing artist who brings over 15 years of experience working within cultural institutions, university galleries, and art centres to the role of Exhibitions and Production Coordinator at Penrith Regional Gallery.

His role at the gallery involves the logistical planning and development of the Gallery’s exhibitions program as well as managing the exhibition changeovers in the multiple gallery spaces across the site.

dacchi.dang@penrith.city

Dacchi Dang is a preeminent Chinese Vietnamese-Australian photographic artist, independent research and cycling coach. My passion is Arts and Sports. He is principally concerned with articulating the complex nature of diasporic experience and an ongoing redefinition of ideas of place and of home. Dacchi is a former management committee board member at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art 1997-2003. 2024 Dacchi have joined Penrith Regional Gallery as Collection officer. Previous employment at National Archives of Australia, University of Wollongong. Dacchi holds several degrees including a PhD from Queensland College of the Arts. a Graduate Certificate of Applied Science in Cultural Heritage Studies specialising in Photography, Canberra University, Grad dip Archives and Records Management, Master Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, College of Fine Arts University of New South Wales.

mychelle.vanderburg@penrith.city

Mychelle is responsible for ensuring that visitors to the site have an exceptional experience. Her role includes the management of reception, volunteers, our on-site retail gift store, venue hire for events and the presentation of the premises. She started out with PP&VA as a volunteer before joining the team. Her background is in Marketing, Retail and Event Management. She lives in the local area and is also deeply interested in art at both a study and practice level. She holds a Graduate Diploma Marketing, Master’s Degree in Business and Diploma in Advanced Leadership from AGSM.

kristin.english@penrith.city

Kristin is the Events Coordinator in the Front of House team, facilitating private event hires including weddings, private functions, and workshops. She joined the Gallery as a volunteer in 2018 while completing studies in Fine Arts. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Fine and Visual Arts, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Working in her local regional gallery fits with her passion to interact and engage with members of the community, and to build deeper relationships between the public and art.

shayne.roberts@penrith.city

Shayne is an experienced Horticulturalist with a keen interest in portraying a space with Heritage significance. He has worked on heritage properties of historical and cultural significance managed by the Historic Houses Trust organisation including Vaucluse House, Elizabeth Bay House, Elizabeth Farm and The Mint. He enjoys the diverse appeal of the Penrith Regional Gallery gardens, its various canopies are highly sensitive to seasonal transition and Margo Lewers’ philosophy of a ‘controlled wildness’ when working within the grounds.

mandy.larkham@penrith.city

Mandy is our Gallery Assistant – Retail. She joined the Gallery team with over 20 years’ experience in retail and customer service. Mandy proudly supports local artists, by stocking and promoting their wares. Connecting artisans and makers with their local community, who enjoy access to locally made products.

Mandy is also a Western Sydney emerging artist and art student currently studying the Bachelor of Creative Practice at Nepean Arts & Design Centre here in Penrith.