Our board

Simon McKenzie - President

Simon grew up in Burnie and maintains strong, ongoing connections with the community. He grew up in a family that supported the arts on the northwest coast of Tasmania, and he is committed to contributing more to the region's cultural life and Tasmania. He counts seeing Tasdance in Burnie as one of his first live performance experiences, which helped inspire an ongoing interest in the arts.

Simon is a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland Law School. He completed his undergraduate arts and law study at the University of Tasmania and holds a PhD in International Criminal Law from the University of Melbourne. He has worked as a government policy officer, a commercial litigation lawyer, a consultant for a Melbourne start-up, a researcher at the Supreme Court of Victoria, and a lecturer at the University of Melbourne. He has significant experience volunteering with organisations such as the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, the Inner Melbourne Community Legal Centre, and the Clemente Program. Simon is thrilled to be a member of the Tasdance Board and is excited to help the company build its community access, engagement, and impact.

Adrienne Picone - Vice President

Adrienne has extensive experience at the CEO level and a long-standing career in the community services industry. Prior to taking up the role of CEO of Tasmania’s community services industry peak body, Adrienne spent three years as CEO of Volunteering Australia, based in the nation’s capital.

Adrienne has a wealth of experience working with local, state, and federal governments and is a passionate advocate for Tasmanians. Adrienne has qualifications in education and extensive experience in the volunteering sector.

Since starting with TasCOSS, Adrienne has tirelessly advocated on behalf of Tasmanians living on low incomes and experiencing disadvantages. By breaking down barriers to participation, Adrienne sincerely hopes all Tasmanians can live a good life on our island home. With a lifelong interest in the arts, Adrienne is keen to contribute to Tasdance’s work and increase participation in cultural activities.

Ed Beswick - Treasurer

Ed is the General Manager and Finance Director of Thrive Group Tasmania Inc. Previously, he worked as the Financial Accountant at Launceston Airport and an Audit Manager with over 9 years of professional experience in audit and advisory at Deloitte, where he managed the delivery of external and internal audit services to clients across a range of industries in Northern Tas, Sydney and Melbourne. During his time with Deloitte, he worked on external audit engagements for large proprietary and ASX-listed clients and not-for-profit organisations, assisting management, audit & risk committees and boards to achieve sound financial reporting and adopt good governance principles. Ed also has experience working abroad in St John's (Canada), where he assisted with the first-time adoption of IFRS for several external audit clients.

Ed graduated from the University of Tasmania (Launceston) with a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Information Systems, majoring in Accounting and E-business. He has been a member of the Board Exec and treasurer of Junction Arts Festival for 8 years. He deeply appreciates the transformative nature of arts and cultural organisations as drivers of community vibrancy and innovation. He is passionate about Tasmania as a premier tourism and lifestyle destination and believes organisations like Assembly 197 are crucial to our continued success in this area. Ed is excited to join the Assembly 197 Board and work with the amazing Adam & Emma and the other directors to support the organisation in doing what it does best – working with exceptional artists and connecting with curious audiences and creative communities. Ed is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor. He is also the treasurer of the Launceston Film Society.

Jess Grace-Conroy

Jess Grace-Conroy (she/her) is an experienced communications and community development practitioner with a passion for access and inclusion. Central to this work has been storytelling. Jess has lived and worked in France, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Asia, and the Pacific region. Throughout this time, she has worked primarily with women and girls to tell their stories and stories that matter to them. Jess is passionate about the arts and what they bring to our society, particularly movement. Jess sees it as an honour and a joy to support the work and impact of Assembly 197.

Alison Jales

Alison grew up in Launceston, dancing and teaching dance at a local dance school. After many years living overseas, Alison returned to live in Launceston with her three children in 2008. She worked as a teacher in public education until moving to Vanuatu in 2022 to teach at Port Vila International School.

Alison has been a Council and Executive member of the Australian Education Union and a member of the Teacher Registration Board. She has also volunteered with many school, community and political organisations.

Alison’s youngest son, Toby, has inherited her love of dance. He attended dance classes at Tasdance and danced with Stompin for many years before moving to Melbourne, where he studies dance at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Alison is passionate about the Arts and encourages diverse communities of adults and children to also experience and develop a love for the Arts.

Denise Ava Robinson - Company Secretary

Denise Robinson is a palawa (Trawlwoolway) woman with Scottish/English matrilineage.

Artist, administrator, advisor, and mentor, the greater part of Denise’s work is within the creative sector, building capacity for Tasmanian Aboriginal practitioners. She has held diverse roles across government, business, community, and industry sectors and managed her own art practice. She has lived and studied nationally and overseas, has sat on numerous Arts and Community committees, panels, and boards, is the current Chair of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s (TMAG) Aboriginal Arts Advisory Council, Member of TMAG’s Board of Trustees, Board member for Tasdance, and Contemporary Art Tasmania, and member of the City of Launceston’s Cultural Advisory Committee, and sits on Sawtooth ARI’s Aboriginal Advisory Group, and Walantanalinany Palingina’s (WaPa) Advisory Council.

Holding an MFA, BFA (Hons) she is currently undertaking her PhD exploring engagement practices between indigenous and non-indigenous agents within the creative sector.

SHELLEY McCUAIG

Bio coming soon

KAREN HALL