About Us
Image Tim Bean Photography
We Love Craft and Design.
Meet the team
- Wore a hole in her carpet when she was little from drawing all the time on the floor of her room
- Is a chromaphile - loving, living and wearing saturated colour
- Is a bowerbird for colourful vintage objects, filling up her studio with rainbow aluminium picnic cups and makes assemblage sculptures from them
- Loves to fly fish but rarely catches a fish
- Can put her red lipstick on without looking in the mirror and while talking
Victoria Bennett brings extensive experience in arts management, digital program development, and stakeholder engagement to Craft + Design Canberra. With a background spanning major cultural institutions and the small not-for-profit sector, she has worked at organisations including the National Gallery of Australia and State Library Victoria. Victoria has a proven track record of developing innovative public programs, managing large-scale festivals and building strategic partnerships. She is passionate about supporting opportunities for cultural participation and believes in creating meaningful experiences that foster active citizenship and engagement in our cities.
5 fun facts about Victoria:
- Has a photography degree but mainly uses those skills to make her dog Etta Insta-famous
- Can deadlift more than most people think and loves hitting new PBs in the gym
- Is on a mission to try every winery in the Canberra region
- Takes the scenic route whenever possible, whether that's choosing the longer hiking trail or the more interesting travel route
- Has managed over 600 volunteers during her time at Open House Melbourne and somehow still loves working with people
Email: ella.myer@craftanddesigncanberra.org
- Is a raging hobby collector.
- Born and raised in London.
- Plays lots and lots of field hockey.
- Has been learning Mandarin since she was 11.
- An emerging artist practicing in textiles.
Email: waratah.lahy@craftanddesigncanberra.org
Waratah Lahy is an artist known for her ability to capture the beauty and humour of everyday moments through painting and drawing. Her work is inspired by observations of daily life and regularly feature scenes from her neighbourhood as well as other urban scenes and landscapes. Waratah is represented by Beaver Galleries, Canberra. Waratah has worked as a casual lecturer in painting and drawing at the Australian National University School of Art & Design for over 15 years. She also works as the Gallery Manager for the Mixing Room Gallery at Thor’s Hammer, curating and organising exhibitions with an environment focus.
5 fun facts about Waratah
- Collects colourful dresses and plastic brooches
- Finally got her driving license after being on her Ls for 20+ years
- Is a practicing artist
- Has a Doctor of Philosophy of Visual Arts
- Loves reading and always has a book (or 3) on the go.
Kelsie White | Marketing Coordinator
Email: kelsie.white@craftanddesigncanberra.org
Kelsie White has worked in marketing for the last ten years across many sectors from Education to the Arts. Kelsie moved to Canberra in 2023, after relocating from Ballarat and is originally from Perth. Kelsie is a qualified Graphic Designer and holds a BA in Political Science and International Relations.
5 fun facts about Kelsie:
- In 2017, Kelsie went on a round the world trip travelling from Australia to Asia, Europe and the USA.
- Kelsie is a painter and can be found painting abstract landscapes inspired by the hills of the ACT and her experiences of motherhood.
- In 2020, Kelsie coordinated a main street activation through the City of Ballarat and Ballarat Evolve allowing over 20 local makers to present their work in high street shops that sat empty during COVID lock downs.
- Currently, Kelsie is pushing her limits and hitting PB's in power lifting.
- While living in Ballarat, Kelsie had her own shop and workshop space where she would stock her own products, run workshops in many mediums and have other artists use her space for their events and classes.
Saori Brooks | Membership Officer
Email: saori.brooks@craftanddesigncanberra.org
Saori has been involved in the arts sector since she began as a gallery assistant at M16 Artspace in 2023. She studied a master's degree in Art History and Curatorial Studies at the ANU. Originally from Japan, Saori relocated to Australia in early 2022. 5 fun facts about Saori:
- Loves vintage op shopping
- Is obsessed with cat motif objects.
- Collects woodblock prints, fridge magnets, and CDs.
- Born in Iwate Japan and worked in Tokyo for 8 years.
- Holds an 8-dan qualification in Japanese calligraphy.
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Can touch his tongue to nose.
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Knows the entrance to a network of steam tunnels underneath the city of Berkeley.
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Is the proud parent to a fleet of oversized whimsical kinetic sculptures from a Lionfish in WA to a Snail and Cockatoo in Canberra with many others in California.
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Also is the proud parent to three beautiful children all under three years old.
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Once attempted to beat the world record of running a 350km mountain trail - and failed miserably.
Margot Date | Administration Officer
Margot Date is experienced in journalism, writing and communications. She is a textile and visual artist and follows F1.
5 fun facts about Margot:
- Favourite view is of the ocean.
- Is in her abstract embroidery era.
- Loves a new handbag.
- Owns a leaf blower.
- Catches spiders and releases them outside.