Board of Management
Craft + Design Canberra is supported by a Board of management. Members are drawn from the Canberra and region craft and design network and are experienced in the areas of professional practice, administration, business management and financial administration.
Penny Boyer | President
Photographer, Educator
Penny Boyer has worked in the art, craft, and design industries for over 35 years and continues to have a keen interest in arts, craft, design and photography. She has a Masters in Visual Arts in photography and studied architecture, ran her own photographic business and worked as an arts educator at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) for 25 years teaching photography and being Head of Department/Education Manager for Fashion, Photography, Visual Arts, Graphic Design, Architectural Design and Interior Design. She set up the first ever degree level programs at the CIT (in Fashion and Photography), working collaboratively with institutions within Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. Her work has involved collaborating with many organizations to secure sponsorship and organize events, these includes National cultural institutions, local arts organizations, education institutions, government departments and business, locally, nationally, and internationally. Penny has over 10 years of arts governance experience gained on the Capital Arts Patrons Organization (CAPO) board (1999-2009).
Lisa McGlynn | Deputy Chair
Consultant
Lisa has had diverse career in the public sector at Commonwealth, State and Territory level covering strategy and policy development, service design, delivery and evaluation in the health, welfare education and social policy sectors. Lisa contributes her deep expertise, network and experience to consulting, board membership, coaching, mentoring and tribunal work. She has a passion for craft and design and has been an active participant in DESIGN Canberra festival programs for the past few years.
Kayannie Denigan ( Aṉangu Luritja ) | Board member and First Nations Representative
Kayannie Denigan is an Aṉangu Luritja visual artist with strong family and cultural connections to the Bagarrmuguwarra and Kuku Yalanji people of Cape York. She works predominantly in acrylic on canvas, exploring the dual perspectives of her Luritja heritage and upbringing on Cape York through earthy, rich and vibrant expressions of her connection to people and country. Kayannie has also explored her practice through contemporary jewellery, textiles, mixed media and scavenged materials. In 2023, Kayannie held a solo exhibition at Belconnen Arts Centre, had her artwork featured at the Australian Pavilion at COP28 and projected onto Australian Parliament House during National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. She currently works as an arts administrator and has extensive public sector leadership, policy, program management and stakeholder engagement experience.
Tess Manuel | Treasurer
Consultant Tess Manual is currently Senior consultant at Capability Management Services at Projects Assured. She is an accountant with 13+ years’ experience and deep expertise in her major focus areas of costing and business performance analysis. She has demonstrated capability in managing external and internal stakeholders. She has provided executive leadership and stakeholders with reports, recommendations and analytical insight and led teams to implement business improvements closely aligned to the organisational strategy and objectives. She has extensive board experience with community groups including Canberra Matayee associations, Koottukaaree, Regional Indian Associations and Fitted for Work.
Giang Tan | Secretary and Public Officer
Senior Advisor, Proximity
Giang is a corporate and commercial lawyer with a tax background. She is an experienced lawyer having worked in legal and tax consulting roles for both government and the private sector providing sound commercial advice. She has excellent technical skills across a range of areas, with a particular interest in corporate governance, trusts and tax. Giang takes a pragmatic and results-based approach that takes account of her clients’ political, policy and commercial drivers. She enjoys working with clients to navigate their legislative obligations, solve their legal problems and achieve their objectives. Giang’s co-operative and personal approach allows her to build strong relationships with the clients and her peers. She can seamlessly fit into each new environment she encounters and is experienced in managing and meeting tight time frames in high pressure settings.
Jenny Edwards | General Member
Director + Scientist, Light House Architecture & Science
Jenny has a Masters degree in science and is an ACT licensed Building Energy Efficiency Assessor. In 2010, Jenny established an energy efficiency consulting business – Scinergy – which won the ACT Sustainable Cities Energy Innovation Award in 2010 for its innovative, scientific approach to improving energy efficiency in the residential construction sector. Since 2011, Jenny has been a Director of the award-winning company Jigsaw Housing Pty Ltd, which has traded as the business Light House Architecture & Science since the end of 2015. In 2015 Jenny won the 'Outstanding in Industry' award from the ACT branch of the National Association of Women in Construction.
Rod Bobeldijk | General Member
Director of Complete Constructions
Rod Bobeldijk is the Director and co-founder of Complete Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd, (Est. 1998), specialising in commercial construction and project management. Rod has significant experience working in the Commercial Construction Industry, where he has been involved in Building & Civil projects within the ACT, surrounding NSW and Sydney since 1993. As a Director, Rod has been instrumental in developing Complete Constructions (Aust), which has built a reputation in the industry as a highly regarded, professional and innovative organisation. A younger Rod was awarded MAB ACT Young Commercial Builder of the Year (2012) based on his “knowledge of his craft and his ability to work in cooperative arrangements with both his clients and designers”. Rod has a passion for architecture, outdoor adventure, and travel. He has designed multiple houses, including his own residence which was awarded an MBA prize. He is currently completing a cabin in the NSW high country, hopefully in time for the next ski season.
Adelina La Vita | Artist Member
Ceramic Artist
Adelina La Vita is a ‘mature’ emerging Australian ceramic artist and a 1994 graduate from the University of Canberra in Graphic Design and Illustration. Since graduating over the last 25+ years, she has forged a corporate career in marketing, design, tourism and events working for global brands in Germany, local government and over the last eight years, the not-for-profit sector as a leader in member services, events, business growth, operations, IT and HR. Adelina recently exhibited artworks in the 2023 Emerging Contemporaries exhibition at Craft ACT, after being selected from the Canberra Potters 2022 Members’ Exhibition. Adelina’s sculptural ceramic practice centres around contrastive landscapes, stylised flora and fauna, and whimsical visuals. With her love for art and creation, and her deep connection to Canberra, she is passionate about contributing to, and showcasing the vast talent of the creative community in Canberra.
Ashley Eriksmoen | Membership Representative
Ashley is a studio-based practitioner and educator with nearly 30 years of experience in contemporary studio crafts. She completed her Master of Fine Arts in Furniture Design at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2000. In 2012, Ashley emigrated from California to Canberra to head the Furniture workshop at ANU School of Art & Design, where she continues to be a Senior Lecturer. ANU has provided Ashley with extensive experience contributing to committees (including the Major Equipment Committee which reviews 60+ applications a year and distributes 2-3 million dollars in equipment grants and has chaired the Education Committee which deals with shaping and implementing school governance and policy). Ashley is just completing her term as a board member of Greenwood Global, a non-profit supporting local control of sustainable forest management based in North America with operations in the Caribbean and Central America. At Greenwood, Ashley was responsible for cultural projects, specifically development of innovative exhibition strategies with external stakeholders and funding partners.
Ashley's areas of expertise are Contemporary Crafts Practices, Critical and Speculative Design, and Sustainable Craft and Design Practices. She is an accredited professional member of Craft + Design Canberra, where she has contributed through exhibiting, giving floor talks, opening exhibits, writing catalogue essays, and serving on the panel of excellence for exhibition EOI selection. She is a studioholder at Strathnairn Arts Association. Ashley has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including from Australia Council, ArtsACT, the Clarence Prize and the Australian Furniture Design Award.
Jodie Cunningham | Non-voting
Craft + Design Canberra CEO and Artistic Director
Jodie Cunningham is CEO and Artistic Director of Craft + Design Canberra, one of Australia’s leading creative centres for the development of visual art, craft and design. Jodie manages the overall operations and resources, acting as the main point of communication between the board of directors, staff, members, sponsors and government bodies. She is the public face of the organisation, curating a vibrant program of exhibitions, residencies and cross-disciplinary collaborations including the DESIGN Canberra Festival.
Cunningham is a highly creative arts leader, visual artist and educator with extensive experience in developing and delivering innovative exhibitions, public programs in museums, galleries and art contexts. She also has an extensive background in visual art and design education and a commitment to mentoring developing artists and fostering collaboration.
Cunningham advocates advocate for the power of creativity, the arts and cultural activity to provide hope to our communities, strengthen our local and national cultural identities, and facilitate social change.