Our People

Joanna has 15 years’ of experience in the Indigenous visual arts industry including management of several renowned Art Centres in the Central and Western Desert. Joining the APY Art Centre Collective (the Collective) team in 2020, Joanna brought experience and confidence required to scale the Elder’s important social enterprise. In her time as Operations Manager, the Collective has grown its program and impact including significant increases in income, employment pathways, partnerships and projects including infrastructure. Joanna has been responsible for fostering a number of new important partnerships including Paspaley, MUD Australia and Walker Corporation. All of which lead to artistic projects with significant outcomes for artists and Art Centres. In 2022 Joanna was integral in establishing the partnerships and economic model to embark on a building acquisition for the Collective’s headquarters in Adelaide. A multi-million dollar acquisition initiative, with multiple stakeholders was then followed by an extensive building works managed by Joanna, to create a fit-for-purpose multi-disciplinary space to house the Adelaide Art Centre, First Nations ceramics workshop, APY Gallery Adelaide, offices and training spaces. The first of it kind, the Collective established a permanent home, laying the foundation for future growth, participation and impact.

Tanya is a CPA qualified accountant with over 22 years’ experience working across both commercial and not-for-profit (NFP) sectors. Her experience covers all aspects of accounting, as well as strategic tasks such as budgeting, reporting and analysis, financial modelling and Board reporting. Tanya’s skill set extends to compliance management, capacity building and grants management. Since commencing work at the APY Art Centre Collective in 2020, Tanya has supported the Collective during a significant period of growth and change. During this time revenue and staffing has more than doubled; the Melbourne Gallery was established and a permanent space acquired in Thebarton through a mix of funding and finance. We have seen through two ORIC examinations, significantly increased internal capacity and managed infrastructure grants and projects on behalf of regional art centres. Tanya also assisted in the establishment of the Umoona Art Centre, working on the financial, administrative, funding and compliance tasks involved in setting up an art centre entity from scratch and is now assisting in establishing the new Port Augusta Art Centre.

Sally Scales is a Pitjantjatjara woman from Pipalyatjara, west APY Lands. Sally was elected as Chairperson of the APY Executive Board Council in 2019 and was the second woman to hold the position. Sally has worked with the APY Art Centre Collective since 2016 in various roles including cultural liaison, spokesperson and her current role as Regional Projects Support which she juggles along with her growing profile as an artist. Sally was part of the youth leadership team for the Uluru Statement reform, having been involved in the Referendum Council’s Constitution regional dialogues in Ross River, Adelaide and national convention in Uluru 2017. Since then Sally has been involved with Uluru Dialogue leadership. Sally is an independent elected board member of the Australian Children’s Foundation and a board member on Alinytjara Wilururu Landscape Board. In 2023 Sally was elected as a Director of the National Gallery of Australia where she is also the current Chair of the First Nations Advisory Committee.

Sandra is a Yankunytjatjara woman from Mimili Community, east APY Lands in remote South Australia. Sandra has held leadership roles in First Nations Education for the past 15 years most recently as the Manager of the Walk Along Program with Education South Australia. Sandra works closely with Hannah Casper in developing the APYACC Schools program. In addition to her work with the APY Art Centre Collective, Sandra consults to the Art Gallery of South Australia and works as practicing artist at the APY Studio in Adelaide.

Annie McLoughlin is an Art History graduate from the University of Western Australia with over 8 years’ experience working with Indigenous Art Centres across Australia. Annie began working with artists in the Central Desert at Warakurna Artists in 2016. This led to other opportunities on the APY Lands at Kaltjiti Arts and Craft and Tjala Arts. Annie worked at Tjala Arts from 2016-2020, including as Art Centre Manager for a two-year period. Following Tjala Arts, Annie returned to Western Australia and took on a position at FORM as Arts Development Manager, supporting Indigenous artists and Art Centres in the Pilbara region through an expansive program of art making workshops, skills development and exhibition opportunities. Annie joined the APYACC team in 2022 as the Regional Projects Manager. This role has seen Annie support diverse artistic projects from across South Australia including regional collaborative painting camps, artmaking workshops and managing art fair opportunities including Sydney Contemporary, Melbourne Art Fair and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. In addition to this Annie has managed the Uninypa x Adelaide Women’s Prison ceramics program, supported the start-up of Collective Art Centre Ceramics Studio and managed exhibition outcomes and publication projects including Milpatjunanyi: Contemporary drawing from the APY Lands. Annie has also supported the start-up of the Umoona Community Art Centre and provided offsite training and support to incoming staff at Art Centres in the APYACC membership.

Jane Llewellyn is an experienced, freelance writer and editor who has worked for various print and online media outlets across Australia. With a Masters in Art History from the University of Adelaide, Jane has enjoyed a successful career in the Visual Arts spanning 20 years which has included roles including Editor of Australian Art Collector Magazine from 2003 – 2005 and arts writer for The Adelaide Review from 2011 until its closure in 2020. Alongside her freelance career, she has worked in commercial galleries. Jane joined the APY Gallery, Adelaide in 2020 and has been involved in producing successful exhibitions showcasing emerging artists from the APY lands and regional South Australia. Jane also established the APY online store, which has now become a core part of the business generating additional sales and revenue. Jane continues to champion the visual arts in South Australia by regularly contributing to InReview and is especially interested in unearthing and profiling emerging and upcoming talent.

Eden is an arts professional and writer. He completed post graduate studies in Art History and completed a Masters of Curatorship at the University of Melbourne, with a specific focus on contemporary Aboriginal Art.
As the Coordinator of APY Gallery Naarm, Eden is responsible for curation, public programs, education and collaborative projects. His curatorial practice is firmly rooted in the ideas of cross-cultural exchange, where he works directly with artists to create shows that represent Indigenous philosophy, artistic voice and the stories and concerns of Aboriginal communities across time.
Eden previously worked as an assistant to Botanical artist Shahn Stewart of Alchemy Orange and has interned at ACCA. His writing work has appeared in various publications including Memo, and he has curated a number of exhibitions including CRAFT Victoria’s 2022 First Peoples exhibition titled ‘Into the Everywhen’. Eden’s work is informed by his Koorie heritage and his focus is on improving outcomes for Mob both within the arts and beyond.

Lucy joined the APY Art Centre Collective in 2023 with a wealth of experience with Indigenous Not-For-Profit organisations, holding a recent position at Jarwan. Lucy undertakes roles in supporting the Finance operations of the Collective, governance support and compliance under the direction of Tanya Menz.

Myarn is a Kija and Jaru woman from the Kimberly region who relocated to Adelaide in 2020 to pursue her education, securing a scholarship to a top Adelaide based school. Myarn’s scholarship required her to live away from family for long periods, which was a testament to her drive, strength of character and independence.
Myarn is a skilled artist, having learned from her great grandmother. Myarn studied art while on scholarship and her work was chosen for SACE, the South Australian equivalent of Art Express.
In 2023-24, while working as a part-time gallery and studio assistant for the Collective in Adelaide, Myarn has maintained her own private art practice, mainly working on commissions. Her goal is to keep her great grandmother’s stories alive through her work.
Myarn is a dedicated and hardworking individual, evident through her relentless pursuit of education, which supported her to grow academically and personally. Myarn’s personal history and lived experience has ensured she approaches her professional life and personal practice with an open but resilient mindset, making fast connections with people from diverse backgrounds.
Myarn has a strong worth ethic and is eager to expand her knowledge of and skill set in the arts and cultural sector

Tiarnie has a Bachelor in Contemporary Arts and was the recipient of the University of South Australia’s Aboriginal Pathway Program DUX Award 2020. Tiranie is a practicing artist; Indigenous Knowledge being at the core of their own budding practice as a Ngarrindjeri illustrator and ceramicist. Tiarnie is committed to being immersed within the artistic community particularly the importance of care when it comes to the ethical consumption of Indigenous art and respect of artists.
Tiarnie is an exhibiting artist and the recipient of several grants and early career artists prizes including the Australian Ceramics Association Prize 2023. Tiarnie has also worked in administrative and support roles in art studios in Adelaide, which has given them the opportunity to be part of supporting the practice and careers of other Indigenous artists, which is also long held professional goal.
Detail oriented, Tiarnie is looking to provide dedicated services in the art industry, utilising skills as an emerging Indigenous artist to grow Indigenous based practices, and community work.

Yaritji Young is a highly respected artist and community leader. Yaritji has worked at Tjala Arts (formerly Minymaku Arts) since late 2000 and is now an acclaimed artist with a formidable arts practice. She is a senior law woman in the community as well as a longstanding Director at Tjala Arts, and is deeply commited to fostering law and culture.
Born in Ernabella in c.1954, Yaritji now resides in Amata Community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Yaritji is a
traditional owner for Tjala Tjukurpa – the Honey Ant story – near Amata. Yaritji is the eldest daughter of celebrated artists Mick Wikilyiri and Kunmanara (Paniny) Mick. Along with her sisters – Tjungkara Ken,Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin and Sandra Ken – Yaritji also forms part of the ‘Ken Sisters’ Collaborative’, who were awarded the Wynne Prize in 2016 for their collaborative pain􀆟ng at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Young has exhibited widely across Australia and overseas. She has been a repeat finalist for the prestigious Wynne Prize, and her work is represented in important public and private collections.