About Our Contributors

       Michael Rolfe - CEO

On graduating from Alexander Mackie College of Advance Education (now COFA) in 1978, Michael Rolfe embarked on a career as a secondary school art teacher and artist. As an artist he exhibited regularly and contributed to Sydney’s then burgeoning Artist Run Initiative scene. In 1988 he was appointed director of the Tamworth City Gallery, beginning a career in regional galleries that has spanned the past 22 years. Since 1999, as inaugural director of Sydney’s Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre, Michael has developed strong programming and extensive workshop activities that sees an average of 500 students per week and over 170,000 visitors per year participating across its range of activities and programs.

Michael joined M&G NSW as CEO in November 2010.

Michael Huxley

Michael is a graduate of UNSW. Since 1996 he has worked primarily as an administrator in the performing arts. From 1998 till 2001 he was the General Manager of Marian Street Theatre Company. He was Finance Administrator/Deputy General Manager for the Australian Theatre for Young People (atyp) until June of 2005 when he joined the Ensemble Theatre to be their Special Projects Manager. In late 2006 he was appointed the Administrator of the Australian National Playwrights’ Centre (ANPC) as well as financial consultant to Playworks. He Joined Museums & Galleries NSW in April 2007 in the part time position of Manager, Finance a position held till June 2008. In 2008 Michael was an associate producer for the Short+ Sweet Organisation working as Festival Director/Curator for their music theatre festival, Short Sweet+Song, and Company Manager for their national touring production. He was also Manager Finance and Administration for Kookaburra, The National Musical Theatre Company till November of that year.

Michael rejoined M&G NSW in October 2008 as General Manager Finance & Administration and has been Acting CEO since May 2010

Phoebe Arthur

Phoebe is Sector Development Coordinator at M&G NSW. In this role she coordinates the Volunteer Initiated Museum (VIM) grant program, including small grants, development grants and skills development grants for volunteer-managed museums. She is also responsible for the delivery of the Standards program, working with museums who are participating in the program and with the Standards Review committee. She also works with staff to deliver the Distance Advisory Service.

Andrew Brettell

Andrew is Information and Resources Manager. Along with overseeing the development of the new website, Andrew manages the production and distribution of M&G's communications.

Originally from New Zealand, Andrew has worked in a range of diverse roles including writing for television, new media design, and university lecturing. He has an MA in Performance and Multimedia Design from Massey University in Wellington.

Lillian Lim 

Lillian is the Coordinator of Touring Exhibitions at M&G NSW. In this role she coordinates the touring program that is part of the National Exhibitions Touring Support (NETS) network and delivers exhibitions of contemporary visual arts and craft to regional and remote audiences in NSW. Lillian is also responsible for providing support and advice to the NSW regional galleries sector and implements the Incoming Touring Exhibition Grant (ITEG) program and Artist and Curator-in-Residence (ACR) program.

Jasmin Dessmann

Jasmin is the Gallery Programs and Touring Exhibitions Officer at M&G NSW. In this role she assists the coordination of the touring exhibition program, the biannual Exhibitions Register online publication, and the implementation of the Incoming Touring Exhibition Grant (ITEG) program and Artist and Curator-in-Residence (ACR) program. Jasmin has completed tertiary studies in Fine Arts, Arts Conservation and post-graduate studies in Arts Administration and has worked with a variety of arts organisations from university, commercial and public levels before joining M&G NSW in June 2010.

Sarah-Jane Rennie

Sarah-Jane worked as Manager of Sector Development at M&G NSW. In this role she oversaw development programs for the museum and gallery sector in NSW including the Museum Advisor program and sector research as well as providing strategic input to the Volunteer Initiated Museum (VIM) grant program and Standards Program. Sarah-Jane coordinated a number of reference committees including the Museums Reference Committee. 

Prior to working with M&G NSW, Sarah-Jane worked as a conservator in museums, galleries and private settings. She contributed to a variety of cultural publications and training packages on a range of topics including preventive conservation, significance assessment and the development of museums and galleries in heritage buildings. 

Sarah-Jane currently sits on the boards of ArtsTraining NSW and Accessible Arts and is a member of the National Standards Taskforce for the museum and gallery sector.