TiNA is a not-for-profit organisation offering business services, funding and opportunities to experimental and emerging artists to create and showcase their art.
Our Board is made up of dedicated volunteers with expertise in strategic, financial, marketing and business management, a commitment to our values and a passion for our community cultural development work in the region.
TiNA Board
Kate Baartz, Chair
Kate is a story teller, business owner, problem solver, wife and mother. Kate is passionate about supporting people to reach their goals – in whatever endeavour that may be. Kate's superpower is connecting people to each other. Second to that is almost 20 years experience in corporate communications, community and stakeholder engagement, issues management, content creation, strategic planning and reporting, project management, event coordinating and managing social media. Also, puns bring her joy. Contact: board (at)octapod.org
Sam Willcox, Deputy Chair
Bio coming soon
Kattie Bugeja, Secretary
Kattie is an experienced arts administrator with twelve+ years of experience working with commercial galleries, auction houses, large scale public museums, government agencies and not-for-profits both nationally and internationally. She brings experience in project coordination, curation, economic management, effective stakeholder engagement and leadership. Career highlights include learning the ropes of the international art trade in London, working with a tiny team to launch a competitive contemporary art fair in Sydney and engaging community stakeholders to shape the future direction of their regional Gallery.
Samantha Cooper, Treasurer
Samantha brings a wealth of financial management experience to the board from across different organisations in Australia and the UK. From management accounting in the automotive industry with Futuris in Melbourne, to digital channels for ITV in London and construction with local business Kingston Building. Samantha is currently Financial Controller for the locally-owned and operated organisation Quarry Mining. Born and raised in Newcastle, and now raising her young family here, Samantha is excited about supporting emerging local Hunter artists and our vibrant cultural community.
Julia Adamski, General Member
Julia is a domestic violence solicitor at the Hunter Community Legal Centre in Newcastle (HCLC). She has worked in the social justice space for more than 10 years, with her work in domestic violence taking her to Hyderabad, India, Far North Queensland, Western NSW and now the Hunter Region. She is passionate about building communities that make space for healing, resilience, and joy. She feels most alive when she is reading poetry, swimming in the ocean and hiking through wild landscapes.
Pippa Budge, General Member
Pippa Budge is the Curator, Multi Arts Pavilion | mima, a brand-new digital art and performance space situated in Lake Macquarie. In this role Budge works with artists from across Australia to create new work and develop installation and performance art pieces. Prior to working with the Lake Macquarie City Council, Budge was a Producer and Arts Educator at Melbourne Museum. She worked across the museums vast collection, teaching and producing programming for all audiences, including content creation for the museum’s AMAGA award winning online platform, Museum at Home. Pippa is passionate about arts programming and its ability to highlight diverse voices, and create connections across communities.
Zephie Cerny, General Member
Zephie is a retired dentist with BDS andPhD (University of Sydney). She has worked in private practice, public dentistry and academia and served on numerous committees in dental organisations ( local, state and Dental school). Zephie is also currently Chair of the Dental Museum at Westmead Hospital.
Molly McNeil, General Member
An emerging academic, arts practitioner and programmer. Currently the Director of Critical Animals.
Maria Pavela, General Member
Bio coming soon
Madeline Snow, General Member
Bio coming soon