Our people

I'm in my second year as Producer of Words in Winter, having previously served on the festival committee in 2023 and 2024. I live and work on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, where I co-own Paradise Bookshop in Daylesford and live in nearby Hepburn, in my off grid home. With over 20 years of experience as a creative producer, I've worked with companies including Women's Circus and The Centre for Reworlding. My practice spans live arts, participatory projects and storytelling—creating spaces where making art together drives real change. I absolutely adore collaborating with local communities, artists, writers and festival volunteers, and I'm proud to help produce a festival cherished by my community. When I'm not busy with bookshops or festivals, you'll find me in my garden, hanging out with my cute pooch, lost in a good book, or singing with the local choir, The Honeytones.

I am a proud Dja Dja Wurrung, Gunditjmara, and Yorta Yorta woman, an Elder and leader, and a Stolen Generations survivor. I work as the First Nations Officer at Women's Health Grampians, advocating for culturally safe systems and justice for survivors. I am also a member of the Pitcha Makin' Fellas art collective alongside my son and Dja Dja Wurrung-Gunditjmara Yorta Yorta man Jack Shilvock and Gunditjmara man Uncle Ted Laxton. Our work is held in collections including the National Gallery of Victoria and the United Nations in Geneva. I co-created 'Why Don't Whitefellas Like Trees?' to highlight the protection of cultural heritage and Country.I continue my studies through a Masters at Federation University that weaves together my family history and the Stolen Generations, and I have served as a cultural advisor for Monash University and other institutions. I am deeply excited and honoured to be joining Words in Winter as Cultural Advisor, and to help ground the festival on Djaara Country.

I'm an audience growth strategist with twenty years across arts, culture, and the kinds of organisations that exist because someone cared enough to start them.I've worked with Arts Centre Melbourne, Malthouse Theatre, and The Jewish Independent, and founded FOJAM, the Festival of Jewish Arts and Music, which I led as Artistic Director from 2018 to 2023. I know what it takes to build an audience from scratch, and what it takes to keep one.I've lived in Daylesford long enough to understand what makes this community distinct. Two Daylesfords exist side by side here: the one visitors come for, and the one locals quietly sustain. Words in Winter belongs to the second one.My work sits at the intersection of strategy, story, and the unglamorous question of who actually knows your event exists. I work with arts and cultural organisations on strategy audits and roadmaps, helping them find the audiences who would come if they knew how to find them.I'm based in Daylesford, where I make a fruit loaf that has, apparently, attracted some favourable comparisons.

I'm a designer with ten years of experience who genuinely believes good design should do good in the world.

Over the years I've worked with agencies, design studios, and independent clients across the for-purpose and non-profit sector – from small community organisations to larger advocacy groups. That range has given me a solid understanding of what different organisations need, and how to make design work within real-world constraints like tight budgets and small teams.

I founded thisside.studio to work with for-purpose and non-profit organisations – the people and teams doing meaningful work who deserve a website and brand presence that reflects it.

I help organisations look and feel like themselves online. That means working closely with you to understand what you do, who you're trying to reach, and what you need people to do when they land on your site. Then I make it happen – from the first sketch through to a live, working website.

I'm drawn to the organisations solving real problems in their communities, and I love turning complicated ideas into something clear and easy to navigate. The best work I do tends to disappear into the background, because it just makes sense.

Outside of design, you'll find me doing calligraphy, renovating the house, or wandering around Daylesford.

I'm an avid reader, occasional writer, sourdough baker and enthusiastic gardener with the instruction manual close at hand. When I'm not helping shape the Words in Winter marketing campaign, I volunteer with Meals on Wheels and help run Cliffy's annual Christmas raffle in support of the local CFA. I live in Daylesford with my husband Lahn, our two dogs Georgia and Henrik, five chickens and roughly 60,000 bees.

I’m an educator, gardener and avid reader living in Hepburn, where I grow a productive half-acre garden and continue exploring what it means to live well and in connection with place. I share my passion for food growing and sustainable living through workshops and by developing curriculum resources for teachers with Farm My School. I’m also part of the Hepburn Wholefoods committee, contributing to newsletters and social media. When I’m not in the garden, you’ll find me singing with the brilliant local choir, the Honeytones, or curled up on the couch with a good book.

I am a Deaf CALD multidisciplinary artist, advocate filmmaker, and director whose creative world explores human connection through the lens of Deaf culture and lived experience. Fueled by a passion for disability justice, I am dedicated to ensuring Deaf and Disabled voices not only belong but also lead. Over many years, my creative practice has evolved through various roles, including artist, festival producer, creative director, arts consultant, tour guide, mentor, presenter, and board member. I have led and collaborated on numerous Deaf-led projects, including co founding FLOW festival – Deaf Arts, exhibitions, collectives and cultural events that celebrate and spotlight Deaf identity. Through my family connections, Irene has spent much of her life in Daylesford and is excited to be part of the Words in Winter Festival planning committee—a vibrant collaboration that brings together the creative energy of the community. I look forward to contributing to a festival that celebrates storytelling, connection, and the richness of local voices.

I am an artist and writer, currently painting abstracts of local landscapes, I have edited and written for a book on the artist Georgiana Houghton, and recently self published the book A Common Thread. I have also for a number of years made, written and performed the Little Theatre.

I'm a writing coach and editor, primarily working with debut novelists. I've worked in the arts my entire career, from theatre to street performance, festival direction to community cultural development. I retrained as an editor about 15 years ago and have been helping people write books ever since. I co-host the Curious Writers Workshops with fellow editor Stephanie Preston. We present these themed writing workshops on-line and at the occasional festival, including the last two Words in Winters. I've lived in Daylesford for five years and enjoy the slow country life with plenty of time for reading on the couch with Pat the Cat curled up nearby. This is my second year on the Words in Winter programming team and I love it – such a great crew.

A love of books and reading alongside a commitment to community building has brought me to support Words in Winter. I am a Madeleine with three e’s and was named after the ‘Madeline’ story books in the first place.  Maybe this is why books are my favourite thing.  My day job is a social work educator. I am on the cusp of retirement and am excited to have more time for reading, making and creating.

I've been writing professionally for three decades including writing for television in Australia, Croatia, Poland, the Netherlands, Iceland and the USA. After returning home I taught screenwriting at the Victorian College of the Arts for ten years before moving fulltime to Daylesford. These days when I'm not reading or writing, I'm attempting to grow vegetables, attempting to knit and, more successfully, walking my gorgeous dog, Lili Marlene.

I’m Rebecca and I'm stoked to be back working with the Words in Winter Festival team again this year.   I’m an award-winning playwright, writer, arts producer, workshop facilitator, MC and social worker. I am the Co-artistic Director of arts company Anvil Productions and work as a social worker in private practice. I am the host of live chat show ‘On the Couch with Beck Lister’ and the monthly MC of intergenerational storytelling show 'Generation Women'. I love Words in Winter and the range of artists and audiences that we attract. I'm looking forward to another fabulous festival program curated by our extraodinary team.

Hi — I’m Ruby, the youngest member of the Words in Winter team. I’m 20 years old as I’m writing this and I’m part of the Marketing and Communications group. I’m excited to be the face and front of Words in Winter on Instagram: I’ll be interviewing authors and artists who take part in the festival, sharing their stories, and making sure the festival feels welcoming and alive on-line and in person. I’m autistic (low support needs) and disability advocacy is important to me — I want everyone who’s disabled to get the accommodations that help them thrive. That means pushing for equity, acceptance and respect at every event, and making sure accessibility isn’t an afterthought but part of how we plan and show up.

When I’m not helping run Words in Winter socials or interviewing wonderful creatives, I volunteer at Paradise Bookstore. I do whatever’s needed: alphabetising and organising shelves, cleaning, scanning books, helping customers find things, and pitching in with any other tasks that Devon wants my help with. I care about working there and put my all into the work — books matter to me, and it shows in how I help run the shop.I’m proud to be non-binary and queer, I’m someone who loves books, and I’m an intersectional feminist who fights for the rights of all genders, races/ethnicities, neurotypes, disabilities, and much more. I’m a commie — I believe everyone deserves the rights and supports they need to live their life the way they want to. I love my family, and spending time  with them — Mum, Dad, our dogs Rigby and Maple, Nana, her cat Louie, and my cat Matilda. I grow dahlias in my garden and I’m planning to sell all kinds of tubers, bulbs, seeds and seedlings one day.I’m really happy to be part of Words in Winter, to connect with authors, artists and festival-goers, and to help shape a festival where everyone can feel seen, supported and respected. Thank you, everyone!!!