- New Creative Industries Taskforce appointed by Cook Government to accelerate growth, investment, and opportunities for State's creative sector
- Taskforce will strengthen collaboration, investment, and industry development across creative sectors
- Advisory group will support delivery of the State's 10-year strategic vision - Creative WA
- Cook Government fostering a vibrant and creative economy
The Cook Government has announced the establishment of the Creative Industries Taskforce - a new advisory group that will play a central role in strengthening and growing Western Australia's creative economy.
The taskforce will help deliver key initiatives under Creative WA, the State Government's 10-year vision for culture, creativity, and economic development, supporting pathways for industry development under Diversify WA, the State's economic diversification strategy.
The Creative Industries Taskforce will bring together leading voices from across Western Australia's creative sectors - including screen, music, design, performance, digital innovation, First Nations arts, and creative entrepreneurship - to provide strategic advice and industry insight to government.
The taskforce will work in partnership with government to:
- identify and accelerate high-growth creative industry sectors;
- strengthen commercialisation, innovation, and industry capability;
- support access to new domestic and international markets; and
- enhance collaboration across industry, education, government, and community.
The taskforce will also oversee the development of an action plan which will guide the growth of Western Australia's creative industries and strengthen their contribution to the State's economic diversification agenda.
Members have been selected for their recognised leadership, experience, and contribution to the development of Western Australia's creative industries, as well as their capacity to provide strategic oversight and sector-wide perspective.
The establishment of the taskforce builds on the Cook Government's continued investment into the creative economy, including major creative infrastructure projects, such as the Perth Film Studios, the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and the revitalisation of the Perth Cultural Centre precinct.
A full list of taskforce members can be found below.
As stated by Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
"A strong and thriving creative sector means more jobs, stronger local businesses, and a more vibrant State - culturally, socially, and economically.
"The Creative Industries Taskforce brings together some of the most respected creative leaders in Western Australia, who will help guide how we strengthen, grow, and promote our creative industries at home and on the world stage.
"This is about backing the talent we have here in WA, fostering new opportunities for collaboration, and connecting our creative industries to national and international markets.
"The members will help shape a plan that drives growth, strengthens collaboration and positions WA's creative industries for long-term success."
Members of the taskforce include:
- Sandy Anghie - co-founder and Chair of Perth Design Week.
- Julie Barratt - director of Arts Strategy with DADAA.
- Rikki Lea Bestall - chief executive officer for Screenwest.
- Ian Booth - chief executive officer of Black Swan State Theatre.
- Mark Braddock - co-founder of Block Branding and advocacy body IN:WA.
- Jacky Cheng - visual arts, design, landscape architecture, and teaching award winner and Board member of Regional Arts WA and SPACEDWA.
- Chad Creighton - chief executive officer of the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of Western Australia.
- Josh Edge - executive creative director at Anthologie, representative of the Perth Advertising and Design Club.
- Iain Grandage AM - director of Programming at the Melbourne Recital Hall and 2023 Western Australian of the Year for Culture and the Arts.
- Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa OAM - executive director/CEO of The Blue Room Theatre in 2023, Order of Australia medal recipient.
- Hazel Law - director of The Curated Wardrobe and the Circular Fashion Festival.
- Mat Lewis - director of the Creative Tech Village, WA's Creative Tech Innovation Hub.
- Harrison Lorenz-Daniel - Boorloo-based theatre maker working across performance, direction, composition, and production.
- Tabitha McMullan - chief executive officer of FORM Building a State of Creativity.
- Mathew Palumbo - partner liaison for the WA Games Industry Council.
- Dalisa Pigram - co-artistic director of Marrugeku, Australia's leading Indigenous intercultural dance company.
- Anna Reece - artistic director of Perth Festival.
- Daniel Romanin - co-founder and head designer of Western Australian womenswear label One Fell Swoop.
- Tasma Walton - award-winning television and film actor and author.
- Dimmity Walker - director of Fremantle-based Spaceagency Architects.
- Terri-ann White - founder of Perth's newest independent publishing house, Upswell Publishing.
- Owen Whittle - chief executive officerof West Australian Music.
