Travis joined Design Tasmania as CEO in 2025, bringing over 15 years of experience in cultural leadership, regional advocacy and arts management. He is the founding Artistic Director/CEO of The Unconformity, an internationally recognised arts festival and cultural platform based in Queenstown, Lutruwita/Tasmania, known for its distinctive place-based programming and national impact.

Travis holds a Bachelor of Fine Art in Visual Communication (First Class Honours), a Churchill Fellowship, the Premier’s Young Achiever in Tourism Award, and the Claudio Alcorso International Residency. He has held governance roles with Ten Days on the Island, Tasmanian Regional Arts and Brand Tasmania, and is currently Co-Creative Director of Hobart Current 2025.

Outside of work, Travis is getting into beekeeping, enjoys woodworking in his garage workshop, and is an unapologetic Nintendo enthusiast.

Travis works Tuesday to Friday between Hobart and Launceston.

ceo@designtasmania.com.au

Appointed the inaugural Artistic Director of Design Tasmania in 2022, Michelle Boyde brings a long-standing relationship with the organisation as both exhibiting artist and curator. With an honours degree in Design from RMIT (2012), her career spans production design, art direction, curation, and design consultancy for major cultural institutions across Australia. Through her studio BOYDE and as co-founder of art collective Unconscious Collective with David Patman, she has delivered acclaimed interdisciplinary projects - from socially engaged and place-based installations in remote regions to 3D-knitted bio-sensor sleeping pods for urban pavilions.

At Design Tasmania, Michelle champions Tasmanian designers and makers, regenerative practice, and cross-industry collaboration. She leads the annual Artistic Program and contributes nationally as a peer assessor for Creative Australia and Arts Tasmania, and was the inaugural Tasmanian editor for Garland magazine, a partner of the World Crafts Council – Australia, a national entity of the World Crafts Council – Asia Pacific.

Michelle's regular workdays are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Always happy to meet with new designers, makers and potential creative partners, feel free to reach out for a coffee, or with curatorial ideas and proposals at: artisticdirector@designtasmania.com.au

Lauren is a registered BAS Agent and holds a Diploma in Accounting as well as a Certificate IV in Business. Lauren started out in Education but the numbers always spoke to her, leading her to pursue studies in finance and start her own business as a Bookkeeper in 2013. When she's not crunching numbers, she can be found doing literal crunches as a Pilates Instructor or training in the gym, as she holds a National Powerlifting title as well as a Ms. Figure Classic, Tasmania Bodybuilding title.

accounts@designtasmania.com.au

Julia joined Design Tasmania in 2023 as the Administration Manager.

Julia has a background in new media, working for many years as a Front-End Web Developer and Accessibility Consultant in London. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Politics, a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology and a Diploma in Graphic Design.

When she’s not at work, Julia is one half of DJ team Cogwebs and Strange – a radio show which goes out weekly on Meander Valley Community Radio (96.9FM) and several internet radio stations in the UK. She also enjoys veggie gardening and can be seen most days at her local dog park with her Boston Terrier, Loki.

Julia works Wednesday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Amy (she/her) is a queer emerging artist currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts - majoring in Sculpture & Time-based Media at the University of Tasmania.

Amy is passionate about the artist’s voice and extends this into her role at Design Tasmania. She thrives off of collaboration and connection, constantly seeking out opportunities to create and work with others.

Acting as Director of The Creative Pod, UTAS’ art society, Amy has curated multiple exhibitions held in the Lantern Gallery, Inveresk and directed events over the course of 2024 and 2025.

Being a member of Launceston’s Youth Dance Company Stompin since 2020, Amy has performed in Junction Arts Festival, MONA FOMA and Ten Days on the Island. She has choreographed works such as ‘Into the void’ 2023 in Stompin’s Youth Choreographic Project and interned in Stompin’s major project ‘Ground Beneath, Ocean Between’ 2024.

Amy constantly draws upon her experiences of working with Dark MOFO, MONA FOMA and dAda mUse, bringing a fresh energy to Design Tasmania.

Amy hopes to create a safe, inclusive and expressive space for all.

Photo credit: Stevie’s Camerawork

Rebecca is an artist and multidisciplinary designer, where she works across fine art, graphic design, visual identity, environmental sculpture, interpretation and visitor experience. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art, her design practice is currently in its 25th year and she has been the recipient of over 30 design awards.

She has an additional 10 years experience in the cultural tourism sector as the owner manager of a boutique luxury arts tourism experience, where she was awarded with Excellence in Marketing, Outstanding Visitor Experience and Tourism awards.

Bec is the Chair and President of Junction Arts Festival where she oversees and drives the organisation, governance and mentors the artistic and strategic vision.

She is a practicing artist working in silversmithing and wearable art, an internationally recognised professional cartomancer, published author and creator in the spiritual and mystical fields.

Megan is a Tasmanian born and based designer and passionate advocate for design, culture, women and her local community. As a Founder and Creative Director of her self-titled practice she delivers branding, communication design and strategy for cultural institutions and events, products and artists. Recognition for her design includes an Australian Graphic Design Association Pinnacle, and globally with a Dieline First Place and Pentawards Gold. Before launching her practice in 2020 Megan honed her craft as design lead for Mona and Dark Mofo, building the festival brand from its inception. Megan believes good design brings joy to everyday life, and is a powerful tool to revitalise and unify regional communities, and convey a sense of place.

As the daughter of renowned Tasmanian maker Kevin Perkins her connection to Design Tasmania runs deep. Represented in the Wood Collection, Kevin is a founding designer for the organisation. Megan is also a previous recipient of the Design Tasmania award, and recognises first hand the value of opportunity, and the big impact that support, and facilitation can provide Tasmanian designers and their practices.

Alastair Newman is a Launceston-based Management Accountant with the University of Tasmania, where he supports a diverse portfolio of Schools and Divisions — including the School of Architecture and Design, the School of Information and Communication Technology, and the Australian Forest and Wood Innovation (AFWI) program, overseeing $100 million in funding over five years.

With a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Tasmania, a Diploma in Financial Planning, and Associate Management Accountant status with the Institute for Certified Management Accountants, Alastair brings over five years of experience in his current role, alongside earlier careers in Financial Planning and Venture Capital.

His professional involvement with the School of Architecture and Design and AFWI, together with a personal association with Stompin Youth Dance, reflects a long-standing connection to the creative and cultural life of Tasmania. Joining Design Tasmania as a voluntary director and Treasurer offers Alastair the opportunity to contribute in a more formal capacity to an organisation whose work he genuinely values.

Alastair sees his role as closely aligned with celebrating Tasmania's expertise in craft and design — particularly the use of natural elements and the state's clean, green identity. A proud Launcestonian at heart, he looks forward to working alongside an eclectic group of leaders and contributors to further build and promote design across the state.

Christie has lived and worked in lutruwita/Tasmania for most of her life. She has a background in the creative industries including fine art, design, events and festivals – both as a practitioner and administrator, specifically in marketing and branding. Currently she is employed in the public sector and has worked in several agencies including Tourism Tasmania and Brand Tasmania.

She is passionate about design and believes good design is not only ascetically pleasing but can also make a positive difference to communities considering social, cultural and economic factors. With connections to Tasmania’s timber industry, she understands the value of this exceptional resource to users of this material including the state’s designer-makers.

Christie values having the opportunity to contribute to the Tasmanian community through volunteer positions and brings to the board knowledge and connections to help business development. In her down time, she enjoys all what Tasmania has to offer and is studying Creative Arts and Health and Wellbeing at the University of Tasmania to complement her Batchelor of Fine Art.

Zoe Rimmer is a Pakana (Tasmanian Aboriginal) community member from a large extended family from Flinders and Cape Barren Island, with Ancestral connections to the northeast coast of Lutruwita/Tasmania. Zoe has grown up connected to her community, country and culture, and has learnt the cultural skills of basket making and shell stringing from her Elders – traditions she is now passing on to her own daughter, 11-year-old Eve. Zoe has worked in the museum and cultural heritage management sector for the past 19 years and is currently an Indigenous Academic Fellow at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) where her PhD candidature follows on from her work in repatriation and First Nations museology. She is passionate about increasing First Peoples voice and perspectives across cultural institutions and public spaces; as well as facilitating the revitalisation of cultural knowledge and practices. Her interest in public history and the importance of truth telling also motivates her work.

Until recently Zoe was the Senior Curator of First Peoples Art and Culture at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). Zoe continues to work as an independent curator, most recently collaborating on the new interpretation facility at the Cascades Female Factory and regularly working with MONA FOMA curators.

Zoe is also Deputy-Chair of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Heritage Council; a member of the National Museum of Australia’s Indigenous Reference Group and sits on the Board of Directors of Karadi Aboriginal Corporation. She is an alumni of the National Gallery of Australia’s (NGA) Indigenous Arts Leadership Program and has previously had a role as Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee for Indigenous Repatriation.

Currently leading the $20 million redevelopment of the Burnie Arts Centre in NW Tasmania, Mark has built an extensive creative and management career across visual arts, heritage, festival development, the performing arts and working with regional communities.

Mark has a particular passion for design and the hand-made and was, for 11 years, the Director of Sturt Gallery & Studios in Mittagong NSW, the original Australian Centre for Design, established in 1941, that incorporates the Sturt School for Wood, Australia’s principal school for fine furniture making.

For Museums of History NSW, Mark held a number of key positions over more than a decade. As Head of Public Programs he was responsible for producing more than 400 major events and festivals each year earning a Helpmann Award nomination and several National Trust Heritage Awards. As General Manager of Properties Mark had overall responsibility for six museums and coordinated a number of important strategic and infrastructure initiatives including the successful World Heritage nomination for the Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney. He is also a practising artist and has worked in the UK and Europe as a theatre set designer, scenic artist and production manager.

Mark is a graduate of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University.