Tim Long CVE has had a diverse career in the sport, entertainment, arts and venue management industries. He is currently the Managing Director of Hawkridge Entertainment Services. He possesses superior analytical, communication and financial skills that have resulted in the conceptualisation, creation, and delivery of diverse events covering a range of scope and complexity. In particular, Tim specialises in the development of effective strategies for organisations managing and planning cultural infrastructure. He assists the development of feasibility studies, business cases, operational modeling and review, community and cultural facilities plans as well as assisting clients with financial and operational modelling and the development of policies and procedures.

Tim is a venue industry strategy specialist who helps organisations turn broad creative ambitions into practical, data-driven strategies that grow participation, lift economic impact and strengthen community identity. Tim has devised regional arts and culture frameworks, policy settings and action plans for venues that align public investment with measurable social and economic outcomes.

His work spans sector mapping, stakeholder engagement, infrastructure development, funding pathway development and governance models, ensuring each strategy is both inspiring and immediately implementable. Combining senior leadership experience across stadia, theatres, festivals and community arts programs with a rigorous evidence-based approach, Tim delivers clear, achievable roadmaps that maximise value for residents, artists and visitors alike.

Nick Tobin is a dynamic and innovative CEO/General Manager with significant experience spanning more than 30 years in local government as well as expansive experience in the corporate sector.

Leadership roles have covered a breadth of Local Government innovations and delivery including efficient service delivery, long term financial planning and unique financial modeling, property development, strategic planning and policy development as well as stakeholder management and engagement of diverse communities, government and industry. Nick was also the General Manager of Aqualand Projects Pty Ltd, a Major property development and investment company dedicated to delivering quality development in Australia and the CEO of the Yuhu Group, Australia a private investment management company that is active across asset investment, property management, development and sales. Nick also led the delivery of one of the largest pieces of public infrastructure delivered and funded by local government, The Concourse – an entertainment and performing arts precinct in the heart of Chatswood. The unique long-term sustainable funding model and project plan developed for the site by Nick and his team has become a leading model across local government and multi-use precincts.

Frank Howarth AM is a specialist advisor in strategy, planning and fundraising to the arts and culture, environment and tourism sectors. He provides consulting and advisory services to government, not for profit organisations, businesses and individuals. Frank has led major culture and science organisations including the Australian Museum, and Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. He has chaired major cultural sector member organisations, serves on several not-for-profit boards, and is an adjunct professor at UTS Business School.

Frank has worked with organisations to develop significant intrastate, interstate and international tourist audiences in the culture, environment and recreation sectors and advises on how to harness the cultural and environmental assets of regions and places to achieve benefits through responsible tourism. He also sits on a NSW regional tourism development board where he advocates for cultural, heritage and environmental tourism. Frank is also a Board Member of the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum and of the Australian Design Centre.

Rick Heath is an experienced, respected and highly effective thought leader, advocate and arts management executive with over 30 years’ experience across Australia. As Co-CEO and Executive Director of Black Swan State Theatre Company Rick was directly accountable for financial, operational and human resource management as well as key stakeholder relations, strategic development and governance. Rick led and delivered transformational change, restructuring the organisation, increasing box office revenue by almost 50%, raising over $1.8M in donor contributions and managed the stability and growth of the company over the peak of the Covid pandemic. As Executive Director of Performing Arts Connections Australia Rick led change of the organisation from APACA to PAC Australia, increasing membership by 86%, doubling turnover and delivering sector-wide change in programming practice. He repositioned the organisation as a leader in the national and international arts ecologies.