MELT
OPEN

PIETA FARRELL | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Pieta Farrell is an independent Producer and Arts Manager, working with artists in the touring circuit of Fringe Festivals worldwide. With experience as a producer, performer, stage manager, tour manager, company manager, director, artist liaison and program administrator, Pieta completed a Master of Arts and Cultural Management, University of Melbourne (2015) and a Bachelor of Arts in Performance studies and Gender studies, Sydney University (2004). 

Pieta worked at Melbourne International Comedy Festival as an Artist and Program Administrator, Participant Services Manager and Producer; and toured comedy and cabaret shows to Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Soho Theatre London since 2016. Working nationally and internationally with artists such as Reuben Kaye, Tina Del Twist, Aboriginal Comedy Allstars, Betty Grumble, Yummy, Garry Starr, and The Kaye Hole, hosted by Reuben Kaye, Pieta focuses on grass roots, political and progressive, queer work.

In 2022 Pieta produced The Butch is Back by Reuben Kaye which won an Offie award (Off West End Awards) and Green Room Awards for Best Production, Best Artiste and Best Musical Direction (The Butch is Back). 

In 2023 Pieta joined NICA as the Circus Hub Producer for Melbourne Fringe Festival before commencing as Executive Producer for Melt Open.

LUKE FURNESS | CHAIR, COMMUNITY REFERENCE

Luke Furness partners his career as a commercial litigation lawyer at Clayton Utz with advocacy work across the homeless, LGBTIQ+ and student communities.

He is a non-executive director of homeless meal service, Community Canteen Co Ltd, the former CEO and non-director of Out for Australia, a national LGBTIQ+ student mentoring organisation, and a past Board member of the UQ Law Alumni Association.

Luke is a vocal champion for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and regularly speaks at major events, including as keynote speaker at the 2021 TEDxUQ conference.

TONI JANKE | FIRST NATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Toni Janke is a Wuthathi and Meriam woman from North Queensland. Best known as a singer/songwriter, Toni has written and recorded four original albums through her independent music label, Toni Janke Productions.

She has won national awards for her music since releasing her first EP Hearts Speak Out and has performed at many festivals and events across Australia. She has a passion for sharing culture through music and the arts.

Toni is a consultant, qualified coach, mentor NLP Practitioner and has served on various Boards and Committees in Indigenous Affairs. Toni works with various corporate, government and community organisations to showcase the wide range of First Nations talent, across various industries and sectors including arts, media, music, family and community services. Toni was Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Media Association of Australia and served as a board member to the National Aboriginal & Islander Skills Development Association, Australia Council for the Arts – Indigenous Music Advisory Committee, Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing & Export Agency and The Healing Foundation.

She was the Coordinator of the Festival of the Dreaming, Sydney Olympic Games and Coordinator of Survival Indigenous Arts Music Festival, La Perouse Sydney, now Yabun Indigenous Music Festival, Sydney. Toni has also previously worked as the National Indigenous Coordinator for the Media Arts and Entertainment Alliance and as a Ministerial Adviser with the Federal Government, Parliament House, Canberra. 

RAFAEL PRATT | ASSOCIATE PRODUCER 

EMMIE PARANTHOIENE | PROGRAM MANAGER

VERONICA NEAVE | PRODUCER – INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

BRUCE MCKINVEN | CREATIVE ASSOCIATE

DANIEL PAINE | PRODUCTION MANAGER