IAF Board Members
Jane Angel - Chair
Jane has diverse experience as a senior executive in both the UK and Australia, having fulfilled strategic leadership roles in multidisciplinary settings including academia, law, Defence, state government and public libraries. Jane is currently CEO of a peak leadership body in a role that intersects the academic and cultural sectors; she has expertise in leading membership organisations, with deep experience in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, project, resource and events management.
She has post graduate qualifications from Flinders University, RMIT and the University of Melbourne and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors with knowledge of governance and compliance across regulatory, legislative, risk and fiduciary matters as they pertain to Boards. Jane’s core values include a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation. With a long history of engagement with the arts, Jane’s particular passion is literature; she also loves theatre, film, and visiting galleries, libraries and museums – as much to explore the use of space and architecture as the collections within.
Jane Angel - Chair
Peter Burdon - Deputy Chair
Peter is well known to the IAF from the SA Critics Circle and an enthusiastic supporter of the arts in all its forms. He is an arts researcher, writer and critic and brings to the Board strategy and vision, event planning, grant management, and valuable networks and connections to the arts community.
Kathy Darling-Brooks - Board Member
Kathy is deeply involved in event management and fundraising. She is Vice-President of The Commonwealth Club and is on the Speakers Committee. Kathy is also a member of Legacy where she is Deputy Chair for Race Day. She is involved with Radio Adelaide programming and announcing, and managing events for Catherine House. Kathy brings networks and much needed capability in fundraising, media and event management.
Felicity Erne - Board Member
Felicity Erne sits on the board of the Independent Art Foundation, where she combines her love for visual arts with a strong focus on mental health and community support. She’s passionate about making art something everyone can connect with and believes creativity has a place in everyone’s life. With a background in art therapy and community art projects, Felicity loves supporting programs that bring people together and give local artists a platform. For her, it’s all about helping people explore their creativity and feel inspired.
I am truly excited to be on the board of the Independent Art Foundation, where I hope to share my love for visual arts while focusing on mental health and community support. I am passionate about making art something everyone can connect with, and I believe creativity has a place in everyone’s life. With a background in art therapy and community projects, I’m eager to support programs that bring people together and provide a platform for local artists. For me, it’s all about helping people explore their creativity and feel inspired.
I am truly excited to be on the board of the Independent Art Foundation, where I hope to share my love for visual arts while focusing on mental health and community support. I am passionate about making art something everyone can connect with, and I believe creativity has a place in everyone’s life. With a background in art therapy and community projects, I’m eager to support programs that bring people together and provide a platform for local artists. For me, it’s all about helping people explore their creativity and feel inspired.
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Felicity Erne - Board member
Dr. Moira Simpson Ph.D.
Dr Moira Simpson - Board Member
Moira trained as an artist, teacher and curator, completing a BA in Arts, a Post-graduate Certificate of Education, and a Master’s degree in Museum Studies. In 2010 she completed her doctoral thesis on the development of culturally-appropriate ethnomuseology. She has since completed a Certificate 4 in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management.
During her thirty-year career in the education and museum sectors, she published extensively in academic and professional journals, specialising in visual arts, cultural diversity, culturally-appropriate art education and museology. This includes two books: Making Representations: Museums in the Post-Colonial Era (Routledge: 1996 / 2001) and Museums and Repatriation (Museums Association: 1997).
She is now runs her own business, Evocative Arts, marketing her artwork, teaching visual arts classes to adults, and organising workshops taught by guest tutors from Australia and overseas (see www.evocativearts.com.au) She is also a freelance writer and the editor of both Textile Fibre Forum and Felt Matters magazines, published in Australia and the UK and distributed internationally.
Moira has been a member of the Independent Arts Foundation since 2016.
Dr. Merinda Edwards Ph.D.
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Merinda Edwards - Board Member Marketing and Development
Originally from Victoria (Djilang, Taungurung and Naarm Country) Merinda’s passion for the arts grew as she established herself in Adelaide.
Merinda completing a PhD at the University of South Australia and with extensive teaching and academic experience, Merinda has taken on a variety of roles such as directing her own festivals, marketing management in the arts, private sectors and state government to running live music venues, galleries and leading large scale arts activations. She has a strong arts background.
Merinda is passionate about communicating with the public, drawing people in with stories, and creative and engaging communications practices. From her academic experience of community development, partnerships, and placemaking, Merinda’s passion is to connect people to achieve goals with vibrancy!
In her free time, you can find her chasing events, festivals and gigs writing reviews for local publications or an adventure in the bush; on a quiet day, you will find her in her garden, or kitchen cooking up a storm.
Merinda completing a PhD at the University of South Australia and with extensive teaching and academic experience, Merinda has taken on a variety of roles such as directing her own festivals, marketing management in the arts, private sectors and state government to running live music venues, galleries and leading large scale arts activations. She has a strong arts background.
Merinda is passionate about communicating with the public, drawing people in with stories, and creative and engaging communications practices. From her academic experience of community development, partnerships, and placemaking, Merinda’s passion is to connect people to achieve goals with vibrancy!
In her free time, you can find her chasing events, festivals and gigs writing reviews for local publications or an adventure in the bush; on a quiet day, you will find her in her garden, or kitchen cooking up a storm.
Mary Odlum
Mary Odlum - Treasurer IAF
Mary became a member of IAF in 2008 and joined the Board in August 2010, taking up the position of Treasurer the following year. Mary is an experienced Finance Manager having enjoyed a life time career in University Finance administration in Adelaide.
In the role of Treasurer, Mary presents monthly financial reports to the Board, supports the membership secretary and the website manager, assists with writing the Newsletter and organizes the bookings for IAF events.Mary enjoys helping raise money for young and emerging artists and consequently has invited many of her friends to attend IAF events and to become members making our regular events a very social occasion. Mary enjoys many genres of art and appreciates the breadth and variety of performances in South Australia.
Helen Onopko
Helen Onopko
Archivist and Minutes Secretary IAF
Helen has been a member of the IAF since 2004 and is passionate about supporting young and emerging artis. There are many areas of her life that are complementary to the expertise required as a Board Member. These include a post graduate qualifications (Psychology, Politics, Archives); she has been a Business Manager since 1988, consulting to government and private industry in information management, compliance, governance, accountability and risk management. She has gained experience in governance throughout the South Pacific 2002 – 2012Helen is also a Board Member and Ministerial appointment to the State Records Council, Attorney-Generals Department SA 2014 – and is currently Chair. Helen believes that interpersonal communication, sharing and lending, tolerance, contribution and individual difference perceptions, are critical to all aspects of her life.
Margaret Lynch
Margaret Lynch - Board member and Chair of Grants Committee
Margaret has been a member of the IAF since 2020 and later that year she was invited to participate in the Small Grants Subcommittee. She was pleased to join the Board in 2021.
Margaret has broad experience in education, strategy, policy and administration. She has worked with both state and national government and non-government executive personnel on a range of projects and initiatives. Her expertise is in governance, people and culture, risk management, and political acumen.Margaret has established her own policy and education consultancy which enables her to create space in her life to pursue her interest in the arts. She has a long standing interest in the arts and enjoys going to a diversity of arts genres such as performances, exhibitions and talks.
Margaret is committed to equity and inclusion, good governance and collaborative working relationships. She is looking forward to working with the Board to contribute to the longevity of the IAF and the important work that the Foundation does supporting the development of the arts in South Australia.