Meet the team!
Elder In Residence: Aunty Lyn Martin (she/her)
Aunty Lyn Martin is a descendant of the Darug tribal group. She is the Vice President of the Canterbury Bankstown ATSI Advisory committee, and has been Outloud’s Elder in Residence since 2023, guiding us in making our programming considered and inclusive. Aunty Lyn has been a key contributor to many local projects with Outloud, including Nganura – to see the way on county, the Koori Youth Forum and The Area World Tour Youth Week.
Finn O’Branagáin (she/her)
Artistic Director + CEO
Finn grew up in Garramilla (‘white stone’ or Darwin), to Irish and Dutch parents. She likes to spend her time in nature, and making paintings and embroidery crafts while listening to audio plays. She has previously worked with Perth Festival as the Young Creatives Coordinator (taking young people to shows and expanding their confidence and vocabulary around the arts), renegade performance company pvi collective as Company Coordinator (organising large scale games on the streets of cities and looking after artists in residence), The Smith Family as the WA State Events Coordinator and Communities for Children Project Officer (making and supporting programs helping young people experiencing poverty), Crack Theatre Festival as Co-Artistic Director (bringing experimental arts into abandoned buildings), and City of Darwin in the Youth and Community Development Department (working on a youth newspaper, public art, and music festivals). Finn is also a multi-award-winning writer, director, dramaturg and performer, and has been programmed nationally and internationally at major venues and festivals. She makes text-based work for physical performers, puppets, and interactive audiences, using mythology to talk about current social issues. She is passionate about creatively collaborating with artists and communities to create extraordinary work that give transferable life skills.
Melanie Carolan (she/her)
General Manager
Melanie is passionate about working with new Australian work, emerging artists, and independent practitioners. She has been working in the arts for 15 years, with a focus on theatre and live performance. Before joining Outloud she was the Senior Producer at Critical Stages Touring, where she worked with independent artists to deliver outstanding theatre experiences to hundreds of venues across the country. Mel has also worked for Griffin Theatre Company, Merrigong Theatre Company, and as a freelance Producer and Stage Manager.
Craig Taunton (he/him)
Program Manager – RESPECT
Craig has been working in the community arts sector for the past 25 years, working primarily in South West and Western Sydney. With a background in music, performing arts and youth work, Craig has a large focus on young refugees and migrants. Craig has been working with Outloud since 2013, and has been involved in a wide range of workshops, projects and live performances. Craig is currently the Program Manager for the RESPECT & UNITY Programs that operate in
local schools, educating young people around healthy relationships, domestic violence and gender equality.
Nicole Issa (she/her)
Creative Producer, RESPECT & UNITY Facilitator
Nicole Issa is an artist, songwriter and creative producer based in South-West Sydney. Nicole has a degree in Music and Psychological Science from Macquarie University, and is passionate about using music and creativity to develop and facilitate workshops that bring light to important issues and life skills. As an artist, Nicole Issa has been making waves recently, returning from the US after a Sofar Sounds showcase tour and celebrating her music being placed on Live Nation’s Ones To Watch list. She is a recent mentee in the inaugural APRA AMCOS 23% Mentorship, and her single ‘Are You Really Worth It’ received glowing recognition on BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop show. Coming from a Lebanese migrant family, she wants to encourage others from CaLD backgrounds to follow their dreams and pursue the arts as a career choice.
David Miller (he/him)
RESPECT Facilitator
David has been working with Outloud since 2016 and brings a wealth of experience in music, songwriting and facilitation. David is Filipino and currently studying a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Innovation and Change at Western Sydney University. His passion for music dates back to his first performance in front of a live audience in the Philippines when he was five years old and has since been involved in programs, workshops and theatre projects to hone his skills and talents.
Van Nguyen (he/him)
RESPECT Facilitator/Producer
Van has worked with Outloud from 2019. He brings about his skills and knowledge from his past studies which include a Diploma in Screen and Media, a Diploma in Sound Productions and a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts in Psychology. Van is also skilled in video and music production and also brings his music and performance skills as a musician to the program.
Gemma Navarrete (she/her)
Administration and Marketing Officer
Gemma is Outloud’s Administration and Marketing officer. She is a singer, songwriter & DJ from Western Sydney. Her music explores identity, self-reflection, and depicts the ebbs and flows of young adulthood. As a DJ, Gemma enjoys playing pop, reggaeton, R&B and dance music. Gemma holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) from the Sydney Conservatorium and has worked across various arts organisations such as Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, Think+DO Tank & CuriousWorks, and is passionate about representing her Western Sydney arts community.
Amanda Smith (she/her)
Financial Officer
Amanda has been Outloud’s Finance Officer since 2016 and has over 14 years experience in the Arts sector, commencing her arts community journey in 2007 with Urban Theatre Projects. Prior to this, she managed her own small business and supported numerous other businesses. She has trained in Bookkeeping, Accounting and Small Business Management.
Mohammad Awad (he/they)
Multicultural Peers Project Peer Support Worker
Mohammad is a NSW Health Peer Worker and has worked across 20+ teams in more than 5 hospitals, he conducts lectures at the University of Sydney on the importance of lived-experience in recovery-oriented practice and developed poetry therapy programs for acute mental health facilities in the state. Mohammad is also a prolific poet, writer, director and film maker, who has been extensively featured across NSW and on national TV.
Bilal Hafda (he/him)
BELONG Project Lead Facilitator
Bilal Hafda is a spoken-word artist who has featured at most of the poetry slams in NSW. Heis the director of Guest House Publishing, and the artistic director of the Bankstown Poetry Slam. He has published work in a number of literary journals. ‘An Army of Light’ is his debut poetry collection. Bilal trained as a high school English teacher, and currently runs creative writing workshops in-person and online all across Australia. He also hosts the Bankstown Poetry Slam. His first-ever job teaching as an artist was at Outloud, years ago, and he’s so excited to be back working on programs here again!
