Jeannie Bennett - Chair

Jeannie is a lifetime Territorian who has worked in NT schools for over 30 years as a teacher, and for the last 12 years as Principal of the Darwin Languages Centre. As principal, Jeannie managed a staff of 65, with a substantial budget, equipping her with significant experience which she brings to her role with Tactile Arts.

In the final two years of her principalship Jeannie assumed management of the Casuarina Night Classes, which was redeveloped as the Adult Short Courses, with a viable and economically sound business model providing recreational short courses to the community in arts, languages, and other interests nominated by the community. Her leadership experience includes skills in governance, strategic planning, HR, finance, community engagement and events.

Jeannie has an undergraduate degree in arts and education, a Grad Dip in Educational Admin, Master of Education and a PhD. she is now semi-retired, and works for CDU part time, mentoring new teachers in our schools. 

Jeannie is also a hobby ceramicist and has been a member of Tactile Arts for five years with involvement in many of the craft fairs.

Catherine Buckley - Vice Chair

As a Tactile Arts member for more than fifteen years, Catherine has held positions on the committee over time and volunteered extensively within the organisation, particularly in the areas of photography and graphic design.

Relevant tertiary education includes courses in Adobe programs at CSC and further courses in the Adobe suite and in art, design, photography, drawing, sculpture, screen printing and typography at NTU.

Given her enduring interest in the creative world, Catherine is honoured to be further involved, and plans, together with the committee, to make a difference in a positive way.

Tracey Campbell - Secretary

I have recently retired from the regular workforce. Pottery and associated parts of the art and craft world have now become the main focus of my life. I now have time and interest to contribute actively to Tactile Arts, which is an organisation that I value highly. I have worked for many years in the NT Public Service as well as in non-government agencies and small business, with a background in Occupational Therapy. I have sound administrative and written communication skills, as well as experience as a committee member on a number of community associations.

I have experience and appreciation of many different crafts, having tried or learned about many creative activities over the years. My main passion is pottery / ceramics which has been a lifetime interest. I have been a member of Tactile Arts intermittently since my arrival in Darwin in 1985. I have become more actively involved over recent few years as a stallholder at Tactile Arts Craft Fairs and participating in other Tactile Arts’ activities including Artea, Gallery sitting, workshop attendance and the Tactile Arts shop.

Sue Hunt - Board Member

Sue is a Long term Darwin resident who enjoys gardening and handicrafts. Her latest project is creating hand bags and floor mats by crocheting recycled linen.

Sue has extensive experience as a bookkeeper, running a family business and working in a locally-owned business.  

Serving as treasurer of Tactile Arts gives Sue the opportunity to combine her interests in the arts with her finance experience in a multicultural organisation whilst providing value to the community.

Katherine Bradley - Board Member

Katherine Bradley is an artist and teacher with a career spanning more than 25 years and a broad experience of being a part of the Northern Australian educational and arts community. She currently works for Australian Catholic University as an Academic Mentor in the Teach for Australia program. Katherine has exhibited regularly and is a founding member of the Rapid Creek Artist Collective. Over many years, she has been actively involved in presenting her own, student and other artists work to the general public. Katherine has also been involved in the implementation of new curriculum to schools and the management of staff and studios and workshops in the art and design area.

Kathryn Carter - Board Member

Kathryn's passion for crafting unique recycled paper and paper sculptures spans over three decades, and in 2015, she joined Tactile Arts to further explore her artistic talents.

Having retired from the Northern Territory Government's public service, where she spent 20 years working across various departments in administration, communication, and media roles, Kathryn decided to pursue her creative calling with Tactile Arts.

Since joining the organisation, Kathryn has been an active volunteer and a familiar face at the Parliament House Tactile Arts shop. When she's not busy crafting works for the Tactile Arts Markets, Kathryn also works as a tour guide for five different companies in Darwin, showcasing the city's rich cultural heritage and natural wonders to visitors from around the world.

Aneka Truman - General Manager

Aneka has almost 20 years’ experience in the creative industries; with a background in the fashion industry, Aneka trained at London College of Fashion and went on to work in the Marketing Department for both Levi’s and Clarks. She has spent the last 10 years establishing her own business, Made to Sew; a fashion and sewing education platform, with a global customer base and successful YouTube following of 450,000 subscribers.

Aneka has experience with event planning, project management, as well as marketing and communications. She has provided business development support to Made to Sew customers, offered educational business seminars on marketing and social media to sewing machine retailers at the annual Bernina University conference in the USA, and supported the BEC, N.T with talks on social media. Passionate about supporting creatives and small business owners, Aneka’s knowledge combines creative, small business development with large corporate experience.