committee of management

The Drama Victoria committee of management is drawn from a range of broadly experienced and highly skilled members.
The information below provides a small sample of their backgrounds, skills and interests.

Executive Positions

Hayley Sandpearl
president
Hayley Sandpearl has been teaching drama and theatre studies for the past 15 years in a range of state and independent schools in the UK and Australia. She teaches from Year 7–12 drama and theatre studies and has been involved in the teaching and assessment of both VCE studies. Over the past 10 years Hayley has been head of drama, head of performing arts and is now enjoying ‘just’ being a teacher again, which has allowed her to do freelance work. Over the past four years on the Drama Victoria committee of management she has been conference director as well as a facilitator of many workshops.

Michael Waugh
vice-president
Michael Waugh is a secondary teacher of theatre studies and drama and assessor of the written and performance exams in both studies. He has been researching the Unit 3 production experience for his Masters in Education thesis. Michael has taught at Williamstown High School from 2001- 2008 and commenced working with Scotch College in 2009.

Nina Rossini
treasurer
Nina Rossini has been a Performing Arts Practitioner and Educator for most of her life. Her approach is quite basic; to draw upon the personal needs of the students and invent ways in which their potentials can be enhanced through the creative, collaborative process and performance. She has worked with people of all ages, both in Australia and in Italy and has always been excited about her field of work. Nina has taught in both government and private schools and has taken on many leadership roles such as LOTE, Performing Arts and VCE coordinator. She has been a dedicated committee member of Drama Victoria for over 6 years and was Conference Director for our State Conferences of 2006 and 2007. She has been on the executive committee for the past two years as treasurer. She has taught both Drama and Theatre Studies and enjoys coaching student teachers to develop good teaching practise.

Meg Upton
secretary
Meg Upton is currently completing a PhD at the University of Melbourne investigating the role of live theatre and education. She teaches and lectures in drama at secondary and tertiary level. She has worked as Education Manager for the Malthouse Theatre and currently works with the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Education Program. She is an experienced assessor of drama and theatre studies. Meg’s most recent focus is on developing a range of protocols for sustainable theatre and drama practice in schools.

Portfolio Managers

Emily Atkins
Regional Portfolio
Emily has worked in a variety of roles spanning arts, education and administration. Her current role is at Regional Arts Victoria, formerly the Victorian Arts Council, a not for profit organisation dedicated to supporting the arts in all its forms across the state. Emily is the Education and Families Coordinator managing the arts2GO program, which works with professional artists to deliver high-quality subsidised performance and workshop opportunities to schools throughout Victoria.

Justin Cash
Website Portfolio
Justin Cash is head of drama at Avila College. His teaching interests include the use of internet-based technologies in the drama classroom. Justin is the creator of the annotated theatre directory Justin’s Theatre Links and the education resource website The Drama Teacher. In his spare time, Justin facilitates the Drama Victoria Forum and the VCE Drama and Theatre Studies Student Forum on the web.Lyndy Clarke
Lyndy Clarke has been a member of Drama Victoria on two separate occasions. She has taught in the Middle East and in China. Lyndy has been teaching in both government and independent schools for nearly 30 years and has also been a VCE assessor for many years. Lyndy is presently Head of Theatre at Caulfield Grammar, Wheelers Hill.

Lyndy Clarke
VCE Theatre Studies Portfolio
Lyndy Clarke has been a member of Drama Victoria’s Committee for over 10 years and believes it is her role to encourage young, vibrant Drama teachers to participate within the management of Drama Victoria. She has been teaching Theatre/Drama for 30 years both here and overseas. Having originally studied at Rusden-it no longer exists! She has done further studies at Melbourne University in a Post Graduate in Shakespearean Studies. She taught in disadvantaged schools for 12 years and has established Drama departments in 4 schools around Melbourne. Her students have been successfully involved in Rock Eisteddfods’, the Monash Schools Theatre Festivals, Theatre Tours and a variety of activities provided outside the school environment. Lyndy has been involved on various panels including Bell Shakespeare’s’ National Education panel and also with the V.C.A.A, and works predominantly in the area of V.C.E Theatre Studies. With her school curriculum and co curriculum Lyndy and over 150 students present 5 school performances a year. Lyndy is very happy to guide others with their expectations and organisation of school performance.

Eli Erez
VCE Drama Portfolio
Eli Erez has worked professionally as a director, writer, set designer, performer, puppeteer and teacher. He has taught drama at various institutions and is currently the head of drama at Bialik College. Eli has worked as a VCAA assessor of the VCE performance examinations in both drama and theatre studies. Eli has also developed education resources for the Melbourne International Arts Festival, the Victorian Arts Centre and independent productions such as Noises Off and Jersey Boys.

Rachel Forgaz
Mentor/New teachers/Pre-service teachers Portfolio
Rachel is a lecturer and researcher in Drama Education at Monash University. Prior to her PhD studies, Rachel worked as a secondary Drama teacher and as an independent theatre maker. She is especially proud of her work in establishing the Drama department at The Macrobertson Girls' High School in 2000-2001 and of her directorial and performance work with Pocket Money Theatre. Rachel is excited to have the opportunity to learn from, and contribute to, Drama Victoria's programs, members, and resources.

Catherine Ohlsen
Social Media Portfolio
Catherine Ohlsen has been teaching drama and theatre studies for the past 8 years. She is currently working at Avila College, teaching and developing programs for both VCE and junior drama. Her experience as a Year Level Coordinator and Transition Coordinator has strengthened her interest in drama as a tool for social change. This is Catherine’s first year as a member of the Drama Victoria committee and she is excited to be contributing to such a vibrant subject association.

Helen Sandercoe
Primary and VELs Potfolio
Primary andHelen Sandercoe has been teaching, directing and performing for over twenty years, including 15 years of secondary school drama and working with students from pre-school to tertiary. Over the years she has presented a wide variety of workshops about the nature and history of performance. Helen has been a committee member of Drama Victoria for over 10 years.