About the Committee

Dr Ethel Villafranca, president (member since 2020)

Ethel is an Academic Engagement Manager at the Science Gallery Melbourne and Grainger Museums under the Museums and Collections Department of the University of Melbourne as well as an academic at the Faculty of Education. She has been involved in various aspects of museum/cultural work in the Philippines, the USA, and Australia since 1998. She has a PhD (University of Melbourne), MA in Museology (University of Florida), and BA in Philippine Arts (UP-Manila) and has been awarded prestigious international scholarships such as the Fulbright Scholarship, Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, and Melbourne International Research Scholarship. Ethel has training, experience, and strong interest in facilitating deep learning in both formal (schools) and informal (museums, libraries, zoos, parks etc.) learning environments. Her PhD research, Curated learning, identified strategies of museums for supporting student’s deep learning that school teachers can apply in their classroom practice.

Sue Burgess, treasurer (member since 2020)

Sue is Director of Public Programs at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne. In this role Sue oversees exhibition, education and public program development and implementation. She comes to this role having worked and volunteered in museums in Australia and internationally. Sue is passionate about history and engaging visitors in memorable and high quality experiences. @sueburgess3145

Tracey Collie, vice president (member since 2021)

Tracey is the Manager of 5-12 Education, Curriculum and Programs at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum (MHM) and has a diverse background within and outside the education sector.  In her role, Tracey oversees education program and curriculum development and implementation. Tracey comes from a teaching background having spent over 10 years working in secondary schools within the Government sector where she held various middle-level leadership roles. Her passion in education has been focussed on educating students to become empathetic global citizens who are highly engaged critical thinkers, which was reflected in the extra-curricular activities she led for students during her time in schools. In her time at the MHM, Tracey has contributed to education initiatives with the Department of Education and other organisations to provide high quality learning experiences at the MHM.

Dr Christine Healey, past president (member since 2011)

Christine brings extensive expertise in museum work and research. She is Public Programs and Schools Education Officer, having acted as Team Leader for two years at Incinerator Gallery (2017-current). She previously managed Education and Volunteer Programs at the Shrine of Remembrance (2015-17), and Heide Museum of Modern Art (2009-15), and Curator and Community Arts Programmer at Hunt Club Community Arts Centre. Christine also teaches the Museum Education unit as part of the RMIT University Masters in Arts Management. Christine’s PhD dissertation (RMIT University) titled Crisis or opportunity: an exploration of art museum educators’ practice in Australia and the United States, researched best practices and pedagogies of museum educators at prominent institutions including the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Art Gallery South Australia and National Gallery of Australia. She is a VIT registered teacher specialising in secondary art education. Formal qualifications include a Dip. Ed (UniMelb), an MA in Arts Management (RMIT University), Grad. Cert in English Literature (UniMelb) and BFA: Photography (Victorian College of the Arts). Furthermore, Christine is a skilled Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) facilitator and trainer, having undergone training in the USA. She has conducted workshops across Australia, educating others on how to utilise this pedagogy effectively. 

Andrew Hiskens, past president (member since 1998)

Andrew consults with cultural (and other) organisations on issues ranging from education to mentorship and creative problem-solving. His background includes working at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and for the National Trust of Australia (Victoria). He was a member of the Senior Management Team at State Library Victoria for 22 years, at different times responsible for events, exhibitions, school programs, marketing and communications, publishing, youth and family programs and the Premiers’ Literary Awards. Andrew is a past president of ENVi and the national museum education network, Museums Australia Education. He is a member of the AMaGA National Council and President of AMaGA Victoria (to May 2024). X/Twitter @ahiskens

Melissa Bedford (member since 2013)

Melissa is Senior Educator, Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA). Melissa is a VIT registered teacher with a career spanning more than 25 years working in museum, gallery and school contexts.  She holds qualifications in Visual Arts, Education and Arts Management from the University of Melbourne and is committed to increasing youth engagement with contemporary art. Her role at MUMA involves collaborating with artists, schools and collegiate organisations to create inspirational projects that are educationally rigorous.  Melissa was formerly employed as Education Officer at the Centre for Contemporary Photography where she initiated and led the Fitzroy Art Spaces Tour between 2011-2023. In 2023 Melissa was the recipient of a Gordon Darling International Travel Grant enabling the opportunity to connect with peers in organisations across the United Kingdom and Italy. Over the past decade Melissa has contributed to Arts Network within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s Strategic Partnerships Program as well as various panels at Creative Victoria and the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. As a freelance writer she has contributed to numerous education resources for festivals and touring exhibitions. Melissa Bedford joined MUMA in 2012.

Luci Callipari-Marcuzzo (member since 2020)

Luci (BAFA, BVA – Hons, RMVA) is multidisciplinary artist, mother, researcher, arts worker, curator and writer. Luci is the Gallery Programs Officer at Mildura Arts Centre (MAC), and has been a part of the team there since the late 90s. Luci’s experience at MAC has been broad, having worked in various roles including exhibitions administration, marketing and promotion and gallery educational and public programs. lucicalliparimarcuzzo.com Instagram: @luci_callipari_marcuzzo Twitter: @lucimarcuzzo

Patrick Watt (member since 1998)

Patrick is a museum and education consultant. Previously Patrick was director at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, the Burke Museum & Historic Precinct and National Sports Museum at the MCG. Patrick taught drama and English before working as a museum educator at Sovereign Hill and Scienceworks. Patrick is also a board member of International Museum Theatre Alliance, Asia Pacific and broadcasts every Monday night on 96.5 Inner FM as Uncle Max in Hernando’s Hideaway.

Sherene Hussan (member since 2021)

Sherene is the Education Director at the Islamic Museum of Australia. She served as vice president, and board member of the Islamic Council of Victoria for eight years. In 2007 Sherene was selected by the Age Newspaper as one of Melbourne’s 100 Most Influential people. In 2016 she was selected as ‘Muslim Woman of the Year’ at the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards (AMAA). Sherene comes to us with previous experience as a chemistry and physics teacher.

Christine Evely (member since 2021)

Christine is Head of Education at ACMI. She produced many of ACMI’s original unique and innovative production workshops and other screen literacy programs for F – Year 12 students and teachers. She now leads the inspirational ACMI education team who harness traditional and digital tools in purposeful and playful ways to help learners to experience, develop interest in, dialogue around, understanding, appreciation, critique and creation of moving image works. Christine is committed to supporting the growth of young learners as critical and creative thinkers equipped with flexible and dynamic screen, media and digital literacy skills.

David Menzies (member since 2021)

David is an Educator at the National Gallery of Victoria. He has been engaged in the art of teaching and learning for over thirty years in schools (Tasmania, Victoria and Japan) and the NGV. Since 2008 David has worked on a range of exciting exhibitions and education programs, including the role of Top Arts Curator (2018-2022). David is convinced of the transformative power of art. He loves the challenge and delight of inspiring critical and creative thinking through art with teachers and students of all ages. He enjoys the dialectic of collegial mentoring and learning. One of the favourite aspects of his role is watching people come alive with ideas, memories and connections in the Gallery. David is also a practising artist. 

Alice Freeman (member since 2021)

Alice is the Schools Program Producer at Footscray Community Arts. Her background is in Education Studies at Flinders University in Adelaide and a Master of Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne. As an advocate for Museums and Gallery’s as agents of social change, Alice has worked with institutions such as NGV and the Jewish Museum of Australia to design and deliver educational workshops. Alice is passionate about creative learning methods and the importance of promoting underrepresented voices in Melbourne’s creative sector.

Jesse Chambers (member since 2024)

Jesse is the Learning Delivery Manager for Science Gallery Melbourne, working with secondary schools to explore the collision of art and science through interdisciplinary STEAM programs. With experience across zoos, science centres, and schools, he enjoys working at the intersection of formal and informal settings to help teachers leverage learning in unique spaces.

Matthew Butler (member since 2024)

Matthew has worked in museum education at some of Melbourne’s most notable museums, such as the Museum of Chinese Australian History and ACMI and is currently working in tourism, tours and education at Cooks’ Cottage with the City of Melbourne. Matthew is passionate about furthering the use of museum collections and video games in education. Beyond work, Matthew is a gamer and is studying two masters degrees in religion and Asian studies. 

Xing Jun Seah, AMaGA National Education Network representative (member since 2024)

Xing Jun is a PhD candidate exploring the profound cultural implications of urban landscape changes on cultural preservation, communal identities, and senses of belonging, delving into how these changes ripple across social and artistic realms, giving rise to innovative creative expressions and aesthetic paradigms, including ephemeral and anonymous art practices as forms of dissent and critique against conventional physical constraints. With an academic background in literature, art history and architecture, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective that spans faculties and disciplines. She is interested in exploring cross-cultural and interdisciplinary faculties to bridge disciplinary divides by looking at the role art plays in shaping, uncovering, and fostering fresh perspectives. She is a Teaching Associate at the Science Gallery Melbourne and Grainger Museum.