Creative industry events

Morgan is a communication designer, digital mentor, artist, writer, and gallery owner with over 20 years of creative industry experience.

Based in Daylesford, his studio Designscope has a focus on creative industries, and he lectures within Digital Design and Social Media units, including Creative Entrepreneurship and Design Principles at Collarts, Australian College of the Arts. As an educator, Morgan is passionate about fostering inclusive, collaborative learning environments where curiosity, creativity, and diverse perspectives are celebrated.

Louise Buckingham is CEO of the Arts Law Centre of Australia. She is a lawyer and academic who has specialised in intellectual property and human rights and worked in commercial and in-house roles across the corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

Louise previously worked in award-winning Tech + IP and Innovation teams at Gilbert + Tobin, as Senior Lawyer at the Australian Copyright Council and editor of the Copyright Reporter.  She is committed to creators’ rights, has a PhD (Faculty of Law Award for Excellence), UNSW and lectures in NSW IP and cultural heritage and ‘art law’  in law, arts and science faculties.

Kerry Anderson OAM - Facilitator - Startup Central Victoria

Kerry is the Manager of Startup Central Victoria which runs an annual pre-accelerator program to assist entrepreneurs to test their ideas and develop their business models. She is the author of Australian Rural Entrepreneurs and for decades has mentored and championed business founders across Australia. Kerry will bring with her a deep understanding of the local startup ecosystem to facilitate this discussion.

Scott MacRae - NAB

Scott is a Bendigo-based Business Banking Manager at NAB, Australia's biggest business bank. He specialises in strategic financial solutions that help organisations navigate challenging times, ensuring clients benefit from NAB's industry expertise. Scott is also a dedicated community leader, having served for over seven years as chairman of disability support provider Interchange Loddon Mallee Region, advocating for inclusive environments where businesses and communities flourish.

Georgina Johnston – Mount Alexander Shire Council

Georgina is the Manager of Development Services at Mount Alexander Shire Council, where she oversees statutory planning, strategic planning, local laws permits and enforcement, planning and building enforcement, environmental health permits and enforcement. In this session, Georgina will provide a roadmap of the Council landscape, helping you understand exactly where to go to get the right approvals. She will explain which departments handle specific consents ensuring you know who to talk to when transitioning your home-based creative practice into a legitimate business.

John Wellington - Robertson Hyetts

John heads up the Castlemaine office as Special Counsel at Robertson Hyetts, bringing over 40 years of commercial and property law experience to the region. In this session, John will outline various legal issues that every startup needs to be aware of. He will outline the pros and cons of common business structures - such as sole traders versus companies - and advise of various "red flags" to watch for in contracts and leases, helping you understand how to protect your practice from the start.

Richard Watts OAM - Facilitator

Richard Watts OAM is the National Performing Arts Editor of industry website ArtsHub; he also hosts the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, which he has presented since 2004. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards’ Facilitator’s Prize. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association, and in June 2024, Richard was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). Richard is queer, neurodiverse, and barracks for Collingwood.

Dr Bonny Cassidy

Bonny Cassidy is the author of three books of poetry and one book of nonfiction. Most recently her work has appeared in Harpers and won the 2025 Antipodes Creative Prose Prize. Formerly an academic in Literature and Creative Writing, Bonny now independently mentors writers and is an emerging practitioner in psychotherapy.

Shelley Krape

Shelley Krape is a VCA and Atlantic Theatre (NYC)-trained actor, performer across stage and screen, and an acting coach and director. She also co-runs The Nugget, a local radio show and newsletter, and has worked extensively in marketing and communications for local arts organisations. Shelley is establishing The Ravens Theatre Company, a new Castlemaine-based professional theatre company committed to producing high-calibre classic and contemporary work for regional audiences. 

Fred Farquar

Fred Farquhar is a professional photographer and filmmaker based in Castlemaine, with a background in event coordination and logistics that underpins a detail-driven, highly adaptable approach to visual storytelling. Working across commercial and not-for-profit sectors, he collaborates closely with clients and community organisations to deliver considered, purposeful work. Combining strong production discipline with creative outcomes that meet commercial objectives while maintaining a high level of artistic integrity.

Designed for creatives and makers, this workshop will show you how to develop a short verbal and visual pitch about your work.

You will be guided to create simple presentation slides in Canva and get hands-on experiences presenting your work. Morgan Williams is a communication designer, digital mentor, artist, writer, and gallery owner with over 20 years of creative industry experience.

Note: You will need a laptop or tablet, and five images of your work for this session. Wifi will be available. Please contact us if we can help you access a computer for this session.

Hear from one of Australia’s leading copyright experts about protecting your intellectual property as you start out. Louise will outline the basics of protecting your creative ideas and provide the low-down on the pros and cons of using artificial intelligence to make or promote your work.

Do you need a permit to work from your home or shed? At what point does a hobby become a taxable business? What happens if you don't have insurance?

This session answers the critical questions that often trip up makers transitioning from creative pastime into a money‑making practice. Designed as an essential startup business overview, our panel will highlight the common "red flags" in legal contracts, explain the Council approval process for home-based workshops, and outline the financial basics required to sustain a creative career.

Artshub editor Richard Watts OAM in conversation with local champions who have started their own creative enterprises and are making it work. Explore the key ingredients of a creative business in practice with:

• Bonny Cassidy creative writing mentor and facilitator, one year in to sole trader life
• Fred Farquar independent photographer and filmmaker 
• Shelley Krape creating a new theatre company

Network with your creative business peers before and after the session.

The Small Business Bus will be parked outside the Goods Shed, with Business Victoria advisor Ailsa Page providing free, expert business advice to entrepreneurs and business startups to help launch their business.

Whether you’re exploring ideas, setting up your business or are ready to launch, you can discuss strategies, ask questions, and be connected with resources to help your business succeed.

No appointments are necessary - simply visit the Small Business Bus between 12.00pm and 6.00pm and take advantage of this valuable opportunity to access tailored support and guidance.

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Ailsa Page is a qualified marketing strategist, speaker, trainer, coach and the author of three small business marketing books. A passionate supporter and operator of small business for over twenty years, she specialises in the person behind the business, finding your point of difference. 
Ailsa has vast experience working with micro businesses through the Stepping Stones Program which was run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, and she has also run a program Arts In Business with Victoria University focused on artists wanting to take their business to the next level. She has also worked with many creative businesses.